Social Work
DSW
Howard University
2007
See all Profiles
Faculty
Faculty
Tracy R. Whitaker
Associate Dean for Academic & Student Advancement
Department/Office
- Community, Administration & Policy Practice, Social Work
School/College
- School of Social Work
Additional Positions
-
Associate Dean for Academic and Student AdvancementOffice of the Dean, Social Work
Biography
Dr. Tracy Whitaker, Associate Professor, served the School of Social Work as the Associate Dean for Academic and Student advancement from 2014 - 2024. In that role, she provided leadership and coordination of the curriculum offered by the School of Social Work, including strategic planning, resource allocation, assessment and continuous improvement. In 2020, she served as chair of the Self-Study Committee and was the lead author of the self-study report which resulted in reaffirmation of the School's accreditation. She was instrumental in the implementation of the School's expanded dual degree offerings in Divinity, Public Health and Business Administration. In 2022, she co-led the development of the MSW online program which boasted an enrollment of over 300 students in two years.
In 2021, she served as the Co-Chair of the Council on Social Work Education’s Task Force to Advance Anti-Racism and is certified in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace by the University of South Florida.
In 2024, Dr. Whitaker served as the principal investigator for the inaugural Peer Case Management Institute, a program that provides people with lived experiences in homelessness with the training to become successful case managers in the homeless services systems in Washington, DC. This program is a partnership between the DC Department of Housing, the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness and Pathways to Housing, DC. The graduation of the first cohort in June 2024, was covered by the Washington Post, the Washington Informer and WTOP. In June 2025, the program completed its training of the 2nd cohort.
Dr. Whitaker serves as a Board member for the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness in Washington, DC, and is a Board member of the DC Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She has also served as the Book Committee Chairperson for the NASW Press. Dr. Whitaker was a co-editor for the inaugural Encyclopedia of Macro Social Work.
Prior to joining the faculty of Howard University, Dr. Whitaker directed the Center for Workforce Studies & Social Work Practice at NASW for over a decade. In that role, she led the first national benchmark study of licensed social workers in 2004 and the first compensation and benefits study of the social work profession in 2009.
Dr. Whitaker is an alumna of Howard University.
Education & Expertise
Education
Social Work
MSW
Howard University
1988
Political Science
BA
Howard University
1983
Academics
Academics
Social Work Practice & Processes
This course focuses on the foundation of social work practice and processes from a generalist practice framework introducing both micro and macro practice. Emphasis is placed on the introduction of social work knowledge, ethics, and values, promotion of social and economic justice, eco-systems, cultural competence, the problem-solving process and development of the client/consumer-worker relationship. Explores the relevance of practice-informed research and research-informed practice in working with diverse consumer populations, organizations and communities.
Social Welfare Policy & Services II
This course builds on content in Social Welfare Policy & Services I by promoting understanding of and competence in application of policy frameworks for analysis, formulation, advocacy, use of policy research through assessing context, intent, process and the impact of organizational, executive, legislative, and judicial decisions to advance social and economic justice. Examines use of diverse strategies to create planned change in organizations and larger social systems for direct, community, administration and policy practice.
Practice Evaluation
This course builds on knowledge and skills of the core research courses, “Research Methods for Social Workers” and “Data Analysis for Social Workers.” Course content provides advanced-level knowledge and skills that prepare students to develop, use, critically assess, and effectively communicate empirically-based knowledge in developing and evaluating practice and human service programs. It develops skills in using key evaluative methods that measure the need, effectiveness, fairness, and efficiency of various interventions in achieving stated objectives and desired outcomes for various stakeholders with particular focus on at-risk populations design and conducting evidenced-based interventions appropriate for their method of practice and specialized field of practice.