Dr. Denise Howley

Dr. Denise Howley grew up in Brussels, Belgium - an experience that enabled her to travel all over Europe and be aware of the world outside of the United States. As an undergraduate student at Allegheny College, she knew she wanted to work in a field that focused on social justice but wasn't aware of social work as a profession. Post-graduation she moved to California to work with the United Farm Worker Union. She earned her first master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University and became a high school teacher, designing courses on liberation and feminist theology. Years later, after working in the peace movement, she became interested in social work and earned her MSW at Boston University and PhD at Simmons College. Peace witnesses in Washington DC, Haiti and Honduras followed. Later she became passionate with tying together the impact of trauma with education and on the benefits of mindfulness practices in addressing trauma. Since 2015 she has taught the trauma certificate post-graduate course at BSU and has also taught in the BSU School of Social Work since 2017. She loves to hike, ski and spend her time both on the beaches in Massachusetts and in the mountains of Maine. She is also a certified yoga instructor.