Vanessa Drew

About Vanessa Drew

A member of Elon’s faculty since 2018, Dr. Drew-Branch is Associate Professor of Human Services Studies and African and African American Studies and an affiliated faculty for the Poverty and Social Justice Studies program. During that time, Vanessa has demonstrated a consistent record of effective teaching and undergraduate research mentoring, scholarship, and contributions to the life of the university. Dr. Drew-Branch regularly incorporates a variety of innovative, inclusive, and equity-minded teaching and learning strategies into her courses, including culturally responsive teaching, alternative modes of assessing knowledge, and community engaged courses. She has designed and taught a range of courses at Elon, including courses in Human Services Studies, Poverty and Social Justice Studies, and a Core capstone, and brings over a decade of experience with college teaching and supporting colleagues through faculty development before coming to Elon. A common theme in Dr. Drew-Branch’s teaching, scholarship and professional activity is supporting equity for historically marginalized groups. She has been teaching college-level DEI courses since 2007 and has created and facilitated DEI sessions for educators, private sector companies, and community members. Her teaching areas include mental health assessment, advocacy practice, human diversity, and social work practice skills. Her research and practice has expanded to include maternal mental health, grief, and loss. Dr. Drew-Branch is also a Sacred Passage End of life doula. Dr. Drew-Branch also actively contributes to life at the university, through a number of service roles on campus including (among others) serving on the Academic Service Learning Committee, the ECAS Social Science Curriculum Committee, and on other advisory and search committees.

Experience

1. Co Director of the Renaissance Scholars Program

   Elon University

   Aug 2024 — Present

Education

• PennWest California

  BS/BA, Social Work/ Psychology

  2002 — 2005

• PennWest California

  BSW and BA, Social Work and Psychology

  2003 — 2005

• West Virginia University

  MSW, Social Work

  2005 — 2007

• West Virginia University

  Ed.D, Higher Education Administration

  2007 — 2011