Samuel Odom

Samuel Odom is an Associate Professor of Practice at Simmons University’s School of Social Work. He is a veteran leader, clinician, and scholar specializing in military social work, with over 20 years of experience. His roles include editorial board memberships for Journal of Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Services, and co-chair of the CSWE Specialized Practice Guide for Military Social Work (3rd Edition, 2024). He focuses on military culture, combat stress, moral injury, and uniformed social work officers’ experiences.

Education:

• PhD in Counseling, Capella University
• MSW, Southern University at New Orleans
• MPH, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
• BA in Philosophy, Dillard University

Research Interests: Odom’s work bridges international military social work, moral injury mitigation, and public health. He explores military culture’s impact on service members and families, emphasizing trauma intervention and diversity integration. His research fosters collaborations through the International Military Social Work Consortium and national organizations.

Recent Article Trends: His publications address moral injury in military personnel, combat stress coping strategies, and curriculum development for military social work. He also highlights leadership diversity in military contexts, reflecting his commitment to ethical and inclusive practices.

Awards:

• North Star Collective Faculty Fellow (2024)
• KΑΨ Leadership Conference National Chairman (2019–2023)
• Dr. Elbert K. Fretwell Award (2019)

Advising & Community Engagement: Odom teaches advanced courses like Military Social Work I & II and Social Welfare Policy. He advises through professional development workshops for Defense/VA careers and leads initiatives on suicide prevention and diversity in leadership. He serves on the Mayor’s Military Advisory Committee and New Orleans East Hospital Board.

Labs & Collaborations: Active in the International Military Social Work Consortium and CSWE committees, he co-edits major curricular guides and organizes symposiums on topics like moral injury and veterans’ mental health.