Live Your Passion For Social Change

At the 2025 University of Washington School of Social Work Graduation, keynote speaker Dr. Kirk “Jae” James delivered a powerful and deeply personal message of resilience, justice and transformation, detailing his journey from growing up in Jamaica to becoming the director of the Doctorate in Social Work program at NYU’s Silver School of Social Work. Watch James’ speech in its entirety here.

The University of Washington School of Social Work is thrilled to share that J’May Bertrand Rivara, associate teaching professor emerita, has received the 2025 UW Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award. Created in 2017, this award celebrates legacies of transformational teaching and honors a UW teacher who influenced and inspired students long after they left the classroom.

The University of Washington School of Social Work is proud to offer our new Online MSW Program Option beginning in the fall of 2026. This is a part-time, fully online Master of Social Work (MSW) program option designed to expand access to high-quality graduate education for students across Washington State and the broader Pacific Northwest region.