Specific Pioneering Contributions
Dr. Freddie L. Avant serves as Director, Associate Dean and Professor of the School of Social Work at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Lyon College, in Batesville, Arkansas, MSW degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a Ph.D. in social work from Jackson State University. Dr. Avant was the first African American to serve as Director and Associate Dean of the School of Social Work. He also served as the Interim Dean of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies Department from 2021-22. He has been an academic leader and educator at Stephen F. Austin State University for almost forty years. As director he was involved in significant growth in enrollment and the delivery of social work education as he guided the creation of campus based, offsite locations and online delivery options. Over the course of his academic career, he has served as field education director, director the BSW and MSW programs and Associate Dean and Director of the School of Social Work. His leadership also contributed to the development of the Rural Social Work Research and Development Center and a significant growth in social work educational programs with two offsite locations and online delivery options. Additionally, he led the development of the Doctorate of Social Work. Moreover, the School experienced tremendous growth with an array of scholarships and the establishment of an endowed professorship.
Career Highlights
Over the course of Avant’s career, he has focused on the growth and accessibility of social work education and practice to all to explore this dynamic profession. In the beginning of his social work practice career, he served as a clinical social worker in a state hospital and later as the Director of Social Work for a state facility that served individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities. His positions consisted of developing treatment-oriented environments that addressed the needs of multiple clients with psychiatric diagnoses, intellectual developmental disabilities and criminal backgrounds. Because of these experiences he was often requested to serve as expert witnesses on various criminal and court cases.
Significant Achievements and Awards
Avant has received a number of awards recognition for his contributions to the community and the social work profession. He was selected to participate in international program initiatives in Germany and Brazil while teaching at Stephen F. Austin State University. He was awarded the National Association of Baccalaureate Program Director Presidential Honor Award, Selected to serve on the Advisor Committee by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D. C., received the Stephen F. Austin State University Distinguished Grant Award, Education Service Legend Award from Hospice of Pine, Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Association of Social Workers – Texas Chapter, Hospice of the Pine Education Service Legend Award, President’s Award from the Concerned Black Men of Lufkin, Texas, and the Presidential Honor Award from the National Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors, Stephen F. Austin State University – Distinguished Grant Award Recipient, Distinguished Alumnus Award – Lyon College and the Office of Multicultural Affairs Diversity Award.
Selected Significant Publications
Avant, F. L. (2018). BPD President’s Address to the 2008 Annual Conference,
Challenges and Opportunities: Crossing Railroad Tracks. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work Education. Council on Social Work Education.
Avant, F. L. (2014). Persistence of hope and dreams. In E. J. Clark and E. F. Hoffler (Eds)., Hope Matters: The Power of Social Work. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
Avant, F. L. Rice-Rich, K, Copeland, S. (2013) Leadership and rural communities.
International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, 3(8), 53-59.
Avant, F. L. (2014). African americans living in rural community: Building assets from an afrocentric perspective. In T. L. Scales, C. L. Streeter, & H. S. Cooper (Eds)., Rural Social Work: Building and Sustaining Community Capacity (75-85). New Jersey: Wiley.