Specific Pioneering Contributions
Saundra Starks, EdD, MSSW, is Professor Emeritus of Social Work and the former MSW Program Director at Western Kentucky University. Dr. Starks has made pioneering contributions to the field of social work through her leadership in education and over 45 years of professional social work experience which includes teaching, research, consultation, training, supervision, community advocacy, and clinical practice. Her work has impact that crosses local, state, national, and international social work. She has numerous presentations and publications in the areas of diversity, women, spirituality, mental health, supervision, cultural competency, and leadership training. Dr. Starks maintains a part-time clinical social work practice in Bowling Green, and serves on several local, national, and international community service committees and boards. She has played a critical role in advancing cultural competency and humility in social work practice, particularly in addressing the needs of marginalized and underserved populations. Her extensive work in expressive therapies and her commitment to incorporating spirituality in social work have paved new paths for holistic and culturally responsive interventions.
As the Chair of the NASW National Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity (1998-2000), Starks led the charge in the development of the original NASW Cultural Competency Standards. As she provided leadership in the development of core diversity standards, she also integrated a strong and ongoing commitment to mentoring. This commitment to mentoring continues to this day as reflected in her service, practice, scholarship, and presentations. She led a team of authors to write Mentoring Women for Leadership: Empowering the Next Generation (Starks et al., 2021) highlights the commitment to lifting while we climb as process to lead forward.
She has been a member of the National Association of Social Workers since 1977 where she has served in several leadership positions including:
- 1980 Member of the Leadership and Nominations Committee; Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers
- 1997 - 2000 Member of the National Board of the NASW; a Regional Representative elected by and representative for the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, & West Virginia.
- 1998 - 2000 Chairperson of NASW National Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity
- 1998 NASW program Priorities Task Force
- 2000 Member of NASWs National Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity
- 2002 Elected as a Kentucky Delegate to the 2002 NASW Delegate Assembly
- 2003 Appointed to the International Committee of the National NASW
- 2011 Appointed to the NASW National Committee on Women
Starks was a leader in organizing the Bowling Green Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) which was only the second in Kentucky. Additionally, her leadership on national boards such as the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) has shaped policies that influence the profession on a national and international scale. Starks is a past president of the Bowling Green International Center Board for refugee resettlement. She has extensive experience in teaching study abroad courses in Taiwan, Tanzania, Ghana, and Belize.
Career Highlights
Starks’ career spans over four decades, during which she has held numerous influential roles. She has served as a Professor and MSW Program Director at Western Kentucky University (WKU), where she has been instrumental in curriculum development and program expansion to include the MSW program. Her research and teaching emphasize cultural competency, mental health, and expressive therapies, influencing generations of social workers and social work students. An important practice passion for Dr. Starks was her research project called Project Rafiki in Tanzania, East Africa. This was an interdisciplinary food assistance program for a center which provided services to people living with HIV/AIDS. Along with her study abroad social work practice class of undergraduate and graduate students, she created and sustained a food assistance program for over 5 years (2017- 2023) with persons living with HIV/AIDS enrolled in the WAMATA Program in Tanzania.
Starks has served in leadership roles across the four national social work organizations--NASW, CSWE, BPD, and ASWB. She served as the Chair of the Board of the Council on Social Work Education from 2019-2022. During her tenure as Board Chair, the three major social work organizations were led by women of color with Mit Joyner serving as the President of NASW Board, and Catherine Gayle serving as President of the BPD Board. They collaborated in leading processes of change and magnifying the role of mentoring upcoming generations.
Starks has served as a Member-at-Large of NASW Board, Secretary of the ASWB Board, and Nomination Committee for BPD. A quick perusal of her vita shines a light on the multiple service and leadership roles she has served for the major social work organization at the local, state, and national levels. She currently serves as a member of the Delegate Assembly Planning Committee for NASW.
Beyond academia, she has led grant-funded initiatives such as Project EMPOWER, which provided behavioral health and case management services to low-income communities. Her work with international social work education, including teaching in Belize, Tanzania, and Taiwan, reflects her commitment to global social work practice. As a clinical social worker, she has provided supervision and mentorship to numerous professionals pursuing licensure, ensuring high standards of practice in the field.
Biographic Data
Starks earned her Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Louisville in 1999. She also holds an MSSW from the same institution and a BA in Sociology/Social Welfare from Western Kentucky University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Kentucky and holds certification for independent and private practice. Throughout her career, she has combined her academic expertise with hands-on practice, bridging the gap between research and real-world application.
Significant Achievements and Awards
Starks has been widely recognized for her contributions to social work and education. Some of her most notable honors include:
? 2022 Feminist Scholar Award by the Council on Social Work Education
? 2021 Distinguished Individual Service Award by the NABSW
? 2019 Women of Achievement Award from the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission
? 2014 Outstanding Leader in Social Work Award by the Kentucky Chapter of NASW
? 2013 Trailblazer Award for Education by the Community African American Trailblazers Association
? 2012 Faculty Public Service Award by Western Kentucky University
? 2011 Social Work Keeper of the Village Award by the Association of Black Social Workers, South Central
Kentucky Branch
? 2001 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Student Government Association of WKU
These and numerous other accolades highlight her dedication to social work, mentorship, and community service.
Significant Publications
Starks has an extensive publication record that underscores her contributions to social work scholarship.
Starks’ publications reflect her commitment to advancing knowledge in cultural competency, social work education, mentoring, and the intersectionality of race, gender, and professional identity. Her pioneering work continues to influence research, policy, and practice within the social work profession locally, nationally, and internationally.
Notable publications include:
? Starks, S.H., Cashwell, S.T., & Ardrey, S.C. (2024). Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Centered in
Rural Social Work Practice. In M.R. Daley & P. Pittman-Munke (Eds.), Back Home: Opportunities and
Challenges of Social Work with Rural Communities. (pp.105-122). Oxford University Press.
? Starks, S.H., Gabbard, J.W., & Weiler, A. (2022). Anti-racism and Critical Multicultural Competency in Cross-
Denny’s (Eds.) Integrated Social Work Practice: Bridging Micro, Mezzo and Macro Level Practice. San Diego,
CA: Cognella Publishers
? Starks, S., Mallinger, G.M., Gilliam, C.C., Vakalahi, H.F.O, & Schmitz, C. (2021). Mentoring Women for
Book/Scholarly Press Leadership: Empowering the Next Generation. NASW Press.
? Griffiths, A., Royse, D., Murphy, A., & Starks, S. (2019). "Self-Care Practice in Social Work Education: A
Systematic Review of Interventions." Journal of Social Work Education.
? Starks, S., Vakalahi, H. & McPhatter, A. (2014). "Spirituality: A Sustaining Force among Women of Color
Academics." Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work Practice.
? Starks, S. & Hughey, A. (2003). "African American Women at Midlife: The Relationship between Spirituality and
Life Satisfaction." Affilia: Journal of Women & Social Work.
? Vakalahi, H.O., & Starks, S.H. (2010). "The Complexities of Becoming Visible: Reflecting on the Stories of
Women of Color as Social Work Educators." Affilia: Journal of Women & Social Work.
? Starks, S.H., & Ortiz-Hendricks, C. (Eds.). (2007). Women of Color as Social Work Educators: Strengths and
Survival. CSWE Press.