Ashley Davis

Clinical Associate Professor

Specialties

• White privilege

• Anti-racism in social work practice

• Social justice and human rights

• Social work education

Headshot of Ashley Davis
areas of expertise:
department: Clinical Practice
phone: 781-819-0272

faculty details

Bio

Ashley Davis is a researcher interested in anti-racism in social work practice as well as teaching and learning in social work education. Her scholarship has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Social Work Education, Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work and Advances in Social Work. In October 2019, she was the featured guest on the inSocialWork Podcast, produced by the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. In the episode, titled “Only Liberal Views Welcome?,” she shared unexpected findings from her nationwide study of students’ experiences of microaggressions in Bachelor of Social Work programs.

“We are not a value-neutral profession,” she explains. ‘We are socializing students to advance social justice, and there’s no one right way to do this. We can learn a lot from each other about the different ways we can advocate for marginalized populations.”

Davis is active in the profession as an accreditation site visitor for the Council on Social Work Education and co-chair of the National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Symposium program planning committee. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Teaching in Social Work and on the board of consulting editors for the Journal of Progressive Human Services. 

Education

BA (Cognitive Science)

Wellesley College

MSW

Simmons College

PhD (Social Work)

Simmons College

Courses

SR 743 Introduction to Social Work Research
CP 770 Clinical Practice with Individuals
CP 772 Clinical Practice with Families

Courses

SR 743 Introduction to Social Work Research
CP 770 Clinical Practice with Individuals
CP 772 Clinical Practice with Families

Publications

Constance-Huggins, M., Davis, A., & Yang, J. (in press). The relationship between color-blind racial attitudes and attitudes towards poverty among social work students. Advances in Social Work.

Mirick, R., Davis, A., & Wladkowski, S. (in press). Social work dissertation committee chairs’ perceptions of their role. Journal of Social Work Education.

Davis, A. (2019). Historical Knowledge of Oppression and Racial Attitudes of Social Work Students. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(1), 160-175.

Davis, A. (2018). A Strengths-Based Intervention to Promote Class Attendance. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 23(1), 159-172.

Constance-Huggins, M. & Davis, A. (2017) Color-blind racial attitudes and their implications for achieving race-related grand challenges. Urban Social Work, 1(2), 104-116.

Mirick, R.G. & Davis, A. (2017). Making meaning of MSW students’ statistical abilities: The role of self-efficacy and knowledge-based assessment. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(2), 212-221.

Davis, A., Mirick, R., & Wladkowski, S. (2017). Lessons learned for successful dissertation completion from social work doctoral graduates. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 37(2), 107-120.

Davis, A. (2016). Journaling together: The anti-racism project in social work doctoral education. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 86(4), 1-22.

Davis, A. & Reber, D. (2016). Human rights and social and economic justice: Developing
competence in field education. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 1(2), 1-11.

Davis, A. & Livingstone, A. (2016). Sharing the stories of racism in doctoral education: The anti-racism project. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 36(2), 1-19.

Davis, A. & Gentlewarrior, S. (2015). White privilege and clinical social work: Reflections and recommendations. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 26(3), 191-208.

Publications

Constance-Huggins, M., Davis, A., & Yang, J. (in press). The relationship between color-blind racial attitudes and attitudes towards poverty among social work students. Advances in Social Work.

Mirick, R., Davis, A., & Wladkowski, S. (in press). Social work dissertation committee chairs’ perceptions of their role. Journal of Social Work Education.

Davis, A. (2019). Historical Knowledge of Oppression and Racial Attitudes of Social Work Students. Journal of Social Work Education, 55(1), 160-175.

Davis, A. (2018). A Strengths-Based Intervention to Promote Class Attendance. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 23(1), 159-172.

Constance-Huggins, M. & Davis, A. (2017) Color-blind racial attitudes and their implications for achieving race-related grand challenges. Urban Social Work, 1(2), 104-116.

Mirick, R.G. & Davis, A. (2017). Making meaning of MSW students’ statistical abilities: The role of self-efficacy and knowledge-based assessment. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(2), 212-221.

Davis, A., Mirick, R., & Wladkowski, S. (2017). Lessons learned for successful dissertation completion from social work doctoral graduates. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 37(2), 107-120.

Davis, A. (2016). Journaling together: The anti-racism project in social work doctoral education. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 86(4), 1-22.

Davis, A. & Reber, D. (2016). Human rights and social and economic justice: Developing
competence in field education. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 1(2), 1-11.

Davis, A. & Livingstone, A. (2016). Sharing the stories of racism in doctoral education: The anti-racism project. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 36(2), 1-19.

Davis, A. & Gentlewarrior, S. (2015). White privilege and clinical social work: Reflections and recommendations. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 26(3), 191-208.

Presentations

Davis, A. & Mirick, R. (2018). BSW students’ perceptions of microaggressions in social work education. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.

Mirick, R. & Davis, A. (2018). Only liberal views welcome? Experiences of conservative students in BSW education. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.

Davis, A., Mirick, R., & Wladkowski, S. (2018). Social work dissertation committee chairs’ perceptions of their role. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference,
Washington, DC.

Mirick, R. & Davis, A. (2018). Students' Experiences of microaggressions in the social work classroom. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Constance-Huggins, M. & Davis, A. (2017). Intersecting attitudes of poverty and race: Opportunities for teaching. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Dallas, TX.

Davis, A. (2016). Historical knowledge of oppression and racial attitudes of new MSW student. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA.

Davis, A. & McQueen, B. (2016). White privilege and social work practice. White Privilege Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Davis, A. & Reber, D. (2016). Advancing human rights and social and economic justice in field education. Baccalaureate Program Directors Annual Conference, Dallas, TX.

Wladkowski, S., Mirick, R. & Davis, A. (2016). Understanding sampling and recruitment challenges in social work dissertation research. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Livingstone, A. & Davis, A. (2015). Writing the stories of racism in doctoral education: The anti-racism project. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Denver, CO.

Presentations

Davis, A. & Mirick, R. (2018). BSW students’ perceptions of microaggressions in social work education. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.

Mirick, R. & Davis, A. (2018). Only liberal views welcome? Experiences of conservative students in BSW education. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Orlando, FL.

Davis, A., Mirick, R., & Wladkowski, S. (2018). Social work dissertation committee chairs’ perceptions of their role. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference,
Washington, DC.

Mirick, R. & Davis, A. (2018). Students' Experiences of microaggressions in the social work classroom. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Constance-Huggins, M. & Davis, A. (2017). Intersecting attitudes of poverty and race: Opportunities for teaching. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Dallas, TX.

Davis, A. (2016). Historical knowledge of oppression and racial attitudes of new MSW student. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Atlanta, GA.

Davis, A. & McQueen, B. (2016). White privilege and social work practice. White Privilege Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Davis, A. & Reber, D. (2016). Advancing human rights and social and economic justice in field education. Baccalaureate Program Directors Annual Conference, Dallas, TX.

Wladkowski, S., Mirick, R. & Davis, A. (2016). Understanding sampling and recruitment challenges in social work dissertation research. Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

Livingstone, A. & Davis, A. (2015). Writing the stories of racism in doctoral education: The anti-racism project. Annual Program Meeting, Council of Social Work Education, Denver, CO.

Professional Activities and Certifications

Journal reviewer:
2016-present: reviewer, Journal of Social Work Education
2016-present: Editorial board member, Journal of Teaching in Social Work
2015-present: Board of consulting editors member, Journal of Progressive Human Services,

Professional organization service:
2017-present: Site visitor, Council on Social Work Education
2016-present: Abstract reviewer, Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting
2016-present: Symposium program planning committee, National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts chapter

Certification:
2008: Certificate in Advanced Clinical Supervision, Smith College School for Social Work

Clinical appointments:
2000-2011: Appointment to the Professional Staff of McLean Hospital with clinical privileges in social work with adults.
2001-2009: Appointment to the Allied Health Professional Staff in the Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Psychiatry with clinical privileges in the assessment, treatment, supervision, and teaching of individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Professional Activities and Certifications

Journal reviewer:
2016-present: reviewer, Journal of Social Work Education
2016-present: Editorial board member, Journal of Teaching in Social Work
2015-present: Board of consulting editors member, Journal of Progressive Human Services,

Professional organization service:
2017-present: Site visitor, Council on Social Work Education
2016-present: Abstract reviewer, Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting
2016-present: Symposium program planning committee, National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts chapter

Certification:
2008: Certificate in Advanced Clinical Supervision, Smith College School for Social Work

Clinical appointments:
2000-2011: Appointment to the Professional Staff of McLean Hospital with clinical privileges in social work with adults.
2001-2009: Appointment to the Allied Health Professional Staff in the Cambridge Health Alliance, Department of Psychiatry with clinical privileges in the assessment, treatment, supervision, and teaching of individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Awards and Honors

2016: Wheelock College Gordon Marshall Award for Research
2016: Wheelock College Faculty Innovation Leader
2010: Simmons College Dissertation Research Grant
2005: Simmons College Dean's Leadership Award
2003: Wellesley College Mary Elvira Stevens Traveling Fellowship
2001: Simmons College School of Social Work Community Service Award
2000: Simmons College School of Social Work Political Action and Social Justice Award
1997: Wellesley College Community Service Award

Awards and Honors

2016: Wheelock College Gordon Marshall Award for Research
2016: Wheelock College Faculty Innovation Leader
2010: Simmons College Dissertation Research Grant
2005: Simmons College Dean's Leadership Award
2003: Wellesley College Mary Elvira Stevens Traveling Fellowship
2001: Simmons College School of Social Work Community Service Award
2000: Simmons College School of Social Work Political Action and Social Justice Award
1997: Wellesley College Community Service Award
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