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Executive Director of Accreditation

Collina D. Cooke, PhD, LCSW-C, is the Executive Director of Accreditation at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). In this role, she provides leadership and oversight to ensure that accreditation continues to uphold the highest standards and promote access, representation, and student success in social work education programs nationwide. She previously served as Director of CSWE’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), where for two years she advanced mentorship, leadership development, and advocacy for emerging social work professionals committed to addressing the mental health and substance use needs of underserved communities.

Dr. Cooke brings extensive expertise in program management, compliance, grant writing, counseling, qualitative research, and data administration. Prior to her work at CSWE, she provided mentorship to underrepresented students, secured grant funding, advocated for injured workers, and supported individuals navigating substance use and mental health disorders. She has also practiced as a social worker in the Albany, NY area for more than a decade.

Dedicated to upholding the core values of social work, Dr. Cooke integrates scholarship, leadership, and service in her work. Her scholarship reflects a deep commitment to addressing health disparities for underrepresented populations. Her recent publication, “Behind the Mask of Black Women Social Workers: Workplace Integration, Code-Switching, and the Silent Struggles” in the Journal of Social Work Education, examines the workplace experiences of Black women social workers and offers organizational strategies for creating more inclusive work environments.

A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Cooke holds a PhD in Social Work from the University at Albany (State University of New York), where she is a three-time alumna. She is licensed as a clinical social worker in New York and Virginia and as a licensed certified social worker-clinical in Maryland. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, she enjoys painting and traveling in her spare time.