Samantha Byrd, MSW, LGSW, is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program at Concord University. She received a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Concord University in 2016. She went on to complete her MSW degree from Concord University in 2018. Samantha is currently a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) candidate at the University of Kentucky and is expected to graduate in May 2023. During her DSW program her research interests and capstone project have been focused on the need for social work education and training in the field of child welfare and how a lack of this may impact the foster families served.
Samantha has practice experience in child and adolescent mental health both in K-12 school settings and with victims served through Child Advocacy Centers. She also has experience in grant management, and foster parent training. She is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) interventions.
In addition to teaching, Samantha manages the Title IV-E and IV-B grants at that the social work programs at Concord University receive. This includes managing the foster parent pre-service and in-service training as well as the in-service Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) worker training the university provides. Samantha volunteers in the university’s counseling center to increase access to services for students. She also provides community service in various ways, including founding and managing a local foster closet and foster parent support group. She also serves on the board of directors for Child Protect of Mercer County.