Deneca Winfrey Avant

Deneca Winfrey Avant, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Social Work at Illinois State University, where involvement spans from August 2016 to the present, including roles as Interim Assistant Vice President for Faculty Development, Diversity, and Learning, and Interim Director of the School of Social Work. Prior experience includes serving as an Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at Illinois State University between 2009 and 2016. Additionally, Deneca Winfrey Avant is a Planning and Development Specialist and ISU Academy Director at First Star, Inc., focusing on college preparation for high school foster youth in Central Illinois since July 2016. Deneca Winfrey Avant holds a PhD in Educational Organization and Leadership and multiple degrees in social work and education from various institutions, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, and Jackson State University.