Samantha Francois, PhD is an Assistant Professor at Tulane University’s School of Social Work. She is also an
Executive Director of the Violence Prevention Institute at Tulane and Co-Director of the Center for Youth Equity, a
CDC National Center of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. Dr. Francois has expertise in adolescent
development, structural violence and racism, community science, and anti-racist research. As an interdisciplinary,
community-engaged developmental scientist, Dr. Francois’ research uses systems perspectives and critical race
theory to understand the intersections of individual, community, and cultural factors on mental health and
educational outcomes in Black/African American youth and emerging adults. She also explores activism and
community organizing as a mechanism through with Black youth living in structurally violent conditions achieve

liberatory outcomes. Dr. Francois’ scholarship also engages structural and programmatic interventions in youth-
serving institutions using community-based participatory research approaches. Dr. Francois designs and executes

research, teaching, and service through an anti-racist and intersectional lens aimed at social transformation and
community liberation. Dr. Francois’ doctorate is in psychological sciences from Tulane University.