What interests me most about social work is the connection between clinical practice and education. My professional background spans mental health, trauma, racial trauma, crisis intervention, child welfare, sports performance, clinical supervision, and social work education. I am particularly interested in how we prepare future social workers to translate theory and evidence-informed knowledge into ethical, culturally responsive, and effective practice. My clinical experiences continue to inform my teaching and allow me to bring real-world perspectives into the classroom.

I am passionate about seeing students make the connection between what they learn in the classroom and what they encounter in practice. It is especially rewarding when students move beyond simply understanding a concept and begin to critically apply it to clients, communities, and real-world situations. I enjoy creating experiential learning opportunities that challenge students to reflect, think critically, engage in difficult conversations, and strengthen their clinical and professional skills.

My teaching philosophy is grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model and guided by the core values of the social work profession, including service, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and the dignity and worth of the person. I believe learning should be collaborative, experiential, reflective, and connected to real-world practice.

I would like my students to know that I genuinely value the relationships I develop with them and care about their learning and professional growth. My teaching style is enthusiastic, open-minded, friendly, and often humorous. I want my classroom—including the online classroom—to be a warm and respectful space where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing perspectives, taking intellectual risks, and learning from one another.

I hope students leave my classes with greater confidence in their ability to think critically, apply social work knowledge to real-world practice, and engage with clients and communities in an ethical, culturally responsive, and compassionate manner. I want them to strengthen their self-awareness, recognize the importance of relationships and self-care, and remain open to perspectives and experiences different from their own. Most importantly, I want students to develop practical skills, professional confidence, and a commitment to continued learning that they can carry into their field experiences and future social work practice.

Outside of teaching and clinical practice, my family, sports, travel, and music are important parts of my life. I especially enjoy attending football games, watching my boys play football, and being one of my daughter’s biggest cheerleaders. I am also a huge sports fan and proudly support my Los Angeles teams!

I love traveling, particularly internationally, because I enjoy experiencing different cultures, learning about people and traditions, and seeing the world from new perspectives. When I have the opportunity to relax and have fun, you can also find me attending concerts and comedy shows. I believe that finding time for family, laughter, travel, and the things we enjoy is an important part of maintaining balance in our personal and professional lives.

Naynette M. Kennett, Ph.D., LCSW, PMH-C, is a licensed clinical social worker and Clinical Assistant Professor in the University of Georgia School of Social Work. Her research interests include cultural competence, trauma and racial trauma in clinical practice, infant mental health, sports performance and mental health, and perinatal mental health. She brings extensive clinical and instructional experience to her work with the Online Master of Social Work program, with a focus on preparing students for thoughtful, culturally responsive social work practice. Kennett earned her Ph.D. in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and holds clinical social work licenses in Georgia, Tennessee and California.

Learn more about Naynette Kennett.