American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare

Michael S. Spencer, PhD

Inducted in 2015

Current Position

Board Member

Bio

Michael S. Spencer is an internationally recognized leader in social work education and research, committed to advancing racial equity and health justice through transformative scholarship and inclusive leadership. A Native Hawaiian (Kānaka Maoli) scholar, Dr. Spencer serves as the Ballmer Endowed Dean and Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work, where he brings a deep passion for equity, health justice, and the well-being of Indigenous and Asian Pacific Islander communities and utilizes culturally grounded approaches to address systemic inequities.

Dr. Spencer earned his Ph.D. in Social Welfare from the University of Washington, an MSW from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Psychology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. His academic career spans more than 25 years, including leadership roles at the University of Michigan and the University of Washington. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work, Social Welfare and the Society for Social Work and Research, Washington State Academy of Sciences and currently serves on the AASWSW Board of Directors. Dr. Spencer also served on the national executive committee for the Grand Challenges for Social Work and co-chaired two grand challenges: Eliminate Racism and Close the Health Gap.