Alumna Honored as NASW Social Work Pioneer
Alumna Dr. Diana DiNitto (PhD 1980, MSW 1987) is among the 25 newest social workers recognized as an NASW Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF). She serves as a Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Cullen Trust Centennial Professor in Alcohol Studies and Education at the Steven Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin.
The Social Work Pioneer program, founded in 1994, recognizes the “select few chosen to join the ranks of social workers who have explored new territories and built outposts for human services around the country.”
She is the 17th overall Social Work Pioneer with ties to the Steve Hicks School of Social Work (SHS) and 20th overall with ties to the University of Texas. She joins SHS social work luminaries such as Barbara White, the former Dean of SHS (1993-2011) and another FSU College of Social Work alumna.
“Diana DiNitto is synonymous with the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, just as she is when it comes to leadership and excellence in social work research and education,” said Allan Cole, Dean of SHS. “For nearly four decades, Dr. DiNitto has made invaluable contributions to our school by championing behavioral health initiatives, public policy, and research in the area of substance use disorders. She is an exemplary social worker and researcher and an extraordinary teacher and mentor to many, including to me.”
Dr. DiNitto was honored with the award during the 18th Annual Social Work Pioneer Program and Luncheon on Saturday, October 19, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The honor is the latest for Dr. DiNitto, who most recently received an honorary doctorate from Tallinn University (Estonia) for her contributions to social work doctoral education and was named Best Reviewer of 2023 for the Journal of Social Work Education (JSWE). She is also the namesake of the DiNitto Career Center at SHS, which offers accessible and comprehensive guidance for SHS students and alumni at every stage of their career journeys.
She also has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Social Welfare Policy and Practice Group, and was honored with the Social Work Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Association of Social Workers-Texas, Capital Area Branch, among other career accolades.
“As a social worker and NASW member for five decades, it is a great honor to be named a NASW Social Work Pioneer. I am so appreciative of this recognition, but what is most important is that our work continues to be critical to the well-being of society,” said Dr. DiNitto. “We are called to serve and advocate for individuals, families, and communities and to be changemakers on a broad scale by influencing policy and administering programs that address society’s most significant challenges. I am honored to be among the incredible social workers who do this work each and every day, and I am excited to continue working to improve lives.”
In addition to her accomplishments in the academy and practice of social work, her character is repeatedly lauded by her colleagues, students, and peers.
“She is even more stellar at being a model colleague and human, and she is one of the most deserving persons to be named as a NASW Pioneer,” said Cole. “Her colleagues at SHS and well beyond celebrate her exceptional contributions to social work research, policy, practice, education, and leadership.”
Diana M. DiNitto, Ph.D., ACSW, LCSW, AADC, is a Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Cullen Trust Centennial Professor in Alcohol Studies and Education in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research and teaching interests are in social welfare policy, alcohol and drug problems, and violence against women. Her books include Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 8th ed., Chemical Dependency: A Systems Approach, 4th ed., and Social Work: Issues and Opportunities in a Challenging Profession, 3rd ed.