Dean David Springer Becomes NASW Pioneer and FADD President

This year, Dean David Springer was selected as a National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Social Work Pioneer. The program honors members of the social work profession who have made significant contributions to the growth and enrichment of the profession, as well as their exceptional dedication, commitment and determination to improve social and human conditions.

Each year, the newest pioneers are honored at NASW’s national conference in Washington, DC. The NASW Pioneers Biography Index provides access to the growing legacy of social worker pioneers honored through the program.  

“I am humbled to be recognized among great social work pioneers like Jane Adams, George Edmond Haynes and Ida Wells,” said Dr. Springer, dean of the FSU College of Social Work and Guy and Delores Spearman Professor of Social Work. “This profession continues to make the world a better place thanks to their legacy that will continue through our future generations of social workers. I am honored to lead to the best of my ability in the realm of higher education.”

In September, Dr. Springer also assumed the role of president of the Florida Association of Social Work Deans and Directors (FADD), an organization under the umbrella of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work (NADD), which brings together social work education leadership. FADD’s president serves as a guide for the organization to stay informed about issues and policies related to the social work profession, including the Social Work License Compact and matters concerning social work licensure testing. Dr. Springer will take over this role, which was most recently filled by Hugh Clark, chair, program director and associate professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. 

“I’m thrilled to be stepping into this role in my home state,” voiced Dr. Springer. “It’s a crucial time to play such an active role in the social work profession as the landscape of social work education, and education in general, continues to change rapidly.”

Highlights from Dean Springer's Career as an NASW Social Work Pioneers® Program

Primary Areas of Contribution: Juvenile Justice Reform, Mental Health, Positive Youth Development, Community Revitalization, Nonprofit and Public Policy Leadership

Pioneering Contributions to Social Work

Dr. David W. Springer 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, Dr. 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, Dr. Springer’s influence extends across higher education, public systems and community organizations nationwide.

Key Innovations and System-Level Impact

Juvenile Justice Reform in Texas and Beyond

In 2007, amid widespread reports of sexual abuse and systemic dysfunction in Texas Youth Commission (TYC) facilities, Dr. 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. Dr. 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 the NASW Texas Chapter/Austin.

Restore Rundberg: Neighborhood Revitalization & Community Policing

As principal investigator of Restore Rundberg, a $1 million U.S. Department of Justice-funded initiative under the Obama Administration’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, Dr. 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. Dr. 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

Dr. Springer began his career as a clinical social worker serving adolescents in psychiatric hospitals and alternative schools. After earning a bachelor's degree, along with an MSW and PhD 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, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
• Associate Dean & Graduate Advisor, Steve Hicks School of Social Work
• Co-Founder, Inter-American Institute for Youth Justice

Notably, Dr. 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 the field of public policy education.

Dr. 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.

• 2016 - Public Service Matters Spotlight Award recipient, Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
• 2003 - Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award recipient in recognition of distinction and excellence in teaching graduate students, The University of Texas at Austin.
• 1998-1999 - Texas Exes Teaching Excellence Award recipient, School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin.

National and Professional Service

Dr. 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.

Additional Recognition and Honors

Dr. Springer’s contributions to the profession and public service have earned him numerous accolades:

• Fellow, American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
• NASPAA Public Service Matters Spotlight Award
• Academy of Distinguished Teachers, UT Austin
• Nonprofit Times Power & Influence Top 50
• Distinguished Alumni in Social Work Policy and Administration, 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

Significant Publications

Dr. 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.