Cudore L. Snell

Dr. Cudore L. Snell is a Full Professor at the School of Social Work, Howard University, where he has been a faculty member for over 31 years. He also serves as the Assistant Provost for International Programs in the Office of the Provost. His academic and professional work spans both clinical and international social work, with deep engagement in mental health, social justice, and global education initiatives.

Dr. Snell earned his Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Psychology from the University of the Western Cape (1974), followed by an Honours Degree in Psychiatric Social Work from the University of Cape Town (1975). He received a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1981 through a Rotary International Scholarship, and a Doctor of Social Work from Howard University in 1989, with a dissertation on help-seeking behavior among young street males in Washington, DC.

His research interests focus on international social work, mental health (particularly childhood and maternal), Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), and the intersection of race, gender, and economic distress in social work practice. He has led Howard University’s International Service-Learning Program to Cape Town, South Africa, for over a decade, emphasizing community-based prevention and research.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward global public health and equity in social work. Topics include social isolation among young Black women, the impact of economic hardship on international practice, FASD in South African wine regions, and the integration of Black perspectives in clinical social work. These works reflect a consistent commitment to marginalized populations and systemic change.

• Social Work Pioneer, NASW
• Rotary International Scholarship (1979)

Dr. Snell has been a key figure in advancing global social work education, notably as former Chair of the Council on Social Work Education’s Global Commission. He is actively involved in the NASW International Committee and USICSW. While specific grant details are not mentioned, his leadership in international programs and sustained research indicates significant programmatic and possibly funded initiatives. He mentors students and contributes to curriculum development, particularly in international and direct practice contexts.

He leads and participates in collaborative research teams focused on FASD prevention and international service-learning in South Africa, working with local and U.S.-based institutions to address public health and social justice challenges.