Social Work program will focus on criminal justice major and re-accreditation under new director

Diane Young is the new director of the Social Work program at the University of Washington Tacoma.

In late August, Young replaced Rich Furman, who decided to return to a regular faculty position. 

“Our program will focus on the continued development and growth of the Criminal Justice major and the successful re-accreditation of the Social Work undergraduate and graduate programs this year,” Young said. “I am excited about the possibilities ahead and am honored to serve in this position.”

Young joined UW Tacoma in January 2010, when the Social Work program was preparing to launch its major in criminal justice. Young’s research and most of her professional practice background has focused on criminal justice populations.

Before coming to Tacoma, Young taught at Syracuse University for 12 years. Earlier in her career, she worked as a social worker at a medical center, a caseworker at an emergency shelter, and medical counselor and corrections counselor at a county corrections department.

She’s also a Husky. Young earned her master of social work and doctorate from the UW School of Social Work in Seattle. She completed her undergraduate studies at Spring Arbor College in Michigan, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and philosophy/religion.

Tacoma’s Social Work program has approximately 105 students pursuing a bachelor of arts in social welfare, and about 145 students pursuing a master of social work. The Criminal Justice program, which started in fall 2010, has just over 100 undergraduate students.