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NASW Foundation Announces Latest Social Work Pioneer Inductees

Foundation

NASW Foundation Announces Latest Social Work Pioneer Inductees

The NASW Foundation has announced the latest inductees into its NASW Social Work Pioneers® program. Pioneers are recognized for having made vital contributions to the social work profession and for creating social policies that
benefit society today and into the future. The newest Pioneers are:

George A. Appleby, PhD, MSW, (1942-2024) is remembered as a social work educator, policy practitioner, and community-engaged researcher who led the social work response to HIV/AIDS. His legacy is evident today in the professionalization of social work in public agencies; in the sustained political activism of social workers, schools of social work, and NASW; and in the vibrant network of community-based organizations dedicated to the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ populations.

Keith A. Alford, PhD, ACSW, was appointed dean of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work in August 2021, becoming the first African American to hold that position. Following the racially motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket on May 14, 2022, he provided decisive leadership in addressing this egregious act of racial violence that shocked the city and the nation.

Maurice C. Daniels, PhD, MSW, focused on issues of social justice and civil and human rights and integrated these central themes into social work education and the profession throughout his four-decade social work career. He has garnered a strong reputation for advocating for social justice, equity and inclusion; challenging systemic barriers; and working tirelessly to empower marginalized communities.

Patricia Ewalt, PhD, MSW, (1934-2022) was an innovative and visionary social work educator and leader. While serving as dean
of the School of Social Work at the University of Hawaii from 1987 to 2000, she developed strong partnerships between the school and community organizations that provided practicum opportunities for social work students.

Johnnie Hamilton-Mason, PhD, MSW, became the first African American woman to serve as a full professor at Simmons University School of Social Work, the first clinical social work degree-granting program in the U.S., established in 1904. She also made history as the first African American woman to serve as dean or director in the school’s 120-year history, holding the role of interim director during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Sam Hickman, MSW, ACSW, LCSW. For more than 40 years, Hickman has made transformative contributions to the field of social work, particularly in rural communities, professional development, and organizational leadership. As executive director of NASW’s West Virginia Chapter from 1985 to 2019, Hickman built one of the most robust and active state chapters in the country.

Dawn Hobdy, MSW, has been a visionary leader in the development and advancement of social work ethics, both in the U.S. and internationally. During her tenure with the NASW Office of Ethics and Professional Review, she organized NASW’s first Social Work Ethics Summit, which resulted in a set of ethical guidelines that have influenced state legislative policies. She played key roles in updating the NASW Code of Ethics in 2008, 2017 and 2021.

David Hogan, LMSW-S, has served as a forensic social worker in Dallas and its outlying communities for more than 40 years, displaying steadfast, determined and successful efforts to improve the treatment of disenfranchised citizens. Hogan currently serves as the clinical director of the Dallas County Deflection Center.

Jane Edna Hunter (1882-1971) was a pioneering advocate for African American girls and women in Cleveland, Ohio, during a time when they had few options. She arrived in Cleveland in 1905 in search of work and a better life after growing up in South Carolina. Her early life experiences gave her a unique understanding of the vulnerabilities faced by young Black women who relocated to urban areas alone.

D. Lynn Jackson, PhD, MSW, has made groundbreaking contributions to reproductive rights advocacy, particularly in expanding access to abortion services for marginalized women, women of color, and young women. Her career spans more than 45 years in social work practice, education, and reproductive justice advocacy.

Ret. Col. John S. McNeil, PhD, MSW, (1927-2023) was a social work leader in the worlds of both the military and academia, making several pioneering contributions in the U.S. Air Force and within social work research and academia. During his 45-plus years as a social worker, McNeil served in the Air Force for 25 years and in academia for the next 20 years.

Lori Popp Moss, MSW, (1959-2025) dedicated more than four decades to reshaping how social services are designed, delivered and sustained—especially for older adults, immigrants, Holocaust survivors and those facing food insecurity. Her career is distinguished by visionary, community-driven innovations that have become models of best practice nationwide.

Gilbert A. Ramirez, MSW, LCSW, has dedicated his career to pioneering innovative social work interventions that address critical gaps in behavioral health, community-based interventions, crisis response, and violence prevention. With more than two decades of experience as a practicing clinician, educator and leader, his work has impacted the lives of vulnerable populations.

David W. Springer, PhD, LCSW, has dedicated his nearly four-decade career to advancing well-being and strengthening communities at the intersection of clinical practice, public policy, and community development. A licensed clinical social worker and nationally recognized scholar, Springer has led transformative initiatives in juvenile justice reform, crime reduction, mental health policy, and community resilience.

Saundra Starks, EdD, MSSW, LCSW, is professor emeritus of social work and former MSW program director at Western Kentucky University. She has made pioneering contributions to the field of social work through her leadership in education and more than 45 years of professional social work experience, which includes teaching, research, consultation, training, supervision, community advocacy, and clinical practice.

Stephan Viehweg, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, has established himself as one of the most impactful leaders in infant and early childhood mental health, family-centered systems of care, and interdisciplinary health leadership. His visionary work has reshaped how health, mental health, education, and social service systems collaborate to meet the needs of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.

James Herbert Williams, PhD, MSW, MPA, has held numerous leadership positions that have helped shape the direction of social work; contributed innovations to the profession through his research; and led several large schools of social work.

Learn more at NASWFoundation.org

Foundation Donations

The NASW Foundation extends its thanks to all NASW members and friends who lend their financial support, with special thanks to the following for their contributions of $100 or more, from Aug. 6, 2025
to Jan. 15, 2026. All donors are listed at naswfoundation.org.

We appreciate all donations, including those donated through a donor advised fund or a retirement fund.