Dorothy J. Van Soest has been named dean of the UW School of Social Work. Pending approval by the UW Board of Regents, the appointment is effective Feb. 1, 2002. Van Soest is currently the associate dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin.
Her professional interests include educating social workers for social justice advocacy and addressing violence at individual, institutional, cultural and global levels. Among her many areas of teaching expertise are societal oppression, cultural diversity, social welfare policy, human social behavior, community organizing and empowerment for peace.
She earned an M.S.W. degree from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in social work from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
Early in her career, Van Soest was a social worker at a reservation and worked for a public welfare agency in Minnesota. She went on to obtain a broad range of experience in social work practice, teaching, and administration on the faculties of the University of Minnesota, Smith College, and St. Thomas University.
Associate dean Edwina Uehara will serve as acting dean until Van Soest's arrival.
Sept. 14, 2001