Dr. Dawn Belkin Martinez Promoted to Full Clinical Professor
Dr. Dawn Belkin Martinez has been promoted to full clinical professor at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW). Like all clinical professors, Belkin Martinez underwent a rigorous review process that showed her excellence as a teacher, scholar, and leader. Belkin Martinez has dedicated her time at the School to researching the impact of racial capitalism on society and individuals, as well as developing a curriculum that centers social justice in clinical practice.
Most recently, her work in Liberation Health has been celebrated in media stories for redefining how society approaches mental health as a societal issue. This work has won several grants, including one that educates Boston University medical students and residents in the Liberation Health Model of Assessment and Intervention, and one for developing a Boston mental health crisis response that does not involve law enforcement.
In addition to her role as a clinical professor, Belkin Martinez is the School’s associate dean of Equity & Inclusion (E&I). She co-leads the E&I Committee, which is the foundation for improving equity and inclusion at BUSSW and the broader community. In addition to launching the School’s monthly E&I speaker series, she led the development of “Understanding Structural & Institutional Racism,” the first free, online course that breaks down systemic racism through a social work lens. The course and the speaker series are open to the public to increase their impact in real world applications.
Belkin Martinez also co-chairs BUSSW’s Emerging Scholars Program, which brings climate justice experts to the School. The program’s goal is to increase awareness of climate change as a social justice issue that profoundly impacts marginalized communities, as well as build the tools society needs to address these issues.