Dr. Veronica L. Hardy, MSW, LCSW, has a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, a Master of Social Work, Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare, and clinical social work licensure in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Previously a Professor of Social Work (tenured) at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, she decided to “pivot” and create space to build upon her professional identity through social justice efforts. She continues as a part-time social work and counselor educator in undergraduate and graduate programs at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (Department of Social Work) and Saint Joseph’s University (Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program) in Philadelphia, PA.
Using her social work and counseling skills to promote social justice, Dr. Hardy has served as the primary investigator for the grant-funded Health Equity Project, focusing on developing educational opportunities for healthcare and school professionals pertaining to implicit bias, structural racism, and maternal health equity. Dr. Hardy has served as a subject matter expert and course co-creator for a grant-funded project titled The Certificate in Culturally Informed Responses to Grief and Loss.
In addition to reaching social service, healthcare, and education professionals, Dr. Hardy has provided workshops including mental wellness, confronting racial disparities, and financial health within corporate settings. Furthermore, she serves on the Board of Copy Editors and Policy Board for the International Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics.
Dr. Hardy has multiple scholarly publications focusing on human trafficking, as well as racial disparities. In addition, she has delivered keynote, plenary, and convocation speeches on motivational and social justice issues on state, national, and international platforms and has been a guest on ABC 11 and PBS media platforms.
As the first African American full professor (tenured) within her previous academic department and as one with first-generation college student status, she embraces opportunities to mentor fellow social workers, counselors, and academic professionals. Furthermore, she created and facilitates an informational group via Facebook titled The Social Work Lounge.
To learn more about Dr. Hardy, please visit www.drveronicahardy.com.