Tulane University School of Social Work

Reginald A. Parquet, Ph.D., LCSW-BACS, is a Professor at the Tulane University School of Social Work where he has taught for the past 22 years. He has taught graduate courses in research, professional development, advanced practice methods, human behavior theory, youth violence, diversity and social justice, capstone, and field practicum.  Dr. Parquet also teaches two undergraduate courses, “Guns and Gang” and “Booze, Pot, Coke, Crystal Meth:  PolyDrug Abuse among College & Inner-City Residents,” that are among the two largest classes on Tulane’s campus. He is a trainer in Motivational Enhancement Therapy, a substance abuse treatment intervention. Dr. Parquet has served as former Superintendent of Louisiana Training Institute-East Baton Rouge, the largest juvenile correctional facility in the state of Louisiana, Director of the Division of Institutions, Office of Juvenile Justice (administrative responsibility for all juvenile correctional facilities under the Department of Corrections,) and statewide Director of the Louisiana Mental Health Rehabilitation Program. Dr. Parquet served as the Director of the Louisiana Youth Enhanced Services Project under the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. He is a licensed clinical social worker, board approved clinical supervisor, and has over forty-two years of experience in the field of behavioral health providing clinical, administrative, and programmatic leadership, and consultation and training for mental health agencies and mental health professionals.  He has been designated a court expert witness in mental health and substance abuse, and has testified in federal and criminal courts. He serves on numerous boards and committees and has had multiple program responsibilities for designing, implementing, evaluating, managing, and overseeing statewide programs regarding substance abuse, mental health, and juvenile justice. Additionally, he maintains a private practice. His current research interests are in youth violence, community mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and mental health issues affecting at-risk populations utilizing a strengths perspective and capacity building.