Dean of the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice

Dr. Keva Miller named inaugural Dean of the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice

April 6, 2021

Dear UW Tacoma faculty, staff and students,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Keva Miller as the inaugural dean of the School of Social Work & Criminal Justice at the University of Washington Tacoma. Dr. Miller will join us this summer from Portland State University, where she is Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Social Work.

Dr. Miller is nationally recognized for her scholarship in the areas of criminal justice and child welfare. She has authored numerous publications, reports, and presentations that emphasize racial disproportionality and disparities within criminal justice and child welfare systems and examine the impacts on children and families. Her scholarship also examines risk, protection, and resilience among BIPOC and highly stressed populations. Prior to her 13-year tenure at Portland State University, she held academic appointments at the University of Texas at Austin, Fordham University, and Columbia University. Dr. Miller earned her doctorate in social work from Fordham University and holds masters and baccalaureate degrees in social work from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Miller’s vision for the school is to promote social justice and achieve multidisciplinary academic and organizational excellence. This vision includes economic, political, and racial justice, and it is centered on values of equity, inclusion, diversity and access. Dr. Miller seeks to lead the school in a flexible and forward-thinking way that emphasizes academic excellence, intellectual thought leadership, student-centered teaching, and active community engagement.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Miller to UW Tacoma!

Sincerely,

Jill Purdy

Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Advisory Search Committee

• Ali Modarres, Professor and Dean, School of Urban Studies (co-chair)
• Erin Casey, Professor, School of Social Work and Criminal Justice (co-chair)
• Bernard Anderson, UW Tacoma Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Affiliate Faculty, School of Education
• Kenneth Cruz, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, School of Social Work and Criminal Justice
• Dayna Childs, Advisor and Academic Specialist, School of Social Work and Criminal Justice
• Sharon Laing, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership
• Ren Winnett, Advisory Council Member, School of Social Work and Criminal Justice
• Randy Myers, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, School of Social Work and Criminal Justice
• Stephen Ross, Associate Professor of Psychology, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
• Steven Simmons, Master of Social Work student and ASUWT Senator
• Emiko Tajima, Associate Professor, UW School of Social Work

Dean of the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice Advisory Committee Charge Letter

October 20, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for agreeing to serve on the advisory search committee for the position of Dean of the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice. This committee is composed of outstanding individuals who offer a wide range of expertise and perspectives for this important search. The committee will be co-chaired by Ali Modarres and Erin Casey, and Marion Frenche and Betty Asher from the search firm of Greenwood/Asher & Associates will assist you in this search. While we prefer to conduct leadership searches in person, the health precautions of the COVID-19 pandemic will very likely require that all meetings and interviews will be conducted via Zoom.

We seek a distinguished and visionary leader to serve as the inaugural dean of the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice, one who will work well with all its stakeholders, including other campus units, community partners, alumni, and donors. The University has a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which I ask you to make a top priority throughout the search process. As you recruit and review candidates, please seek nominations and feedback from UW Tacoma faculty, student, and staff communities, as well as appropriate constituencies within and outside the University of Washington. In particular, please include input from the School of Social Work at UW Seattle, which is joined to UW Tacoma’s School of Social Work and Criminal Justice via shared accreditation of social work degree programs. At the conclusion of the Committee’s review, the Co-Chairs will provide the Chancellor and me with a written summary of the strengths and weaknesses of up to four highly qualified candidates on behalf of the Committee.

The Co-chairs will be in touch soon with information regarding the committee’s first meeting. I will attend a portion of that meeting to discuss the committee’s charge.  Thank you very much for accepting this important assignment.

Sincerely,

Jill Purdy

Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Professor, Milgard School of Business

cc: Casey Byrne, Director of Academic Personnel, UW Tacoma

Cheryl Cameron, Vice Provost for Academic Human Resources

Mark Pagano, Chancellor, UW Tacoma

Documents

Announcement-Dr. Keva Miller inaugural dean

Dean of the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice Advisory Committee Charge Letter