As one of the three 2023-2024 Diversity Dissertation Fellows at MTSU, Toni Owens teaches Cultural Diversity in the Department of Social Work while concurrently completing her dissertation. Toni is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Human & Community Development program at West Virginia University (WVU). She was born and raised in Kansas City, and she currently serves as a Founding Advisory Member for WVU’s Faculty Justice Network. She has a B.S. in Social Sciences with a minor in American Ethnic Studies and a B.S. in Social Work from Kansas State University (K-State) and a Master of Social Work degree from Park University. Toni is a licensed social worker, therapist and instructor with work experience in foster care & adoption, medical social work, behavioral health, philanthropic university advancement, multicultural student affairs and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. She has been teaching on the collegiate level since 2020 and completed her certificate in University Teaching at WVU in 2021. Her motivation for community engaged scholarship comes from her extensive history of community service and activism, as well as her desire to use research to assist with addressing community issues. Toni is currently a member of the Kansas City Association of Black Social Workers, the K-State Social Work Community Advisory Committee, NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. After Toni completes her Ph.D. program, she plans to transition into a full-time career that will combine her passions for higher education, social work, mental health and community development. She is a committed advocate that personally and professionally promotes holistic wellness and social justice for all.

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-Presentation: “Using Phenomenological Research to Illuminate the Counterstories of Black Students and Create Social Change”, Park University – Social Work Research Colloquium, 2023

-Presentation: “Graduate School 101: Master’s & Doctoral Degrees from Application to Graduation”, Big XII Conference on Black Student Government, 2023

-Presentation: “Respectful Leadership & Supervision”, Park University – Master of Social Work Program, 2023 -Event: “The Doctoral Journey” McNair Scholars Panel, Moderator & Organizer, Kansas State University McNair Scholars Program, 2022

-Presentation: “Mental Health & Self-Care Planning”, REACH Multicultural Student Leadership Conference, 2022

-Presentation: “The Black Experience at PWIs - Stories & Counterstories ‘From Trauma to Triumph’”, Tri-State Conference on Diversity & Inclusion, 2022

-Presentation: “Connecting with a Therapist/Mental Health Provider”, K-State Black Male Initiative, 2002

-Presentation: “Phenomenology & Underrepresented Students”, WVU-REM Doctoral Student Seminar, 2021

-Presentation: “Encouraging Diversity Conversations at PWIs”, West Virginia University Visitor’s Center, 2021

-Event: “The Diary of an International Student”, Moderator & Organizer, West Virginia University, 2021

-Event: “Women of Color Day” (Campus-wide), Host & Session Moderator, West Virginia University, 2020

-Presentation: “Sleep More. Stress Less.”, Black Girl Wellness, 2020

-Presentation: Communications Etiquette Training, Shared Services, West Virginia University, 2019

-Event: “Life After Undergrad”, Panelist & “Oral Reflections on KSU” Video, Moderator & Interviewer, K-State Black Alumni Reunion, 2019

-Presentation: WVU Office of Equity’s Title IX Workshop, Co-Presenter, 2019

-Presentation: “TRIO Alumni Relations – How TRIO Students/Alumni Can Be Better Served and Cultivated Beyond Program Completion”, Educational Opportunity Association Conference, 2019

-Event: Council for Opportunity Education Policy Seminar, TRIO Legislative Breakfast Student Impact Speaker, 2019

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