UW School of Social Work

We’re proud to share that Danielle Woodward, assistant director of the Social Development Research Group, a School of Social Work research center, has been honored with the Distinguished Staff Award for Career Achievement as part of the University of Washington’s 56th annual Awards of Excellence.

Established in 1997, the Distinguished Staff Award recognizes individuals who exemplify outstanding dedication to their units and the broader University while demonstrating creativity, professionalism, collaboration and a commitment to fostering a respectful and supportive workplace. Danielle’s leadership and contributions reflect the very best of these values.

Award recipients will be celebrated at a ceremony hosted by President Robert J. Jones and Provost Tricia Serio on June 11 at Meany Hall, followed by a reception for the UW community.

Please join us in congratulating Danielle on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

To learn more about this year's recipients, click here: https://www.washington.edu/facultystaff/2026/04/29/uw-announces-2026-awards-of-excellence-recipients/?mkt_tok=MTMxLUFRTy0yMjUAAAGhtwKiE5lyxP9I0eemHt3u1pbx2n6ufTRADyDa8pzMVeWOjkskPiteqX0uUKpaUuZz96zP7R2naZoujU8k3oOYfPjTvqlVnZLu7PZA6YNCFKJfoVJu

Northwest Asian Weekly wrote a profile chronicling University of Washington School of Social Work Dean Michael Spencer‘s journey to become the UW’s first Native Hawaiian dean.

For 43 years, Northwest Asian Weekly was the only English-edition newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community, and released its final print edition on Jan. 19, 2023, before transitioning to online-only operations.

Read the full article here: https://nwasianweekly.com/2026/05/finding-purpose-and-opening-doors-uw-dean-michael-spencers-journey-across-identity-community-and-impact/

Congratulations to Dr. Ramona E. Beltrán on receiving the University of Washington School of Social Work Established Impact Award!

The Established Impact Award recognizes University of Washington School of Social Work alumni who have demonstrated a sustained and exceptional career—spanning 10 to 30 years post-graduation—marked by service, innovation and leadership in the field of social work.

Beltrán will be honored at this year's Alumni Mixer tomorrow.

To read our full Q & A with Beltrán and our other awardees, click here: https://socialwork.uw.edu/news/ssw-alumni-mixer-announces-2026-awardees/

Congratulations to Derek Crain on receiving the University of Washington School of Social Work Established Impact Award!

The Established Impact Award recognizes University of Washington School of Social Work alumni who have demonstrated a sustained and exceptional career—spanning 10 to 30 years post-graduation—marked by service, innovation and leadership in the field of social work.

Derek will be honored at this year's Alumni Mixer on Thursday.

To read our full Q & A with Derek and our other awardees, click here: https://socialwork.uw.edu/news/ssw-alumni-mixer-announces-2026-awardees/

Congratulations to Dr. Em Loerzel on receiving the University of Washington School of Social Work Early Career Achievement Award!

The Early Career Achievement Award honors outstanding alumni of the UW School of Social Work who have graduated in the last 10 years and who have demonstrated exceptional promise, leadership and impact within the first ten years following graduation.

Dr. Loerzel will be honored at this year's Alumni Mixer on Thursday, May 14.

To read our full Q & A with Dr. Loerzel and our other awardees, click here: https://socialwork.uw.edu/news/ssw-alumni-mixer-announces-2026-awardees/

Mark your calendars for the 2026 School of Social Work graduation:

📅 Thursday, June 11, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
📣 Keynote Speaker: Seattle City Councilmember Dionne Foster

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 alongside our graduates, families and community partners!

Thank you for showing up for UW School of Social Work students. 💜

Because of you, our alumni, friends, ambassadors and supporters, Husky Giving Day was filled with generosity, advocacy and community spirit! Thank you to everyone who gave, shared our posts and helped spread the word about the importance of supporting social work education.

We received 71 gifts and are currently at $14,251 raised for student scholarship funds, with final totals still being calculated. Every gift and every share helped strengthen support for our MSW and Ph.D. students and invest in the future of UW social work.

We are incredibly grateful to our community and the many ways you show up for our students and the School of Social Work. Your support truly makes all the difference!

💜 Thank you for being part of SSW and for believing in our students.

Husky Giving Day is well underway! 🎉

Today our alumni and SSW community have a powerful opportunity to support scholarship funding for MSW and Ph.D. students at the UW School of Social Work.

💜 Challenge Update:
• MSW Social Work Group Fund: 27 of 10 gifts received and $1,000 from alum Bob Sanderson unlocked.
• PhD Doctoral Excellence Fund: 32 of 30 gifts received and $4,000 from Dean Emerita Nancy Hooyman unlocked.

Every gift, at any level, counts! Consider making a gift today and share this post to help spread the word and rally our community.

🔗 Give here: https://together.uw.edu/i/hgd/Collection/school-of-social-work1
Together, we can make an even bigger impact for SSW students.

Husky Giving Day is here! 🎉

For the next 24 hours, alumni and friends of the UW School of Social Work can make a powerful difference by supporting scholarship funding for MSW and PhD students.

Your generosity today helps remove financial barriers and invest in the next generation of social work leaders. With challenge gifts from alum Bob Sanderson and Dean Emerita Nancy Hooyman, every gift made today goes even further.

Join us in showing the strength of our SSW community! together, we can create lasting impact.

🔗Give here: https://together.uw.edu/i/hgd/collection/school-of-social-work1/?utm_source=SocialWork&utm_medium=HGDEmail&utm_campaign=FY26HGD&AP=true&appeal=APL-22863&mkt_tok=MTMxLUFRTy0yMjUAAAGg7o261HXtpiVXlrbNZc-G_UYNK_iLbshW_-YLvkVno2AoLmuaTV4hBRNFmwFdlyAcU6KYmKH3-dKAcB_1Khsj

Congratulations to our three incredible social work students named to the 2026 Husky 100!

Santino Camacho, Ph.D. – Seattle campus
Clarissa Perez, BASW – Seattle campus
Kailey Lawless, BASW – Tacoma campus

Each year, the UW honors 100 students making the most of their Husky experience and we’re so proud to see our students recognized for their leadership, impact and passion for social change. 💜

Check out the profiles of each of these incredible students here: https://www.washington.edu/husky100/year/2026/