Description:

This webinar aims to explore and address the challenges faced by rural women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). The presenter will identify key barriers to safe disclosure and escape, while analyzing the intersecting impacts of race, poverty, faith, and isolation on survivors. Participants will be able to evaluate trauma-informed and community-based intervention strategies, apply research findings to strengthen coordinated community responses, and develop actionable strategies to support policy change and improve resource access for rural IPV survivors.

Presenter(s):

Dr. Shani Collins-Woods is a dynamic speaker, research associate, and consultant with a distinguished career in social work education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Tougaloo College, a Master of Arts in Africana Women’s Studies from Clark Atlanta University, a Master of Social Work, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Dr. Collins Woods’ career as a college educator, beginning in 2007, has included teaching at various institutions, including community colleges, HBCUs, and large universities. Complementing her teaching experience is extensive post-doctoral training in population health, health equity, and community-based participatory research, obtained at Brown University, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. Driven by a passion to honor her parents’ legacy through stroke prevention research, since 2021, Dr. Collins Woods has collaborated with Dr. Eva Mistry and other researchers from the University of Cincinnati on their ground-breaking Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) study, “Treatment with Endovascular Intervention for Stroke Patients with Existing Disability.” As the BSW Program Director and Associate Professor of Social Work at a mid-sized university, Dr. Collins Woods is dedicated to educating and mentoring future social workers. Her research focuses on advancing health equity and addressing systemic disparities. A passionate writer, Dr. Collins Woods is the author of several inspirational titles including her 2015 release, the SHE Devotional: 31 Daily Inspirations for a Woman’s Spirit, Health and Emotions. Dr. Collins Woods is also the founder and owner of Collins Consulting Company, LLC, where she serves as a sought-after speaker, inspirational author, and research associate. Through her consulting work, she partners with organizations to develop impactful strategies that foster sustainable community change. Dr. Collins Woods is a member of the Nashville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Council on Social Work Education, where she serves as a Site Visitor (2023-2026).

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