Carol Grace Hurst

Dr. Carol Grace Hurst serves as Associate Professor of Social Work at Eastern Mennonite University within the Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences school. She previously directed the Social Work Program (2014-2022) and currently serves as Field Director (2018-present). Her institutional affiliations include the CSWE Board of Accreditation (2024-current) and Eastern Mennonite University's IRB (2023-current).

Her educational background includes:

• BA in Sociology with minors in English and Journalism from Eastern Mennonite University
• MSW specializing in Family and Child Welfare and Clinical Methods from Virginia Commonwealth University
• PhD in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Hurst's research centers on family systems across the lifespan, with dual focus on early childhood (breastfeeding advocacy, parenting support) and elder care (caregiver experiences, abuse prevention). Her feminist-informed scholarship examines power dynamics in clinical practice, particularly regarding bodily autonomy and social justice. She integrates trauma-informed perspectives across all work, emphasizing sustainable self-care for practitioners.

Analysis of her publications reveals consistent thematic threads: breastfeeding advocacy intersects with gender studies and public policy (2006-2018), while recent work shifts toward elder care narratives and community trauma response (2019-2025). Her methodology favors qualitative approaches examining relational dynamics within marginalized contexts.

Professional recognition includes:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Virginia)
• NASW Certified Clinical Supervisor
• Appointment to CSWE Board of Accreditation

Dr. Hurst has extensive supervisory experience from student to licensure levels, with particular focus on clinical supervision training. Her organizational leadership spans Providence Service Corporation's national training division and EMU's program development. Community engagement includes Beloved Community Charlottesville's anti-racism work and Quaker ministry support.