Kim S. Downing

Kim Downing is a dedicated social work educator and practitioner with more than 37 years of experience in the field. She serves as a professor and Director of the BSW Program at Elizabeth City State University. Her work demonstrates a sustained commitment to advancing rural social work practice and to fostering student development by empowering learners to recognize, cultivate, and achieve their full potential.

Throughout her career, Dr. Downing has balanced her academic responsibilities with consulting and professional development through her business, K.S. Downing & Associates, providing workshops and motivational presentations across the region. She is deeply committed to mentorship, community-centered practice, and promoting self-care as an essential component of social work education. Many of her students have matriculated into advanced-standing MSW programs, reflecting the impact of her guidance, leadership, and sustained professional support.

Dr. Downing earned her PhD in Social Work from Norfolk State University and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Development from George Washington University. She serves on the Board of Accreditation for the Council on Social Work Education, co-chairs the Rural Issues Track for the CSWE Annual Conference and holds the LCSW and ACSW credentials. She is the author of Rural Social Work: Exploring the Impact of Content, Community, and the COVID-19 Pandemic and was honored with the 2024 University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her advice to emerging social workers is to “believe in yourself, challenge imposter syndrome, and know you belong in the spaces you enter.”