Yarneccia Dyson

Bio & Education

As a Social and Behavioral Scientist, Dr. Dyson engages in health disparities research that focuses on reducing and alleviating negative health outcomes by empowering marginalized communities through Implementation Science. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Social Work at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she also teaches in the Joint Master of Social Work Program and served on the Development Committee for the newly formed Joint Ph.D. Program with North Carolina A &T State University. Dr. Dyson grounds her teaching, scholarship, and research in empowerment-based theories and frameworks. Dr. Dyson is a Black Feminist Scholar who embodies collectivism and supporting others. To this end, she utilizes Black Feminist Theory, Womanism, and Intersectionality as epistemological lenses to explore and understand the lived experiences for communities experiencing maladaptive health outcomes.

Currently, Dr. Dyson is the Principal Investigator of Engage3, a Pilot Study that tests the feasibility of an HIV prevention intervention that she developed based on the findings from an initial study that focused on addressing the Sexual Health Needs of Black College Students enrolled at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). In addition, Dr. Dyson has over 20 years’ experience in Social Work practice and has held various roles including Social Services Administrator, Research Analyst, and Public Health Analyst. She is currently a Co-Principal Investigator on two HRSA Awards totaling $3 million and supports MSW students to obtain training in integrated health care settings as well as training to work with Opioid Use Disorder and other Substance Use Disorder affected communities Dr. Dyson has also served as the Project Manager on an NIH (R15) Funded Barbershop Study and delivers a sexual health based prevention intervention to African-American Fathers in teaching them how to facilitate discussions regarding safer sex behaviors and disease prevention.

Since 2019, she has served on a sub-award with Winston-Salem State University for the National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Grant Program. Dr. Dyson is also committed to Faculty Development with a focus on peer mentoring and supporting the success of Black Women and Women of Color Scholars in the Academy. In addition to research and scholarship, Dr. Dyson provides service to professional organizations. She has previously served as the Track Chair for the African-Americans and the African Diaspora Track of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) as well as Co-Chair of the Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity of CSWE. She is also a part of the Association for Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) Emerging Leader-Scholar Initiative.

Dr. Dyson also serves her University in various capacities. She is the Chair for the Department of Social Work Sub-Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She is also a member of the School wide Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as the Sub-Committee on Social Behavioral Sciences for University Research Grants. As a true believer of “Ubuntu” and the importance of “lift as you climb”, Dr. Dyson mentors many students and has served on dissertation committees across the southeast United States. Further, she serves on various editorial boards and has served as a Special Guest Editor and Special Guest Co-Editor on Special Issues that highlighted the brilliant work of social work education within HBCU’s and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). Finally, she is a graduate of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work at Clark Atlanta University where she earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work Policy, Planning, and Administration & Social Science (Cognate: Public Health). She also obtained a Bachelor of Social Work from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from The Florida State University.

Research Interests

• HIV and STI prevention
• Healthy equity/social determinants of health and access of marginalized communities
• Women’s studies and community engagement/community based participatory research