Ky sha Duncan

Dr. Ky-sha Duncan is a doctorally prepared clinical social worker and licensed clinician with advanced expertise in mental health, substance use treatment, and integrated behavioral health care. Their formal field of study is clinical social work, with a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree from Simmons University. With over eight years of professional experience spanning clinical practice, care coordination, and higher education—including graduate-level teaching since 2022—Dr. Duncan brings a comprehensive, practice-informed perspective to instruction.

Dr. Duncan serves as a graduate social work educator, teaching courses in advanced clinical practice, ethics, psychopathology, and assessment. In this role, they facilitate competency-based learning aligned with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards, support the development of clinical reasoning and professional identity, and prepare BSW and MSW candidates for field placement and licensure through structured feedback and mentorship.

Professionally, Dr. Duncan has extensive clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where they provide psychotherapy and comprehensive assessment for individuals with complex trauma, serious mental illness, and co-occurring substance use disorders. Their background also includes roles in behavioral health case management and outpatient psychotherapy, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and systems-level care coordination. Additionally, Dr. Duncan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, actively engaged in training and mentoring emerging clinicians.

Among their key accomplishments, Dr. Duncan has demonstrated excellence in graduate instruction across multiple institutions, contributed to the development of clinically rigorous, ethically grounded practitioners, and maintained high standards of care in complex healthcare systems. Their career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing clinical social work education, strengthening workforce readiness, and promoting high-quality, equitable behavioral health services.

Education

DSW, Simmons University

MSW, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

BA, Winston-Salem State University

AA, Forsyth Technical Community College

Awards / Honors

Faculty Excellence Award, , 2026

Presentations

Duncan, K. (2023). Intersectionality in Black LGBT Health Disparities: Understanding Gender, Race, and Sexual Orientation.

Duncan, K. (2020). Mental Health during a Pandemic.

Duncan, K. (2021). The relationship between Natural Disaster and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).