FACULTY PROFILE
Dr. Shonda Lawrence is an Associate Professor in Social Work. She grew up in Markham, Illinois, and graduated from Hillcrest High School. She completed her undergraduate degree in Law Enforcement Administration at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. She received her first master’s degree from Chicago State University in Corrections/Criminal Justice. After graduation, she worked for the Illinois House of Representatives as a Research/Appropriations Analyst. She also spent several years as a juvenile probation officer in Cook County, Illinois.
She received her second master’s degree and Ph.D. in social work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams College of Social Work. Her research interests include child welfare, the impact of parental incarceration on children and families, and African-American fatherhood. She teaches courses in research, human behavior, social welfare policy, and cultural diversity. She has several peer-reviewed journal articles, and book chapters, and has presented at numerous juried conferences. She has recently been named to the Council of Social Work Education, Board of Accreditation. She enjoys traveling, music, trying new cuisines, and meeting new people.
Curriculum Vitae