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NASW Pioneers Biography Index


The National Association of Social Workers Foundation is pleased to present the NASW Social Work Pioneers®. NASW Pioneers are social workers who have explored new territories and built outposts for human services on many frontiers. Some are well known, while others are less famous outside their immediate colleagues, and the region where they live and work. But each one has made an important contribution to the social work profession, and to social policies through service, teaching, writing, research, program development, administration, or legislation.

The NASW Pioneers have paved the way for thousands of other social workers to contribute to the betterment of the human condition; and they are are role models for future generations of social workers. The NASW Foundation has made every effort to provide accurate Pioneer biographies.  Please contact us at naswfoundation@socialworkers.org to provide missing information, or to correct inaccurate information. It is very important to us to correctly tell these important stories and preserve our history.  

Please note, an asterisk attached to a name reflects Pioneers who have passed away. All NASW Social Work Pioneers® Bios are Copyright © 2021 National Association of Social Workers Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

    
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Shanti Khinduka Photo
Shanti Khinduka

Shanti Khindika holds Master's Degrees in Social Work from both Lucknow University in India and the University of Southern California and holds a PhD from Brandeis University. He was Assistant Dean at St. Louis University's School of Social Work. In 1973 he became the founding Director of the Kothari Center for Environmental Research in Calcutta, India. He later became Dean of the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University.

He has held seats on the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Board of Directors, Commission on Accreditation and House of Delegates, among other CSWE bodies. For NASW he has chaired and been a member of the Publications Committee, International Activities Committee and two professional symposium planning committees He also chaired the accreditation committee of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work. He is the author or editor of more than 40 books, book chapters, journal articles and monographs. He has written extensively on social work education, as well as on international social work, ethnic diversity, and juvenile services. NASW awarded him the President's Award for Excellence in Education.




Newly Inducted NASW Social Work Pioneer Hortense McClinton 2015

Nominate A New NASW Pioneer

Please note, Pioneer nominations made between today’s date through March 31, 2023, will not be reviewed until spring 2023.

Completed NASW Pioneer nominations can be submitted throughout the year and are reviewed at the June Pioneer Steering Committee Meeting. To be considered at the June meeting, submit your nomination package by March 31. To learn more, visit our Pioneer nomination guidelines.


New Pioneers 

Congratulations newly elected Pioneers!  Pioneers will be inducted at the 2024  Annual Program and Luncheon. Full biographies and event details coming soon.


2024