Carmen Reese Foster

Biography

Carmen Reese Foster, DSW, LMSW, LSSW joined the faculty at Belmont as an Assistant Professor in the Fall of 2023. Prior to joining Belmont's faculty, Dr. Reese Foster spent 5 ½ years at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work where she was the Interim Online MSSW Program Director, an Assistant Professor of Practice and Online Field Coordinator, and the Director of Alumni Affairs. In 2018, she created the Coalition of Black Social Workers (CBSW) through a social justice grant from UT College of Social Work. In 2020, Dr. Reese Foster developed the CBSW into a 501c3, where she serves as the Founder and Executive Director. The CBSW exists to engage, connect, and empower Black social work students and professionals. The CBSW has campus chapters across the state of Tennessee and members across the country. Dr. Reese Foster is also the co-owner of Pieces Training and Consulting and conducts trainings on anti-racism, race-based trauma and resilience, social emotional learning, and cross-cultural engagement for churches, non-profits, and schools. Prior to transitioning into higher education, Dr. Reese Foster's practice experience focused on working with youth and families from marginalized communities. She received her DSW from the University of Alabama where her research focus was assessing the impact of race-based trauma and Covid-19 on the mental health of Black social work providers. While at Alabama, she was the 2022 winner of the 3MT (Three Minute Thesis Competition) for the University of Alabama and the Southern Region of Graduate Schools. She represented the Southern Region at the North American competition, where she competed against finalists from the US, Canada, and Mexico. Dr. Reese Foster obtained her BA from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Dr. Reese Foster is a proud wife and mama. She and her husband of almost 20 years have three children (and a boxerdoodle). Her favorite pastime is taking long walks with her husband and dog, cheering on her kids at all of their activities, and meeting her friends for walks, coffee, and delicious food.

Publications:

• Foster, C. (2023, April). For Black Social Workers, anxiety and depression are on the rise. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/for-black-social-workers-anxiety-and-depression-are-on-the-rise-199373
• Foster, C., Held, M., Carter, A. (2022). Assessing the impact of COVID-19 and race-based trauma on the mental health of Black social work providers, Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2022.2155285

TV Media:

• Pearl, M. (24 May 2023). Racial tensions, COVID-19 have lasting toll on Black social workers. https://www.10news.com/news/national/two-americas/racial-tensions-covid-19-have-lasting-toll-on-black-social-workers

Op-Eds:

• Foster, C. (2023): “Affirmative action ruling reminds us that anti-Blackness is as American as apple pie.” The Tennessean.
• Foster,C. (2022):“This Juneteenth, we must move from performative acts to truly eliminating racism.” The Tennessean.
• Foster, C. (2022): “After Buffalo shooting, I thought, ‘Will I be next?’ Racial trauma is real.” The Tennessean.
• Foster, C. (2022): “Is it really OK to not be OK? What Cheslie Kryst's death tells us about empathy.” The Tennessean.
• Foster, C. (2019): “In the quest for a crown, representation matters.” The Tennessean.

Selected Presentations:

• Foster, C., Riley, K. (2023): “Reclaiming Your Power: The Necessity of Self Care for Self Preservation.” 360 Black Series: National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health, Virtual Presentation
• Foster, C., Kates, J., Gibson, K., Navarre, J. (2023): Truth, Liberation, and Justice Collaborative. Interactive Workshop at the Social Work Distance Education Conference, Virtual Conference.
• Foster, C., Held, M., Carter, A. (2022): Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 and Race-Based Trauma on the Mental Health of Black Social Work Providers. Interactive Workshop at the Council on Social Work Education 68th Annual Program Meeting. Anaheim, CA.
• Foster, C. Foster, E. (2022): Peek-a-boo, I see you: Using Empathy and Equity to see our students. TN NAME Conference: Cookeville, TN, Workshop
• Foster, C. (2022): “Is Anti-Racism Enough?” Moving from performance to transformation. National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health System of Care Summit, Virtual Presentation
• Foster, C. (2022): Confronting and Embracing Difference. SWDE Conference, Virtual Presentation, Oral Presentation
• Foster, C., Veit, K. (2021): Social Justice Beyond the Classroom: Experiential Field Trips. Interactive Workshop at the Council on Social Work Education 67th Annual Program Meeting. Orlando, FL. (Declined due to COVID-19)