Remembering Fellow Dr. Jeremy Goldbach

With heavy hearts, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare membership mourns the death of Dr. Jeremy Goldbach, Fellow and Masters & Johnson Distinguished Professor in Sexual Health and Education at Washington University’s George Warren Brown School of Social Work, on June 27, 2025, age 42. Our thoughts go out to Dr. Goldbach’s family, friends, and all impacted by his scholarship relating to minority stress and discrimination among LGBTQ+ youth.

“Jeremy’s death leaves a great void in the field of LGBTQ+ mental health, as well as among the family, friends, colleagues, students and Academy Fellows who were touched by his brilliance, warmth and knowledge,” said Academy President Michael A. Lindsey. “He dedicated his career to reducing stigma and increasing the well-being of LGBTQ+ children and adolescents through research and teaching.”

After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester, Dr. Goldbach attended the University of Texas at Austin to complete both his MSW and PhD degrees. As part of his graduate work, he co-developed Proud & Empowered, a program designed to help empower LGBTQ+ youths.

In 2012, Dr. Goldbach joined the faculty at the University of Southern California, where he served for a decade before coming to the Brown School at Washington University. There, he served as the first Masters & Johnson Distinguished Professor in Sexual Health and the Education and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. His research was supported by numerous organizations, including the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Department of Defense. 

Dr. Goldbach was inducted into the Academy in January 2025. He is survived by his husband Evan and their children Ellias and Holland.

Read his obituary by the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis here.