Dr. Deneca Winfrey Avant
Social Work Faculty, Professor
School of Social Work
Office
Rachel Cooper - RC 201
Office Hours
By Appointment
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Current Courses
337.001Generalist Practice III:Groups
337.002Generalist Practice III:Groups
444.001Promoting Social Justice with Diverse Populations
461.001School Policy
Ph D Educational Organization and Leadership - Educational Administration
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Other Leadership and Administration
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL
MSW Social Work
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL
Other Bachelor of Social Work
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS
Distinguished Lecturer Award nominee
College of Arts and Sciences
2023
Million Dollar Club
Office of the President
2023
RISE to the COVID Challenge Recognition
Office of the Vice President and Provost
2021
Civic Engagement Ambassador
Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
2019
First Star Academy Director
First Star Academy
2019
Associate Director of Equity and Inclusion
Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
2019
Administrator-in-Residence
Office of the Vice President and Provost
2019
Design, Align, Refine, and Teach Online Program
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology
2018
Faculty Fellow, Summer Institute
Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning
2016
Pre-Tenure Faculty Initiative Grant
College of Arts and Sciences
2016
Research Mini Award
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
2016
Leadership Initiative Participant
Illinois State University Office of the Provost
2015
Outstanding Faculty Member of the Month
College Pan-hellenic Council
2015
Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunities Program Alumni Award
2010
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Center for Teaching Excellence List of Excellent Teachers
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Center for Teaching Excellence
2009
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Bureau of Educational Research Traditional Dissertation Award
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Bureau of Educational Research
2008
University Council for Educational Administration Barbara L. Jackson Scholar
University Council for Educational Administration
2007
Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship
2006
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Education Thomas L. McGreal Award
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Education
2005
Book, Chapter
Avant, D., Houston, D., & Nesbitt, L. Educators as the Gatekeepers: Promoting a Race Informed, Culturally Competent Pedagogy for Human Service Professionals. T. Puckett and N. Lind (EDs), Cultural Competence in Higher Education. Emerald (2020)
Avant, D. W. (2011). Unwrapping Tradition: Shifting from traditional leadership to transformative action. In C. M. Shields (Ed.), Transformative Leadership: A Reader (pp. 114-130). New York, NY: Peter Lang.
Avant, D., Houston, D., & Nesbitt, L. Educators as the Gatekeepers: Promoting a Race Informed, Culturally Competent Pedagogy for Human Service Professionals. Cultural Competence in Higher Education. Emerald
Conference Proceeding
https://f2e2ac9d-26a5-4f19-81ec-a2e6a0fcadf4.filesusr.com/ugd/6a041f_97f437b0f9d640c6a1262c0824be6023.pdf
Journal Article
Avant, D. When privilege and oppression becomes “real” in the life of emerging social workers.. Journal of Teaching in Social Work 42.1 (2022): 1-14.
Avant, D., Miller-Ott, A. E. & Houston, D. (2021). “I needed to aim higher:” Former foster youths’ pathways to college success. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(4), 1043-1058.
doi:10.1007/s10826-020-01892-1
doi:10.1007/s10826-020-01892-1
Avant, D. W. & Swerdlik, M. (2016). A collaborative endeavor: The roles and functions of school social workers and school psychologists implementing multi-tiered system of supports/response to intervention. School Social Work Journal. 41(1), 56-72.
Avant, D. W. (2016). Using Response to intervention/ multi-tiered systems of supports to promote social justice in schools. Journal for Multicultural Education. 10(4), 507-520.
DOI: 10.1108/JME-06-2015-0019
Avant, D. & Bracy, W. (in press). Using Problem-based Learning To Illustrate the Concepts of Privilege and Oppression, Journal of Social Work Education.
Avant, D. & Lindsey, B. (2015). School social workers as response to intervention change champions, Advances in Social Work Journal. 16(2), 276-291. DOI: 10.18060/16428
Winfrey-Avant, D. (2014). The Roles of School Social Workers in Implementation of Response to Intervention. School Social Work Journal, 38(2), 11-31.
Zosky, D., Avant,D., & Thompson, J. (2014). Social work and special education students’ attributions of poverty: A leadership opportunity for school social workers. School Social Work Journal,38(2), 77-97.
Adeoye, B., Anyikwa, B., & Avant, D. (2012). Teachers and students perceptions of internationalisation of higher education in Nigeria. European Scientific Journal, 8(19), 110-128.
Winfrey, D., Williams, R., & Adamek, M. (1996). The roles of the church in meeting the emotional
and mental health needs of the congregation and community. Journal of the Tenth National
Conference on Undergraduate Research Proceedings, (1), 875-879.
Technical Report
Avant, D., & Wiggins, S. First Star Academy FY23 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2023)
Avant, D., & Wiggins, S. First Star Academy FY22 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2022)
Avant, D. First Star Academy FY21 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2021)
Stipp, K.F., Bell, C. & Avant, D.W. (2021). Listening to Middle School and High School Youth: Executive Summary.
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY19 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2019)
Avant, D. First Star Academy FY20 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2019)
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY18 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies (2018)
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY17 Annual Report Q1-Q4. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY17 Quarter 3 Report. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
Avant, D., & Houston, D. First Star Academy FY18 Quarter 1 Report. Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies
Presentations
Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Communication Planning. Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Strategy. Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE). (2022)
Faculty Appointment, Salary, Promotion, and Tenure (ASPT) Anti-Bias Training. College Deans and Academic Chairs and Directors. Office of the Vice President and Provost. (2022)
Anti-Racism and Student Success. Chairs/Directors Retreat. College of Arts and Sciences. (2021)
Postsecondary Pathways for Former Foster Care Youth. Postsecondary Pathways for Former Foster Care Youth. Office of Community College Research and Leadership. (2021)
Beating the Odds: African American Foster Youth Pathways to College. American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Conference. American Association of Blacks in Higher Education. (2019)
It Takes a Village: Why Community Engagement Matters. National First Star Academy Directors Conference. National First Star Academy. (2019)
White Like Me. Student Counseling Services Multicultural Outreach Initiative. First Star Academy. (2019)
A collaborative endeavor: The roles and functions of school social workers and school psychologists implementing multi-tiered system of supports/response to intervention. Illinois Association of School Social Workers Conference. (2017)
Culturally Responsive Teaching. New Faculty Orientation. Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology. (2017)
Former Foster Youth in College: A Needs and Assets Assessment and First Star ISU Academy. Student Affairs Council Meeting. Illinois State University. (2017)
Overcoming Stress. Faculty Development. Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. (2017)
Start Where You Are…But Don’t Stay There: The Journey Towards Understanding White Privilege and Dismantling Oppression. White Privilege Conference. (2017)
Stress In Academia. Summer Faculty Institute. Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. (2017)
Culturally Responsive Teaching. New Faculty Orientation. Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology. (2016)
Promoting Social Justice. Faculty Summer Institute. Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. (2016)
Fighting the Stress of Teaching: Revitalizing Your Passion. Teacher School Improvement Day. Canaan Academy. (2015)
Stress Free Social Work: Relax, Relate, Release. School Social Worker Association of America. (2015)
Stress Free Social Work: Relax, Relate, Release.. Illinois Association of School Social Workers Annual Conference. Illinois Association of School Social Workers. (2011)
The Roles of School Social Workers in Implementation of Response to Intervention. Illinois Association of School Social Workers Annual Conference. Illinois Association of School Social Workers. (2011)
Alumni Panel: Ph.D. Honorees – Speak and Share Knowledge. Summer Research Opportunities Program. Committee on Institutional Cooperation. (2010)
How Teachers Perceive their Job Satisfaction is Influenced by their Principals' Behaviors and Attitudes Related to Race and Gender. Administration Organization & Leadership/Section 2: School Organization and Effects under Division A at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. (2010)
Using Problem-based Learning to Promote Social Justice. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Conference. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. (2010)
How Teacher Job Satisfaction is Influenced by Principals' Leadership, Attitudes, and Beliefs Related to Cultural Identity Markers. Northwestern University Graduate and Professional Student Research Conference. Northwestern University. (2008)
Educational Diplomacy: The Role of Educational Leaders in Creating and Sustaining Global Understanding and Curiosity. University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Annual Meeting. University Council for Educational Administration. (2007)
Leadership Behaviors that Influence School Organizational Success. Northwestern University Graduate and Professional Student Research Conference. Northwestern University. (2007)
Grants & Contracts
First Star Academy. DCFS. State. (2024)
Administrator-in-Resident. Office of the Vice President and Provost. Illinois State University. (2019)
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2019)
Community Empowerment Health and Wellness Grant. Delta Research and Educational Foundation. Private. (2018)
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2018)
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2017)
First Star Academy. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Private donor. Other. (2016)
Pre-tenure Faculty Initiative Grant. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2015)
Diversity and Oppression: Cultural Competence Among Social Work Students. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Illinois State University.