md传媒国产剧

This feature is part of our faculty Q&A series. Learn more about our faculty.听

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Robert O. Motely, Jr., PhD
Assistant Professor听
Principal Director, Racism-based Violence Injury & Prevention Lab听

Hometown: Chicago, IL
Areas of expertise:听Racism, Violence, and Trauma
Specialization: Macro

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Q: Can you tell us a little about your own social work journey?听What brought you to BC?

In 2007, I experienced homelessness following a series of traumatic events. It was through the unwavering support and advocacy of social workers, family, and friends that I was able to navigate and overcome this period in my life. One individual, a social worker with both a BSW and MSW, encouraged me to consider returning to school. That conversation became a turning point and ultimately inspired me to pursue both degrees in social work. While completing my BSW, I was selected as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, a federally funded program that prepares underrepresented and first-generation college students for doctoral study through research and mentorship. This experience sparked my passion for research and inspired me to complete an MSW and then a PhD.

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I was drawn to md传媒国产剧 College because of its bold commitment to social justice and its vision of social work as both scholarship and service. At BCSSW, I found a place where I could continue confronting structural inequities while mentoring and empowering the next generation of social work scholars and practitioners our world so urgently needs.

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Q: Why did you choose a career path in social work? What were you doing before you worked at BC?

As a Black man who grew up on the West Side of Chicago, I was exposed to and directly impacted by a range of challenges that shaped my understanding of injustice and resilience. Social work gave me the tools to become a researcher, advocate, and change-maker. During my time as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, I was bitten by the research bug and realized that my path wasn鈥檛 just in practice, it was in building evidence that could shape policy, transform systems, and amplify the voices of marginalized communities. That experience solidified my decision to pursue research as a means to create lasting, structural change. Before joining BC, I was completing my PhD and managing the Race and Opportunity Lab at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

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Q: What is your classroom approach? What鈥檚 one takeaway you hope students walk away with from your classes?

My classroom is a space where personal narrative, theory, and empirical data intersect. I aim to foster a learning environment where students feel empowered to be critical thinkers, passionate advocates, and courageous truth-tellers. I hope students leave my courses understanding that social work is not just about interventions, it鈥檚 about justice. I want them to see that evidence can be used not just to evaluate but to liberate, and that every dataset tells a human story.

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Q: What kind of research or mentorship opportunities might students have with you?

Students working with me through the Racism-based Violence Injury & Prevention Lab engage in all stages of the research process, including study design, survey development, qualitative interviews, quantitative and mixed-methods data analysis, manuscript preparation, and scholarly dissemination. Our work centers on the intersection of racism, violence, and trauma, and how these forces shape mental health and health behavior outcomes among emerging adults (ages 18鈥�29) in the United States. As a mentor, my objective is twofold: to cultivate students鈥� technical acumen in empirical research and to foster their intellectual self-efficacy as scholars. I challenge them to look beyond the traditional practitioner role and envision themselves as critical thinkers, thought leaders, and contributors to knowledge production in social work. My goal is to equip students with the skills and confidence to lead transformative work in both academic and applied settings.

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Q: What is the subject of your research? Can you describe any recent or notable projects in layperson鈥檚 terms?

My research focuses on how perceived racism, especially in the form of negative or violent encounters with police, can be experienced as a form of trauma. We study how exposure to perceived racism-based police violence (RPV) affects the mental health and behavior of emerging adults. In one recent project, we developed new tools to better measure how people experience RPV. These tools include three separate scales: one for people who have been directly harmed by police, one for those who have witnessed incidents in person, and one for those who have seen them through media, like viral videos. This helps us understand the full range of how people are affected. We found that each type of RPV exposure is linked to psychological distress and can contribute to harmful behaviors, such as substance use. We use this research to inform public policy, improve mental health support, and help shape national conversations around justice, healing, and police accountability.

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Q: What are some of the notable highlights of your career that you are most proud of?

I鈥檓 proud of turning my lived experience into a body of research that uplifts marginalized communities. I鈥檝e published extensively, secured national funding, and received a book contract with the Oxford University Press.

But I鈥檓 most proud of mentoring students who go on to lead with purpose. Seeing them presentat conferences, publish work, or enter the field as fierce advocates鈥攖hat鈥檚 the highlight of my work.

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Q: What makes BCSSW unique? What would you say to someone considering adegree in social work here?

BCSSW is a place that not only teaches social work, but it also lives it! The community is intellectually rigorous, socially engaged, and unapologetically justice-oriented. Students are encouraged to ask hard questions, build meaningful relationships, and connect their personal journeys to larger movements.

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To anyone considering BCSSW: Bring your story with you. Let it fuel your purpose. This School will give you the foundation to become not just a social worker, but a transformative force.

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Q: What is one word you would use to describe the BCSSW community? Why?

Empowering. BCSSW meets you where you are and challenges you to become who you鈥檙e meant to be. Whether you鈥檙e exploring new ideas, healing from your own experiences, or stepping into your leadership, this community equips you with the support and tools to thrive.

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Q: What does social work mean to you? What鈥檚 your 鈥渨hy鈥� for doing this work?

Social work is a sacred calling. It鈥檚 the commitment to walk alongside those who have been ignored, silenced, or discarded. My 鈥渨hy鈥� is rooted in my own experiences and the social workers, family members, and friends who helped me get my life back on track. I believe we are called to be the voices of the voiceless, the advocates for the marginalized, and the champions of change. The work can be exhausting, but it is also sacred. And as I often tell incoming students: the world needs social workers now more than ever. Your decision to be here is nothing short of transformative.