Shawn is the Assistant Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and an Associate Professor of Race and Ethnicity Studies at Salem Academy and College in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Ricks has been a nationally invited speaker and facilitator in the areas of diversity, equity and social justice. She received her Ph. D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations, and a Masters in Counselor Education from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Dr. Ricks a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist and a nationally certified Hypnotherapist. She is trained through SAMHSA in Motivational Interviewing, Strengthening Families and Preventing Long Term Anger and Aggression in Youth (PLAAY). Dr. Ricks is also a human services board certified practitioner, and co-editor of the Journal of Human Services. Her research interests include the psychosocial wellbeing of Black women (both inside and outside of the academy), epistemic injustice, and the impact of racial trauma on Black women and girls.