On July 1, 2026, Dr. Karen Bullock, PhD, LICSW officially began her term as President of the National Association of Social Workers, bringing more than three decades of leadership, clinical expertise, and service to our professional organization.
For Bullock, serving as NASW President is both a professional milestone and a personal calling. Having been a member of NASW for more than 30 years, she has dedicated her career to advancing the social work profession through leadership grounded in service, collaboration, and the NASW Code of Ethics.
"As I begin my term as President of NASW, I am inspired by the strength, compassion, and purpose I see throughout our profession," she said. "At a time when social work education, practice, and the communities we serve face growing challenges, our collective voice has never been more important."
Bullock serves as the Ahearn Endowed Professor at the Boston College School of Social Work and in Global Public Health. As a licensed independent clinical social worker, her work has focused on aging, serious illness care, hospice and palliative care, health equity, and reducing disparities among historically underserved populations. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to preparing the next generation of social workers while advancing research that improves the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
Her commitment to NASW has been equally extensive. Bullock previously served as president and vice president of the NASW Connecticut Chapter, chaired the National Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity and the Mental Health Specialty Practice Section Committee, and has contributed to numerous national leadership initiatives. In recognition of her lifelong contributions to the profession, she was inducted into the NASW Social Work Pioneers® Program.
As President, Bullock hopes to build upon NASW's strong foundation of advocacy while continuing to strengthen the profession through collaboration, inclusion, and member engagement. One of Dr. Bullock's and NASW's top priorities is responding to the U.S. Department of Education's decision to remove social work from its list of professional degree programs. As a result, beginning July 1, 2026, graduate social work students face significantly lower federal student loan borrowing limits. NASW has mobilized members, partnered with allied organizations, and is actively advocating to reverse the decision and protect affordable access to social work education.
For Bullock, this effort reflects the broader mission of the Association.
"Purpose is not something we wait to find—it is something we choose," she said. "NASW's advocacy on behalf of social workers and the people we serve is an example of purpose in action."
She also believes that a strong professional association is essential to the future of social work. “The issue that I am interested in focusing on is membership...We are experiencing unprecedented times in our global society and we need every social worker, nationwide, to join their professional association so that we have a united front, side and back direction that moves us forward together.” Through advocacy, professional development, connections, and support, NASW empowers social workers at every level.
"Throughout my career, I have believed that we as social workers are at our best when we lead with purpose, uphold our Code of Ethics, and embrace the diversity that strengthens our profession," Bullock said. "We do not avoid difficult conversations or complex problems. Instead, we meet them with courage, compassion, and commitment."
Bullock's vision for her presidency centers on bringing social workers together around the profession's shared values and collective responsibility to advocate for those they serve.
"Meeting the challenges ahead will require all of us," she said. "As I often say, we need every social worker to join their professional association so that we have a united front that moves our profession forward together."
She encourages both current and future members to be active participants in shaping the profession's future.
“As the largest mental health profession in the U.S., social workers are positioned to join forces with a collective voice in what we want the blueprint to look like for our future,” Bullock said. “All each of us needs to do is become a member, engage in the many opportunities that welcome our input, and stand with your professional association, because it values our talents and time.”
As NASW looks to the future, Bullock's presidency begins with a clear focus: strengthening the profession, advocating for social workers, and ensuring that the values of social work continue to guide meaningful change in communities across the nation.