Lorraine M Graves

Dr. Lorraine Graves is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). She received her doctoral (Ph.D.) degree from Walden University, her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, and her Bachelor's of Art (BA) degree from Boston College School of Education.

Dr. Graves joined the faculty of NCCU in 2008. She currently teaches full-time in the MSW and BSW programs. Prior to her current position within the Department of Social Work, she served for six years as the director of Field Education for the MSW and BSW programs. She has taught courses across the social work curriculum, such as Interventive Methods I and II, Human Behavior and the Social Environment I and II, Social Work as a Profession, Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families, and Foundation of Social Welfare and Social Policy II. Her primary teaching areas are research methods and evaluation in social work.

Prior to coming to NCCU, Dr. Graves taught for one year at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts, as an assistant professor/field education coordinator. Her practice experience includes working with children and families in multiple settings, such as child welfare, Head Start, school-based mental health, and community-based mental health.

Dr. Graves's research interests are mental health disparities (access, utilization, and quality of care), faith-based interventions, integrative health, spirituality, and social work, and experiential learning. She serves on a number of departmental and university committees, in addition to committees within the Durham community.

Dr. Graves is committed to helping students develop into competent, ethical, and professional social workers. She is also dedicated to establishing partnerships with community-based organizations that will enhance services to low-income children and families.