Name:
David Walker
Contact Information
Title:
Clinical Lecturer
Department:
Sociology and Political Science
Email Address:
Phone:
Office:
3rd Floor Regions Bank Building (10 West Broad Street)
About
Dr. David J. Walker, LMSW is a Clinical Lecturer and Field Director in the Department of Sociology and
Political Science at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. He teaches
social work courses and serves as Field Director for the developing Master of Social
Work (MSW) program, where he is involved in curriculum development, accreditation
preparation, community partnerships, and the development of field education and supervision
opportunities for students.
Dr. Walker earned his Master of Social Work from Idaho State University in 2022, with
a focus in Forensic Social Work. He also holds a Doctor of Educational Ministry from
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Christian Education
from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a B.A. from The University
of South Carolina. He is a Licensed Master Social Worker and holds professional licenses
as both a School Social Worker and School Counselor in Tennessee.
Prior to joining Tennessee Tech, Dr. Walker worked in a variety of clinical and school-based
settings, providing individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and support
to children, adolescents, and families. His practice experience includes school social
work, school counseling, outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, addiction
treatment, and community mental health. He has utilized evidence-based approaches
including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational
Interviewing.
His professional interests include school social work, child and adolescent mental
health, trauma-informed practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development
of accessible mental health services in rural and underserved communities. At Tennessee
Tech, he is particularly interested in connecting social work education with community
needs and developing innovative field education opportunities that prepare students
for ethical, evidence-based, and culturally responsive practice. He is also partnering
in the development of a free community mental health clinic intended to expand access
to services while providing educational and clinical training opportunities for students.