Department of Social Work

Education: 

• BSEd, MSW, and PhD, The University of Georgia
• Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy, Appalachian State University

Specialties:

• Expressive Arts
• Sexual and Gender Identity
• Individual and Family Therapy

Biography: Denise L. Levy, Ph.D., LCSW, REACE currently serves as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Beaver College of Health Sciences. She is also a Professor in the Department of Social Work; Affiliate Faculty in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies; and a Research Affiliate with the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services.

Dr. Levy began working at Appalachian State University in 2008 and has taught courses in both the MSW and BSW Programs, including Advanced Social Work Practice with Families, Cultural Competence in the Helping Professions, and field seminars. She previously served as the BSW Program Director and MSW Program Director.

Utilizing qualitative methods, Dr. Levy’s research focuses on how LGBTQIA+ individuals with a Christian upbringing resolve conflict between sexual/gender identity and religious beliefs. She has also co-facilitated a national survey of more than 700 diverse LGBTQIA+ individuals with a goal of understanding their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Levy is an ally and advocate, and believes in the power of bridge building and intergroup dialogue to foster understanding and acceptance.

When she is not working, Dr. Levy enjoys cooking, gardening, listening to music, running, creating art with her expressive arts writing group, traveling to Disney World, and spending time with her husband, Daniel, and their cat, Ruby. She likes to cheer for the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves, New Orleans Saints and Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Curriculum Vitae: view