Donna Richards

Donna Richards is a Lecturer at Trent University's Peterborough Campus, specializing in social work with a focus on anti-racist education and mental health equity. She holds a PhD Candidate (ABD) status from York University and has extensive practice experience in social welfare, housing advocacy, and private practice. Her work intersects race, gender, and mental health, particularly among Black and racialized youth.

Education:

• BA (University of Toronto)
• BSW-Hons. (Toronto Metropolitan University)
• MSW (University of Toronto)
• PhD Candidate (ABD - York University)

Research Interests:

• Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)
• Racial trauma and mental health stigma
• Anti-oppressive pedagogy
• Policy analysis on Black youth
• Community mental health inequities

Her 2022 event 'Beyond Invisible: Black Youth Mental Health' attracted 300+ participants, showcasing her leadership in bridging academic and community engagement.

Grants & Service:

• Member, Academic Network, YouthRex (2021–present)
• Funding Advisor, Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Circle (2021)
• Editorial Board Member, INYI Journal (2019)

Her recent conference presentations (2024) address racial trauma and anti-Black racism in social work education.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with York University’s Youth Research and Evaluation Exchange (YouthRex) and co-leads projects on BIPOC mental health barriers in postsecondary settings.