Dr. Jodi Hall is the Department Head of Social Sciences and Director of the Evelyn Lane Sanders Social Work Program at Shaw University. A committed health disparities researcher, her community-engaged scholarship focuses on improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through interdisciplinary and socio-politically informed approaches.

With a background in social work practice, Dr. Hall brings rich, real-world experience into the classroom and her research. Her teaching emphasizes the role of civil discourse, particularly around emotionally charged or controversial topics, helping students engage critically and compassionately with complex social issues. Her work explores how social environments influence health and equity, creating space for collaborative, inter-professional responses to community needs.

Dr. Hall has served as principal investigator on numerous federally funded projects and has an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications. Her academic career has taken her across the globe—from Cuba to Israel, Germany to the United Kingdom—where she has contributed to and learned from international dialogues in social justice and public health.

In addition to her academic leadership, Dr. Hall serves on the Board of the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence, a nonprofit dedicated to investigating and litigating credible claims of wrongful conviction in North and South Carolina.

Before joining Shaw University, Dr. Hall retired from NC State University, where she was an associate professor and inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement. Her career reflects a deep commitment to justice, education, and transformative community impact.