Tinesha Dunlap

Dr. Tinesha Dunlap is a social work educator and scholar-practitioner with more than 14 years of experience in public education, community schools leadership, and direct social work practice. Her teaching focuses on macro and micro social work practice, social-emotional learning, and educational equity.

Dr. Dunlap earned her Doctor of Social Work from the University of Southern California, a Master of Social Work with a clinical concentration from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of South Carolina. She holds licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker in the state of Georgia.

As a part-time faculty member at Walden University, Dr. Dunlap brings practice-informed perspectives to her courses, grounding instruction in real-world experience and a commitment to preparing socially conscious practitioners equipped to advance equity and justice in the communities they serve.

Her research centers the psychological, emotional, and relational well-being of Black youth in educational settings. Her doctoral capstone work produced Fresh Dreams, a culturally affirming social-emotional learning curriculum that uses virtual reality to promote emotional regulation, school connection, and identity affirmation among Black youth most affected by exclusionary discipline. Her work draws on relational-cultural theory, design justice, and community-based participatory research methods to co-create solutions with youth and families.

Prior to her academic career, Dr. Dunlap served as Assistant Director of Community Schools in one of Georgia's largest public school districts, where she led equity-focused wraparound services across more than 25 school sites. She has also worked as a school social worker, regional wraparound services coordinator, and alternative education program administrator. Across these roles, she facilitated professional development for educators, secured competitive grant funds as principal investigator, and provided direct services to students annually. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Society of Social Work Researchers, and the American Educational Research Association.

Education

DSW, University of Southern California

MSW, University of Georgia

BA, University of South Carolina