Brittany Nicole Stewart, PhD, LCSW
Dr. Brittany Nicole Stewart, PhD, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Houston Christian University in Houston, Texas. A licensed clinical social worker in both Texas and Alabama, she brings more than a decade of professional experience into the classroom. In her current role, she teaches four courses each semester, holds regular office hours, and coordinates student internship placements as she helps build and establish the university’s social work program. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to preparing future social workers through rigorous academics and meaningful, hands-on field education.
Dr. Stewart earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where her research was shaped by years of frontline clinical practice. During her doctoral studies, she received the Excellence in Science Award and was an active member of the American Sociological Association. She also holds a Master of Social Work from The University of Southern Mississippi and has been recognized as Field Education Student of the Year at the master’s level. Over the course of her career, she has worked extensively in school social work, child welfare, and hospital settings—including neonatal intensive care—providing crisis intervention, case management, and trauma-informed care to children and families navigating complex medical and social challenges.
A frequent conference speaker, Dr. Stewart integrates clinical expertise, research, and faith into her professional identity, describing her work in social work and higher education as a calling rooted in service. Her philosophy centers on compassion, dignity, and the person-in-environment perspective, emphasizing the importance of connecting students to high-quality internship experiences that bridge theory and practice. Her husband serves as pastor of Sugar Creek Baptist Church, and together they are active in community and ministry initiatives, including support for organizations such as Compassion International. Through teaching, scholarship, and service, Dr. Stewart remains dedicated to empowering individuals, strengthening families, and equipping the next generation of social work professionals.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
• Book Contributor
• University of Alabama at Birmingham - PhD
• Excellence in Science Award (PhD program)
• Field Education Student of the Year (Master's program)
• Support Staff of the Year (as school social worker)
• American Sociological Association
• Compassion International (sponsoring a Compassion child for 11 years)
• Sugar Creek Baptist Church (husband is associate pastor)
What do you attribute your success to?
I actually grew up fairly poor in a very small town as a first-generation college student. I definitely had a mom who supported me a lot, but I also had a lot of teachers who believed in me, saw my potential, and invested in me in that small town. They made me feel like I could go somewhere, and that support was everything to me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do it scared. You walk into the unknown, and it's very scary, and you feel like you maybe don't have what it takes, or whatever, but you just do it anyway. And you get the courage. I tell my little girl that all the time now.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell her that she definitely needs to believe in herself and not listen to the little voice that tries to tell her that she's not good enough.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is that the social work profession recently had the government try to downgrade it from being listed as a professional degree, which impacts the funding that future social workers can get. Without that funding, I would not be where I am right now. They did it for a lot of degrees because they wanted to minimize the federal funding, kind of a budget cuts thing. So I would say that's probably one of the biggest barriers in our field.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion and empathy are the most important things in this life. I think you should always show others compassion because you never know what they're going through, so you always want to be compassionate and empathetic towards their situation. I think a person who's empathetic shows their character through their empathy.
Locations
Houston Christian University
Missouri, TX 77459