Renée Nichole Ferguson

Renée Nichole Ferguson is an social work educator and professional with over two decades of experience spanning the fields of social work, women and gender studies, and community health. Her career has been defined by a commitment to curiosity about policy, project management, and education, particularly in the mental health sector. As an academic, Professor Ferguson brings a wealth of practical experience into the classroom, informed by her extensive work in both social work and health care.

Professor Ferguson holds two master's degrees — one in Social Work from the University of Toronto, with a specialisation in Health and Mental Health, and another in Political Science from York University, where her research focused on Africa and Diaspora in politics. Additionally, she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with a proven track record of leading large-scale education and health policy projects across the province for organizations such as the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Currently Professor Ferguson is completing her PhD in Policy Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her dissertation examines the policy landscape and experiences of Black women on Community Treatment Orders (CTOs), with particular attention to health assessments and the broader Black health policy environment. Professor Ferguson’s work contributes to discussions around justice in healthcare and seeks to inform more inclusive, community-centred health policies.

In addition to her research, Professor Ferguson has taught at the School of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University, at the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program at the University of Toronto Mississauga, and at the School of Social Work at Dalhousie University. Her teaching and research interests include critical social work practice in policy, health policy, psychosocial assessments, and critical anti-racism pedagogy. Professor Ferguson has played key roles in developing and managing initiatives that address complex mental health needs and has contributed to several collaborative projects in community health.