Areas of Interest
Social Work Practice in Urban Centers, Cultural Competent Practice, Cultural Competent Organizational Development, African American Children and Families
Activities and Acomplishments
Dr. Gray has been committed to preparing practitioners for responsible and effective service delivery work with communities of color. She has an extensive history of working on both state and federal training grants as well as consulting with a host of agencies striving to become culturally competent in their philosophy, policies, staffing and practice interventions.
Sylvia Sims Gray
PhD
Professor
PhD - Wayne State University
M.S.W. - Michigan State University
BA - Tennessee State University
358 Marshall Office
317 Marshall Main
734.487.0920 Office
734.487.0393 Main
734.487.6832 Fax
Practice Experience
With Dr. Lynn M. Nybell, Dr. Gray provides consultation to agencies in southeastern Michigan on culturally competent organizational development. She has served as a community cultural expert for the Boulevard Temple/Eastern Michigan University Collaborative Project and as Faculty Liaison for the Comer Schools and Families Initiative, Detroit Public Schools. Prior to taking a position at Eastern Michigan University, Dr. Gray served as Director of the National Child Welfare Training Center (University of Michigan), and held positions in administration, training and child welfare within the Michigan Department of Human Services.
Honors and Awards
Eastern Michigan University, Sabbatical Leave Award (2007). Defining the Artistry of Culturally Competent Leadership for Social Work Students in Different and Challenging Times.
Eastern Michigan University, Everett L. Marshall Fellow Award for Excellence in Teaching (2005).
Eastern Michigan University, Women of Excellence Award (2003).
Eastern Michigan University, Sabbatical Leave Award (1999-2000). In the Vanguard: Learning from Community Based African American Programs and Agencies.
Eastern Michigan University, Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award (1998).
Recent Publications
Nybell, Lynn and Sylvia Sims Gray (2009). Everyday Dramas, Possible Plots: On Assessing Cultural Competency in a Child Welfare Agency, Reflections (15) Summer, Number 3.
Gray, Sylvia Sims and Nybell, (2007). Putting Education in Context: Preparing Students for Practice in an Urban Center, Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 27 (1), 213-232.
Nybell, Lynn and Sylvia Sims Gray (2004). Race. Space, Place: Meaning of "Cultural Competence" in Three Child Welfare Agencies, Social Work 49 (1). 17-25.
