Rate My Professor Cassis DeSena-Jacobs

Cassie DeSena-Jacobs, D.S.W., LCSW, M.S., is an Assistant Professor in Teaching and Director of Mental Health Initiatives at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. A first-generation college graduate, she holds a Doctor of Social Work from the University of Southern California (2021), a Master of Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University (2019), a Master of Social Work from SUNY Albany (2009), and a Bachelor of Arts from Pace University (2007). With over 19 years of experience as a clinical social worker licensed in New York and Virginia, her career encompasses owning Starting Gate Therapy since 2020, psychotherapist at Colonial Psychiatric Associates (2017-2021), director and founder of Peninsula Voices for Change (2016-2018), clinical supervisor at NNBHC Acute Hospital (2016-2017), residential social worker at LaSalle School (2013-2015), program director at Hope House (2012-2013), and case manager in mental health juvenile justice at Parsons (2009-2010).

DeSena-Jacobs joined VCU as adjunct faculty in 2019 and advanced to full-time Assistant Professor in April 2022. Her teaching emphasizes trauma-informed, anti-racist, and culturally competent care for children, adolescents, adults, and families, including courses like SLWK 727: Trauma & Social Work Practice, SLWK 762: Treatment of SMI Through a Trauma-Informed and Evidence-Based Perspective, and SLWK 763: Neurobiology & Social Work. She leads clinical skills labs, develops curricula such as a Trauma Certification, and created continuing education series on serious mental illness. Since July 2024, as Director of Mental Health Initiatives, she oversees coursework expansion, including the M.S.W. Certificate in Mental Health and Minor in Mental Health Practice launching Fall 2025. Her research focuses on the school-to-prison pipeline and Beacon training for school staff on inherent bias, cultural humility, trauma, and relationship building. Key publications include The Beacon Training Model for Schools (2024, Sage Knowledge) and her dissertation Beacon: A Curriculum for Change (2021). Honors comprise Sorensen Institute Emerging Leaders Scholar (2019), USC Spotlight Student (2021), and VCU Antiracist Educator Series completion (2021-2023). She serves on the MSW Program Committee and has delivered presentations on childhood mental health and Beacon curriculum.