Samantha Francois, PhD

Education

• PhD in Psychological Sciences from Tulane University 
• MS in Psychological Sciences from Tulane University 
• MA in Curriculum & Instruction from Xavier University of Louisiana 
• BS in Psychology from Smith College,

Biography

Samantha Francois, PhD is an Assistant Professor and Sonja Bilger Romanowski Early Career Professor at Tulane University’s School of Social Work specializing in adolescent development, racism-based trauma, structural violence, and anti-racist research. Dr. Francois is also an executive director of Tulane University’ Violence Prevention Institute. As an interdisciplinary, community-engaged developmental scientist, Dr. Francois’ research uses systems perspectives and critical race theory to understand the intersections of individual, community, and cultural factors on mental health and educational outcomes in African American youth. She also explores social justice activism and organizing as a protective factor for African American adolescents exposed to neighborhood and structural violence, and she investigates trauma-informed policies and practices in youth-serving community-based organizations and youth conceptualizations of neighborhood and violence using community-based participatory approaches. Dr. Francois designs and executes research through an anti-racist and intersectional lens aimed at social transformation and community liberation. Dr. Francois has a doctorate in psychological sciences from Tulane University. 

Selected Funding

2021 - Co-PI, Guaranteed Income Initiative for Opportunity Youth in New Orleans, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, $25,000

2021 - PI, Sexual and Reproductive Health During Disasters, Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Packard Foundation, $30,000

2021 - PI, Examining the syndemic effect of Violence Exposure and COVID-19 Stressors on Mental Health Disparities in African American Youth, Tulane Committee on Research Fellowship, $10,000

2019 - Susan Bilger Romanowski Early Career Professorship, Tulane University School of Social Work

2018 - Co-PI, Pincus Scholarship Program, Pincus Family Foundation, $550,000

2018 - Co-PI, Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Opportunity Youth, Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science, $10,000

2018 - PI, The Greater New Orleans Public Safety Re-Envisioning Project, Tulane University Center for Public Service, $4,000

2016 - PI, Connecting At-Risk Students to Services, Greater New Orleans Foundation and NOLA FOR LIFE, $70,000

2016 - Co-PI, Trauma-Informed Collaborative Care for Low-Income African Americans with PTSD, NIH, $100,000

Selected Publications

Amakye, R., Francios, S., Phelps, C., Schafer, K. (In press). Adapting a school-based trauma intervention to support students: A pilot study. Journal of Trauma Studies in Education.

Hollinger, G., & Francois, S. (In press). Is alternative school assignment followed by improved school grades? Urban Social Work.

Francois, S., & Davis, C. (2021). Lifting the veil: Considering the conceptualizations of racism-based trauma among social workers. Qualitative Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1473325021997542.

Davis, C., & Francois, S. (2021). “All skinfolk ain’t kinfolk”: Engaging with racial identity and racism-based trauma in social work curricula. Journal of Teaching in Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2021.1931637.

Davis, C., & Francois, S. (2019). Behind closed doors: Considering a phasic and traumatic incarceration experience. Traumatology. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/trm0000227.

Cunningham, M., Francois, S., Rodriguez, G., & Lee, X. (2018). Resilience and coping: An example in African American adolescents. Research in Human Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2018.1502547.

Francois, S. (2018). Supporting African American mothers following a stillbirth: Relationship quality matters. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 33 (4), 6-9. https://icea.org/supporting-african-american-mothers-following-a-stillbirth-relationship-quality-matters/

Canterberry, M, Francois, S., Van Hatum, T., & Rudov, L. (2018). School lunch consumption among three food service providers in New Orleans. Journal of School Health, 88(2), 93-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12584.

Community Involvement / Board Positions

• CNO Children and Youth Planning Board, Youth Master Plan Working Group, 2020-2021
• Society for Community Research and Action, Member, 2019-present
• Arts Council New Orleans, Board and Programs Committee Chair, 2018-present
• Traumatology, Associate Editor, 2018-present
• Society for Social Work and Research, Member, 2018-present
• Child Development and Violence and Victims, Reviewer, 2017-present
• Society for Research on Adolescence, 2005-2012 & 2018-present