Dr. Cassandra Simon Headshot

Dr. Cassandra Simon is an associate professor at the University of Alabama School of Social Work. Previous to her 2000 appointment at the University of Alabama, Dr. Simon was on faculty at The University of Texas at Arlington. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Dr. Simon has a B. S. in psychology from the University of New Orleans, a MSW from Louisiana State University, and a Ph.D. in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington. A 23 year triple negative breast cancer survivor, Dr. Simon is committed to educating others in the areas of cancer and culture. Dr. Simon is a trained diversity leader with a commitment to help create a just society and contribute to the common good. She has conducted numerous workshops on culture, multiculturalism, diversity, equity, and justice, with over two decades of teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate levels in these areas. She has won numerous awards for her teaching, research, service, and community engagement activities, including the prestigious Morris L. Mayer Premier Award, the Autherine Lucy Award for commitment to service to students of color, and the Buford Peace Award for a commitment to peace and justice in her personal and professional lives. She served 5 years as chair of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation African American National Advisory Council and a member of their Comprehensive Inclusion Committee. Dr. Simon is the founding editor of the Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship. She notes one of her most meaningful achievements as being the first African American valedictorian of the historically white Lake Charles High School for which she received a key to the city in 2013.