Nadaya Brantley

Nadaya Brantley serves as Assistant Teaching Professor and Social Work Undergraduate Director at Syracuse University's School of Social Work. She joined the faculty in Spring 2022 after eleven years in university field education roles including Internship Placement Coordinator and Assistant Director of BSSW Field Education since January 2011.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Cultural Foundations of Education, Syracuse University (in progress)
• Master of Social Work (MSW), Syracuse University (2006)
• Bachelor of Science in Social Work, Syracuse University (2004)

Brantley's research employs critical race theory to examine intersectional identities and educational equity in higher education, with specialized focus on race/ethnicity, disability, and social work policy. As a New York State Licensed Master Social Worker, her practice integrates systems thinking through Bell Hooks' transformative paradigm, addressing mental health, developmental disabilities, and incarcerated populations. Her teaching spans introductory social work, human diversity, policy courses, and field instruction practicums.

She actively mentors through student organizations including SU-NAACP, SU-Special Olympics of New York, Social Worker’s United, and Juvenile Urban Mentoring Program (J.U.M.P. Nation), while serving on multiple departmental committees.