Samuel Odom, PhD, MPH, MSW, ACSW is an Associate Professor of Practice within the School of Social Work. Dr. Odom earned his PhD in counseling from the Capella University Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, an MPH from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, an MSW in Administration, Planning & Organizing/Health & Mental Health from Southern University at New Orleans and a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Dillard University.
Dr. Odom is a veteran leader, clinician, and military social work scholar with more than two decades of professional experience in the field of combat social work. He is the editor of Journal of Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Services: An International Journal of Theory, Practice & Research. And he is the CSWE Steering Committee Co-Chair for the CSWE Specialized Practice Guide for Military Social Work, 3rd Edition (2024), the CSWE Track Co-Chair for the Military Personnel and Veterans, First Responders, and Their Families and Communities Track.
Dr. Odom served as President & CEO of the historic Dryades YMCA New Orleans for one year.
Dr. Odom's research interests are at the intersection of military social work, international military social work, uniformed social work officers’ lived experiences including US Army social work officers' lived experiences, coping strategies, moral injury and behavioral health. His research efforts are broad to incorporate (a) the exploration of the military culture that leads to embracing & understanding the integration of diverse groups and (b) ameliorating the effects of military combat stress and trauma, specifically combat and deployment on service members and their family members. He is a member of the International Military Social Work Consortium Work Group and other national social work organizations designed to springboard his research interests and foster scholarly collaboration.
Areas of Expertise
- Uniformed Social Work
- Military Social Work
- Moral Injury
Education
- PhD, Counseling, from Capella University Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- MSW, Southern University at New Orleans
- MPH, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport
- BA, Philosophy, from Dillard University
Courses
- SW 710 Complex Learning Environments (DSW required course)
Selected Publications
- Editor, Journal of Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Services: An International Journal of Theory, Practice & Research
- Council on Social Work Education & Cohen Veteran Network (2024). Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Military Social Work. 3rd Edition. Alexandria, VA.
Select Presentation
- Wrestling with the Spirit: Moral Injury and Uniformed Military Social Work Officers. (2022). Louisiana Employee Assistance Professionals Association Workshop. Metairie, LA.
- Virtual 2020 C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference | Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Incorporated (2020). National & International Audience of 4,226 Registrants.
- Celebrating Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. at 90: Voting Rights, Civil Rights & the Use of Nonviolence Symposium. (2019). New Orleans Public Library. New Orleans, LA.
- Recognizing Giants in the Human Services: Public Transportation Retrospective. (2019). Southern University at New Orleans. New Orleans, LA
- Wrestling with the Spirit: Moral Injury amongst Military Social Workers. (2019). 69th Annual Convention of North American Association of Christians in Social Work. Indianapolis, IN.
- Kappa Alpha Psi Undergraduate Leadership Summit: Mental Health Awareness. (2019). National Founders Day. Tampa, FL.
- Dr. Horace Mann Bond: Justice Series on Education and Mental Health Disparities. (2019). Dillard University Professional School and Sciences Building. New Orleans, LA.
- Center for Advancing Opportunity: Social Work, Education & Business. (2019). Southern University at New Orleans Millie M. Charles School of Social Work. New Orleans, LA.
- Reflections of Diversity, Oppression and Social Functioning of Special Populations through the Lens of Social Work Practice: How do Americans Museums reflect the Intersectionality of Social Justice and Art. (2019). New Orleans Jazz Museum. New Orleans, LA.
- Justice For Girls Human Trafficking Forum: Social Work, Psychology & SCLC. (2018). Dillard University. New Orleans, LA.
- Essence of Jazz & Social Work Practice Symposium. (2017). Dillard University Professional School and Sciences Building. New Orleans, LA.
Community Involvement
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- CSWE Track Co-Chair, Military Personnel and Veterans, First Responders and Their Families and Communities
- International Military Social Work Consortium Work Group
- Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Military Social Work
- Mayor's Military Advisory Committee, City of New Orleans
- New Orleans East Hospital Board of Commissioners
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Samuel Odom in the News
Two Simmons Faculty Members Receive North Star Fellowships
Samuel Odom from the School of Social Work and Don Simmons from the School of Library and Information Science, have been named fellows by the North Star Collective Faculty Fellowship, which is designed to promote supportive community and racial healing for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) faculty members across New England.
Simmons School of Social Work Welcomes New Faculty
Simmons University’s School of Social Work Programs welcomed four new faculty members this academic year, with expertise in addiction treatment, hospice and bereavement support, racism-based trauma, and military social work.
Simmons School of Social Work Holds First Annual Veterans Day Celebration
On November 6, the Simmons School of Social Work hosted a hybrid Veterans Day celebration to honor servicemembers past and present, with a keynote address delivered by General Gary M. Brito, the 18th Commanding General of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Simmons Professor Practices Social Work in Support of Veterans
School of Social Work Associate Professor of Practice Samuel Odom shares the value of the Simmons MSW Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families certificate program.