Specific Pioneering Contributions
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—anchoring social work values in interdisciplinary systems of care and governance.
As Dean of the College of Social Work at Florida State University, former Professor and Interim Dean at The University of Texas at Austin, and former Dean at Portland State University, Springer’s influence extends across higher education, public systems, and community organizations nationwide.
In 2007, amid widespread reports of sexual abuse and systemic dysfunction in Texas Youth Commission (TYC) facilities, Springer was appointed—pro bono—by the Governor’s Office to chair a Blue Ribbon Task Force charged with redesigning the state’s juvenile justice system. Under his leadership, the task force produced the seminal report Transforming Juvenile Justice in Texas: A Framework for Action, which catalyzed sweeping legislative and policy reforms.
This pioneering work led to a fundamental shift away from incarceration and toward community-based, school-based, and trauma-informed treatment models, influencing reform efforts nationally. Springer’s leadership has since been cited as a model of evidence-informed, ethical system redesign. For this work, he was named Social Worker of the Year (2008) by NASW Texas Chapter/Austin.
As Principal Investigator of Restore Rundberg, a $1 million U.S. Department of Justice-funded initiative under the Obama Administration’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, Springer led one of the nation’s most successful place-based crime reduction efforts. Focused on a six-square-mile area of Austin, Texas, this cross-sector partnership brought together law enforcement, community leaders, policymakers, and service providers to reduce crime, build community cohesion, and improve health, housing, and education.
The project yielded measurable results in youth education outcomes, homelessness services, crime reduction, and civic engagement, becoming a national exemplar among similar DOJ-funded initiatives. Springer was recognized with numerous awards, including the Austin City Council Distinguished Service Award, and the project itself was named Best Neighborhood Revitalization Effort by the Austin Chronicle.
Career Highlights
Springer began his career as a clinical social worker serving adolescents in psychiatric hospitals and alternative schools. After earning his MSW and Ph.D. from Florida State University, he joined the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin in 1997, where he spent over 25 years in progressive leadership roles:
- Director, RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, LBJ School of Public Affairs
- Interim Dean & Associate Dean, LBJ School of Public Affairs
- Associate Dean & Graduate Advisor, Steve Hicks School of Social Work
- Co-Founder, Inter-American Institute for Youth Justice
Notably, Springer is one of the few social workers in the nation to have held senior leadership roles across both schools of social work and public policy at a major Research I university. His leadership bridged disciplines and elevated the visibility of social work within public policy education.
Biographic Information
Springer was born in Manhattan, New York in 1968 and raised in Rockledge, Florida. A first-generation college graduate, he earned all three of his degrees—including his MSW and Ph.D.—from Florida State University. His upbringing in a working-class family and caretaker to a younger brother profoundly shaped his commitment to social justice and equity.
Outside his academic and professional work, Springer is an avid ultramarathon trail runner and surfer. He and his wife, Holly, share four adult children.
Significant Achievements and Awards
Springer is also an award-winning educator. At UT Austin, he taught both undergraduate and graduate courses—including the popular undergraduate seminar Designing a Happy and Meaningful Life and the graduate seminar The Architecture of Leadership. His impact as a teacher and mentor spans hundreds of students across disciplines. Springer has served on a wide range of national boards and councils, including:
- Board of Directors, Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC)
- Board of Trustees, Travis County Integral Care
- National Advisory Councils: Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Children of All Nations Adoption
- Fellow, Society for Social Work and Research
- Fellow, American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
He has also been a longstanding contributor to academic peer review, serving as a reviewer for journals and the Society for Social Work and Research abstract committee.
Significant Achievements and Awards
Springer’s contributions to the profession and public service have earned him numerous accolades:
- Fellow, American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
- Fellow, Society for Social Work and Research
- NASPAA Public Service Matters Spotlight Award
- Academy of Distinguished Teachers, UT Austin
- Nonprofit Times Power & Influence Top 50
- Social Worker of the Year, NASW Texas Chapter/Austin (2008)
- Distinguished Alumni in Social Policy, FSU College of Social Work
- 100 Most Influential Social Work Journal Authors, British Journal of Social Work
- Spirit of Collaboration Award, Austin Community Advancement Network
- Austin City Council Distinguished Service Award
Significant Publications
Springer has published 14 books and numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters. His most influential contributions include:
- Editor, Clinician’s Guide to Evidence-Based Practice series (John Wiley & Sons): A four-volume series co-edited with Dr. Allen Rubin offering step-by-step guidance for treating depression, trauma, schizophrenia, and substance abuse
- Co-Editor, Social Work in Juvenile and Criminal Justice Systems (with Albert Roberts, 5th edition pending): A definitive textbook in the field
- Co-Author, Measures for Clinical Practice and Research, 6th edition (Oxford University Press): A leading two-volume sourcebook co-authored with Dr. Joel Fischer and Dr. Kevin Corcoran of psychometrically-sound rapid assessment tools for practitioners and researchers
These publications have become essential tools in both academic and practice settings, providing accessible resources grounded in rigorous research and clinical utility.