Our diverse leadership team represents an array of backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives coupled with a lifelong passion for serving our region’s most vulnerable populations. Within this environment, the leadership team works to advance our research, educational and service mission, as well as bolster our School’s standing within the UW academic community and among our social work peers.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Eddie Uehara, Professor and Ballmer Endowed Dean in Social Work
A national leader in innovative social work science, service and practice, Uehara joined the School faculty in 1990 and was named dean in 2006. She is its first dean of color and the UW’s first Asian American female dean. Under her leadership as dean, the School’s advanced social work program has been consistently ranked one of the best in the nation.
ACADEMICS
Michael S. Spencer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Presidential Term Professor Michael S. Spencer, associate dean for academic affairs, is director of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander & Oceanic Affairs at the School's Indigenous Wellness Research Institute. He also serves as Grand Challenges for Social Work co-chair for Close the Health Gap and Eliminate Racism. (Dr. Spencer is currently serving as the interim dean for the School of Social Work.)
Paula Nurius, Associate Dean for Transdisciplinary Scholarship
Grace Beals-Ferguson Scholar and Professor Paula Nurius, associate dean for transdisciplinary scholarship, brings a history of national leadership roles—currently she is on the board of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare—in addition to interdisciplinary training and collaboration building. Her research focuses on the processes and effects that stress and trauma have on vulnerable and socially disadvantaged populations. She is considered one of social work’s top 25 female scholars based on her scholarship impact.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Ben de Haan, Associate Dean for Social Service Innovation & Partnerships
For more than 30 years, Ben de Haan has been bringing together leaders and policymakers in academia, child welfare, justice systems and related fields to make changes and improve the lives of vulnerable children, adults and families. He was the founding director of the School’s Partners for Our Children before assuming the position of associate dean for social service innovation and partnerships.
Rona L. Levy, Associate Dean for Research
Professor Rona Levy’s work has brought a behavioral medicine and social work perspective to the medical field by exploring psychosocial aspects of health, especially in areas of chronic pain, intergenerational transmission of illness behavior, childhood and adult obesity prevention and treatment, and behavioral medicine. As associate dean for research she supports all phases of research activities for members of the School’s community.
David Takeuchi, Associate Dean for Faculty Excellence
A sociologist with postdoctoral experience in epidemiology and health services research, David Takeuchi has written extensively on issues related to the unequal distribution of health and illness in society. As associate dean for faculty excellence, he works to identify ways for faculty, researchers and doctoral students to establish new research programs, enhance career trajectories and uncover new scholarship opportunities.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Margaret Spearmon, Director for Community Engagement
Margaret Spearmon provides leadership that deepens the School’s commitment to community, particularly around such innovative efforts as the Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative and the Othello-UW Commons, a community collaboration space in Southeast Seattle. In 2019, she received the prestigious UW David Thorud Leadership Award for her commitment to diversity and inclusionary leadership and for her track record of creativity and innovation.
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Vicki Anderson-Ellis, Assistant Dean of Finance & Administration
Vicki Anderson-Ellis has managed the School’s financial health for more than 12 years with oversight of a $77 million annual budget. She has a demonstrated history of working in higher education and managing a wide range of budgetary and administrative challenges from student aid and building improvements to research funding and federal training grants.
DONOR & ALUMNI RELATIONS
Julie Sun, Assistant Dean for Advancement
As assistant dean for advancement, Julie Sun works with donors and alumni to ensure that the next generation of social work leaders and practitioners has the means to sustain and advance the School’s legacy of innovation, advocacy and impact.