Dr. Lorece Edwards

Dr. Lorece V. Edwards is a native Baltimorean. She is currently the Director of Community Practice and Outreach and Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health Sciences at Morgan State University’s School of Community Health and Policy. Dr. Edwards earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sojourner-Douglass College. She received her Master of Human Services (MHS) degree in 1999 from Lincoln University. In 1999, she joined the doctoral program in Public Health at Morgan State University. Morgan State University was the first Minority Serving Institution (MSI) to offer a doctoral degree in public health in the history of the nation. Dr. Edwards was accepted in the inaugural class in 1999. She earned her DrPH degree in 2004.

Dr. Edwards has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including, the Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy distinguished alumna award in 2008. She was named Who’s Who in Black Baltimore in 2010 which was the inaugural edition. In 2013, she was identified as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. In addition, Dr. Edwards was named “Faculty of the Year 2013” in the School of Community Health and Policy’s Public Health Program. Furthermore, Dr. Edwards received the University Appreciation Award in recognition of Outstanding Achievements and Accomplishments in Research from Dr. David Wilson the 12th president of Morgan State University.

Dr. Edwards has presented her research at international, national, and domestic conference meetings and workshops. Additionally, Dr. Edwards has published her research in various peer-reviewed journals. Most recently, she was awarded a $625,000.00 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to be used over five years for the Get SMART Drug Free Community Coalition project. The grant will also help establish and strengthen collaborations between communities, public and non-profit agencies, as well as federal, state and local governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working together to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth in West Baltimore City.