NASW Foundation names five new Pioneers

Apr 26, 2016

By Paul R. Pace, News staff

The NASW Foundation has announced five newly elected Social Work Pioneers®.

Social workers who have made great strides in expanding the profession into new frontiers and for enriching human development and understanding are reflected in the latest round of inductees.

They are:

Capt. Barry D. Adams, the U.S. Navy’s top-ranked social worker as the Navy’s Social Work Specialty Leader.

He is credited with breaking barriers for social work roles in the military by obtaining positions typically reserved for psychiatrists and psychologists.

State Rep. Joseph Gallegos, a professor emeritus at the University of Portland and a Democratic representative in the 30th House District for the state of Oregon.

He served as the director of the social work program at UP and worked to bring the program to accreditation, while also providing consultation to other universities seeking accreditation, according to peers.

Catherine Goodma, who died in 2015, was a professor in the School of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach.

Colleagues noted that Goodman made great impacts as a scholar, educator and community service innovator at statewide, national and international levels.

Travis Peterson, who died in 2015, served in approximately 40 positions at NASW’s local, state and national levels.

His peers credit him with being a role model and courageous pioneer as an openly gay social worker at a time when the LGBT community faced blatant discrimination and threats of violence.

Tommy Wells, who was a District of Columbia council member from 2006 to 2014, has been an advocate for the District’s children and families for more than 32 years.

He currently serves as director of the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment and is responsible for protecting the environment and conserving the natural resources of the D.C. area.

From the April 2016 NASW News. NASW members can read the full story here.

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