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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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William J. Reid Photo
William J. Reid* (1928-2003)

Willliam J. Reid was a social work scholar and Founding Editor of the NASW Press journal Social Work Research. Reid was a Professor in the University of Albany, State University of New Yorks School of Social Welfare, where he had chaired the Doctoral Program since 1985. He was well known for developing the task-centered practice model, which is widely used as a basis for delivering and managing social work services. The model brought about a shift in the approach to service delivery and stressed the value of short-term interventions and a focus on achievable tasks.

When Reid received the rank of Distinguished Professor from the State University of New York, University at Albany President Karen R. Hitchcock said Reid's "research and methodology have been at the forefront of the field of social welfare and his task-centered model has involved his students in an ideally symbiotic relationship between theoretical understanding and practical application."

Reid received his BSW and MSW from the University of Michigan in 1950 and 1952 and earned his Doctor of Social Welfare Degree from Columbia University in 1963. He served in the Army as a psychiatric social worker and then held academic posts at Columbia University, the University of Chicago and the University at Albany. He received many awards and much recognition throughout his career, including the NASW Presidential Award for Excellence in Research and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research. He authored or co-authored 14 books and more than 120 articles and chapters in books and journals.




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 2023  Annual Program and Luncheon. Full biographies and event details coming soon.

2023