David L. Conley
Assistant Professor
David Conley is an assistant professor in UNCW’s School of Social Work. Conley’s teaching focuses on the intersections between policy practice, social welfare, political social work, and legislative advocacy, most notably the impact that social workers can have on creating and influencing policy and politics. His research focuses on political social work and highlights the social and political determinants of social welfare policy processes, including forms of structural stigma present in legislatures.
Prior to academia, Conley learned the policy processes that shape social work through his work as a state senate intern, public policy manger, and lobbyist. Based on these experiences as well as his research agenda, Conley created UNCW’s Political Social Work Initiative (PSWI) in order to maximize the political power of social workers. David holds a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech as well as MSW/PhD degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
Education
Ph.D. in Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University
MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University
B.S. in Psychology/Sociology, Virginia Tech
Specialization in Teaching
Political Social Work
Social Policy
Macro Practice
Research Interests
Political Social Work
Legislative Advocacy and Voting Behavior
Political Determinants of Social Work Policy Processes