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Marline Francois-Madden, Ph.D., LCSW

@drmarlinefrancois

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Asst Prof @morganstateu
Author of The State of Black Girls
Black girlhood Scholar
Advisory Board: @justice4blackgirls + @theacademy365inc
1913 | 🩷💙

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I successfully defended my dissertation today and became Dr. Francois. Thank you to everyone in my village that showed up for me over the last four years. The little Black girl inside of me would be so proud of this moment.

I’m looking forward to what’s next, but for now im taking it easy.

🤎 #PHD #PHinisheD #BlackGirlScientist #QualitativeResearcher by @drmarlinefrancois

A year ago, I would experience two happy moments (a positive pregnancy and my dad getting approved for open heart surgery), only to lose both during the same week.

During a global pandemic, I would spend 3-4 days driving to a clinic at 6am for blood work/ultrasounds while navigating a PhD program, managing employees, showing up for friends who also experienced loss due to Covid or miscarriage. Every clinic visit is met with hope and fear waiting to hear progesterone levels, HCG rising or failing, BETA days, changes in medication, taking injection shots several times a day, a series of Covid tests to ensure I’m negative to have an embryo transfer.

The process shifted for me on June 25, 2021 when it felt like God answered my prayers then stripped it all from me. Afterwards, I decided to take my full emotions out of this process and treat it like science.

Pregnancy after a loss isn’t easy, but pregnancy via IVF after a loss, negative BETA day and chemical pregnancy add another layer of hope and uncertainties.

It’s like you wait to hit 8 weeks to graduate from the clinic, then make to 12 weeks when the chance of miscarriages drop to 20 weeks (half baked) to 24 weeks (viability week) to 30 weeks (3rd trimester) to 36 weeks (full term) to birthing a healthy baby and you both make it home especially as a Black mom.

This whole process has made me leaned into my community and put my well-being first. #BlackIVF by @drmarlinefrancois

Sometimes, you have to look back and remind yourself you are called and anointed to do this work. #TheStateOfBlackGirls by @drmarlinefrancois

A quick recap of my first time attending and presenting at #CSWE26 on my work and alongside my colleagues on our experience as early-career tenure-track faculty at an HBCU. I got to see some of my favorite people, mentors, colleagues, BARS team, and our Morgan - MSW students also presented too 🥹

Same time next year, but this time in Long Beach, CA in 2027 😬

*I’m posting this on social media so I remember to add it to my dossier at the end of the academic year IYKYK lol 😂 by @drmarlinefrancois

🩷🤎 by @drmarlinefrancois

A day well spent at the @girlsincdc 4th Annual Champion of Girls Luncheon and spending time with some of my sisters who work alongside with adolescent girls. Girls Inc provides programming for girls in grades 3-12 and offer a wide range of activities in the area of STEM, leadership and their summer camp at Howard University.

Please follow Girls Inc in DC and consider donating, so more girls in the DMV will have access to their programs.

#girlsincdc by @drmarlinefrancois

A day well spent at the 22nd Annual Health Equity Conference hosted by the Maryland Dept of Health Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. I had the opportunity to learn about the Dept of Health priorities, funding opportunities, capacity building and implementation strategies, grant programs in Maryland, meet community partners, data and population health resources, current grantees and how to get involved with a commission office 😊

A few takeaways:

- How will you fund the mission and not just the moment.
- You can’t do a good program if you don’t have good people.
- Invest in your community. Listen to people who are boots on the ground doing this work.

I love that I can merge my love for practice, research, policy and service all in one. It feels good to tap into my new home state and learn how I can make a change here. by @drmarlinefrancois

CSWE, we in the building! My colleagues and I will be presenting at the Council on Social Work Education Annual Conference on our tenure-track journey at an HBCU. If you’re attending, please make sure to check out our session! #CSWE #SocialWorkResearchers

We are excited and can’t wait to share! I’m looking forward to meeting new scholars and reconnecting with old ones and learning about everyone’s work! by @drmarlinefrancois

It was truly an honor to attend the Inaugural Black Mental Health Awards held by @blackpeoplediebysuicidetoo So grateful to be an honoree of the Excellence in Social Work Education and Research Award.

This was more than a gala. It was done with such intention to bring awareness to the alarming rates of suic*de within the Black community. Hearing the lived experiences of a Black mom who lost her son to suic*de was heartbreaking. I’m so grateful I was able to attend with my mom.

A powerful keynote delivered by Mayor Brandon Scott just shows me how special the city of Baltimore is for so many.

To @t_keablackman , the board of directors, the host, the DJ, the artists, staff and volunteers..thank you for all of your hard work and shedding light on a public health crisis.

To the honorees, keep doing the work. Many hands lighten the load.

Looking forward to seeing everyone for their next gala in September 2027.

#blackpeoplediebysuicidetoo #BlackMentalHealthAwards by @drmarlinefrancois

Year 2….How I stay organized as a tenure-track professor as a busy boy mom with a visionary mindset. Video is three minutes long…no edits, just posting it. by @drmarlinefrancois

Today marks a special day. I start Year 2 of my tenure-track journey and I decided to wear my dad’s tie. Five years ago today, we laid him to rest on 8/14/21. If you know anything about my dad, he loved a good ol paisley tie. My dad also loved him a Jesus pin, so I had to rock a few of my favorite pins that hold a special meaning to me (positionality statement for my qual researchers).

Last night, I laid out a bunch of his ties (it was like 50 of them) and couldn’t figure out which one to wear. This morning, I settled on this one randomly. Then, this afternoon as I was looking back at pictures and videos from August 2021, I noticed a video I captured of his ties and this was the first tie in the video. (These little God reminders that my dad is still looking after me).

I’m going to proudly carry the name Dr. François and make my family proud.

Today was definitely a beautiful day 😊 #ProfessorLife by @drmarlinefrancois

The tenure-track hiring season is upon us and if you’re prepping for the job market, this is for you.

Join us as we discuss the process of landing a faculty position and how to stand out as an applicant. Webinar is happening on Weds, August 19th at 6pm EST. Zoom link is on the flyer.

Also, if you’re coming to CSWE or SSWR, we hope to meet you so you can learn more about BARS (Black Administrators, Researchers and Scholars). #tenuretrack #socialworkprofessor #BlackPHD #BlackInAcademia by @drmarlinefrancois