About the Author

Alonzo C. DeCarlo

Dr. Alonzo C. DeCarlo, Ph.D., MSW is a native of Detroit, Michigan, whose lifelong devotion to scholarship began in childhood when his third-grade teacher gave him the enduring nickname of “Scholar.” That early recognition ignited a passion for inquiry, teaching, and service that has defined his career as both professor and practitioner. Rooted in a commitment to education, social justice, and mental health, his work spans psychology, social work, and counseling.

Dr. DeCarlo has held senior academic leadership roles and faculty appointments across the University of Illinois system and at other Research 1 institutions, where he has taught both graduate and undergraduate courses. His teaching and mentorship reflect a deep commitment to preparing students for advanced scholarship and professional practice, while fostering equity and interdisciplinary collaboration. He also serves as an affiliate faculty member of the Institute for Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Social Justice. Internationally, his contributions include serving as a Fulbright Scholar, teaching doctoral students, and co-developing academic programs at Addis Ababa University and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.

His scholarship bridges the classroom and community. He is the author of The Culture of Education and Experiential Polemics, a critical examination of inequities in education that calls for more humane and culturally grounded approaches. His ongoing research advances the framework of Black Psychological Allyship, designed to address systemic disparities in mental health services and equip practitioners with strategies for equity-based care. Dr. DeCarlo has presented this work nationally at professional conferences and mental health summits, where his talks are recognized for their clarity, urgency, and power. In addition, he continues to mentor doctoral candidates, shaping the next generation of scholars and practitioners. Whether through teaching, writing, or public scholarship, Dr. DeCarlo remains committed to advancing education, mental health, and social justice with intellectual rigor and cultural responsibility.

A Short List Of Peer Reviewed Papers In The Professional Literature By This Author:

A Reason For Reasonable Doubt In Social Justice: The Weight Of Poverty, Race And Gender In
Lopsided Homicide Case Clearances Outcomes

The Mental Health Industry Challenges And The Need For Black Psychological Allyship

A Collaborative Control Model To Address The Politics Of Mental Health And Juvenile Justice For Urban Minority Youth

A Developmental Explanatory Model Of Maladaptive Aggressive Dispositions In Urban African American Adolescents

The Rise And Call Of Group Rap Therapy: A Critical Analysis From Its Creator

Rap Therapy: A group Work Intervention Method For Urban Adolescents

Identity Matters: A New Intervention Threshold For Social Work Practitioners Working With African American Adolescents

Trauma And Violence In Childhood: A U.S. Perspective