Carol Speight

  • Professor and Program Director, Social Work
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Carol Bennett-Speight

Dr. Bennett-Speight is an accomplished leader in social work education and institutional administration. Since 2011, she has previously served as Director of the Social Work Program, Associate Professor, and Assessment Coordinator at the Mercy University School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SSBS) in Dobbs Ferry, NY. During the 2012-2013 academic year, Dr. Bennett-Speight was appointed Interim Associate Dean of the Mercy University School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, collaborating extensively with the Dean to execute a range of fiscal, curricular, student/staff/faculty support, and assessment responsibilities covering graduate and undergraduate programs within the school.

Dr. Bennett-Speight returned to Mercy in 2022 after serving as the Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs at Hunter College and is currently serving as the Interim Program Director for the Social Work Program in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

  • Doctor of Social Work, (DSW) School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.  (1996).  Dissertation – “Mules uh de World” – Profile of Employed African-American Elder/Adult Dependent Caregivers:  The Impact of Family and Employment Role Responsibilities. (May 1996).
  • Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education (HERS) at Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA.  (1996). Certificate in Higher Education Administration.
  • Advance Administration Certificate, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.  (1991).
  • Advance Clinical Practice Certificate, Pennsylvania Society of Clinical Social Work, Philadelphia, PA. 
  • Master of Social Work, (MSW) Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, N J. 
  • Bachelor of Science, (BS) Pennsylvania State University, College of Health and Human Development, State College, PA.
  • Thompson-Hassel, Ruth (former Senator) and Carol Bennett-Speight. Supportive Housing Project:  Partnership with NYC and Westchester Colleges to provide students aging out of foster care with supportive housing. (2017 – 2019)
  • Bennett-Speight, Carol and Yolanda Dent.  Supportive Housing: Collaboration among Colleges.  (paper under review) McNair Scholarship.
  • Conducted research in the area of evaluating the community impact of social philanthropy with students at-risk at the University of Pennsylvania.  (2008-2009)
  • Provided strategic planning and grant development for the Child Welfare Institute at Rhode Island College School of Social Work. (2006-2008)
  • Chair, Solutions for Children and Families, United Way, Providence Rhode Island (2006-2009).  Facilitated focus initiatives for children and families in the state of Rhode Island.
  • Continued Research – Economic Status of African-American Families, community development and philanthropy, student success (K-12), and Work/Family life issues.
  • Bennett-Speight, Carol. (March 2018). Re-accreditation Self-Study and Outcome Measures. Mercy University Social Work Program, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
  • Bennett-Speight, C. (2015) Balancing of Work and Family Needs, Ethics and Family.Edited by Czeslaw Karkowski, Cognella, Inc. Ch. 20.
  • Bennett-Speight, C. (2014) Mercy University Marketing/GAP Analysis for Masters in Social Work Program.  In affiliation with Mercy University.
  • Bennett-Speight, C., (2012) New York State Department of Education, (NYDE) approval of the Bronx Campus for Senior Classes. In affiliation with Mercy University.