UW Tacoma School of Social Work & Criminal Justice

✨ In both social work and criminal justice, one of the most powerful things we can do is be there for each other. Every act of empathy, every moment of listening, every effort to stand beside someone in need—these are the small steps that create real change.

🤝 Social work and criminal justice remind us daily that kindness, listening, and support can change someone’s entire day—sometimes even their life.

💙 Whether it’s supporting families, guiding youth, or working toward fairness and justice, we’re reminded that no one should walk alone. Together, we can build safer, stronger, and more compassionate communities.

🎉 Welcome, future Huskies!
Don’t forget — New students Orientation is coming up on July 30th.
Let the journey begin! 🐾💜

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Today we celebrate the future changemakers—those who will advocate, protect, and serve with compassion and justice. Congratulations to our Social Work and Criminal Justice graduates!

Calling all our Social Work and CJ students!! Use the Hashtag on Instagram or X. You could be part of the pre-show on the big screen before the ceremony!

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Dubs knows best!!!

Connect with us for support or info on next steps 💜💛 [email protected]

Link in bio. Hope to connect soon!

Seriously, summer is coming… 😎🏖️

Apply now to our BA in Criminal Justice or BASW before the spots in our programs all fill up!!! Tag that friend…

We’re here to help! Swcj@uw@edu 💜💛

We’re excited to celebrate another amazing member of our advising team for Global Advising Week — Ryan Kernan!!! 🎉💜💛

Ryan is the Advisor & Academic Specialist for the School of Social Work & Criminal Justice at UW Tacoma working with both BASW (Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare) and MSW (Master in Social Work) students!

He has over 13 years of experience as a professional advisor working in a variety of settings from educational nonprofit organizations focusing on college prep/access with high school students, working with numerous TRIO programs in the Tacoma/Pierce County area. In addition, he enjoys working with students and community members accessing post-secondary educational opportunities, providing campus/community resources for college students, mentoring/coaching undergraduates and graduate students, and has served in multiple advising roles at the high school, community college, and university levels.

“I love the work I get to do everyday with our students here at UW Tacoma. It is very rewarding to work alongside students as they explore and discover their passions as well as supporting their journey through school into their careers. As a first-generation and a transfer student who was new to higher education I know first-hand the impact academic advising can have on a journey of a student. Advising is always exciting as there is something new to learn everyday and you get to interact/partner with multiple parts of the campus. I am very lucky to have found academic advising as a career and a calling – I cannot imagine doing anything else!”

In his free time, you can catch Ryan enjoying a sporting event with friends and family (go Seahawks, Mariners, Rainiers, Kraken, Thunderbirds, and Huskies!), collecting vinyl records, enjoying the outdoors, and talking all things music/movies/television.

We truly appreciate you, Ryan!!!

We're excited to celebrate another amazing member of our advising team for Global Advising Week — Ryan Kernan!!! 🎉💜💛

Ryan is the Advisor & Academic Specialist for the School of Social Work & Criminal Justice at UW Tacoma working with both BASW (Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare) and MSW (Master in Social Work) students!

He has over 13 years of experience as a professional advisor working in a variety of settings from educational nonprofit organizations focusing on college prep/access with high school students, working with numerous TRIO programs in the Tacoma/Pierce County area. In addition, he enjoys working with students and community members accessing post-secondary educational opportunities, providing campus/community resources for college students, mentoring/coaching undergraduates and graduate students, and has served in multiple advising roles at the high school, community college, and university levels.

“I love the work I get to do everyday with our students here at UW Tacoma. It is very rewarding to work alongside students as they explore and discover their passions as well as supporting their journey through school into their careers. As a first-generation and a transfer student who was new to higher education I know first-hand the impact academic advising can have on a journey of a student. Advising is always exciting as there is something new to learn everyday and you get to interact/partner with multiple parts of the campus. I am very lucky to have found academic advising as a career and a calling – I cannot imagine doing anything else!”

In his free time, you can catch Ryan enjoying a sporting event with friends and family (go Seahawks, Mariners, Rainiers, Kraken, Thunderbirds, and Huskies!), collecting vinyl records, enjoying the outdoors, and talking all things music/movies/television.

We truly appreciate you, Ryan!!!

Happy Global Advising Week! 🎉

This is the time to recognize and honor the power of academic advising in shaping student success. Thus, we’ll be spotlighting the incredible advisers within our school throughout the week!!💜💛

Kicking things off is Jill Hanson, Academic Advisor for our Criminal Justice programs.

What is your favorite thing about UW?
- The people, of course! Many students have overcome great challenges to attend college, and they inspire me every day. I love hearing comments like, “I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid” or “I never thought I’d earn a degree from UW!” I’m grateful to be a small part of their education journey; it is so rewarding. Also, I work with the best advising colleagues, faculty and staff!

What do you enjoy doing when you are not on campus/working?
- Not a day goes by that I don’t listen to the Beatles (or music of any kind), and nothing is better than live music or anywhere I can show off my goofy dancing skills.

Most recent favorite book, show, movie, or podcast?
- My TV viewing is eclectic. I just finished six seasons of Peaky Blinders (unsettling, but brilliant!). I love a good comedy. I’ve watched every season of The Great British Bake Off, and I’m hooked on HGTV. I’m a self-proclaimed CNN news nerd. I’ll watch almost anything on PBS (It’s not Sunday night without PBS). Of course, it goes without saying that I’ve watched all 8 hours of the Beatles Get Back docuseries, twice!

Thank you, Jill, for all the work you do as our CJ adviser!!! 👏🌞

Join us!! Book Launch and Faculty Panel of Justice Lessons: System-Affected Scholars and the Future of Criminal Justice Transformation.

Since the 1990s, the community of scholar-activists who have had contact with the criminal legal system has grown rapidly, solidifying into an international movement. Drawing on in-depth conversations with system-affected academics as well as his own experience with incarceration, Grant E. Tietjen traces the history, positive impacts, and future promise of this movement in his new book.

Join us for a panel discussion with Dr. Tietjen and other scholars in the field. May 8th 4:30, MLG 110.