ASU social work leader retiring after 50-plus years in the field

Social work, as a profession, has existed for roughly 100 years. And Professor James Herbert Williams has witnessed its evolution for half of its existence — first as a practitioner, then as a scholar.

“It started as community ladies wanting to help people with basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing — and not as much about psychosocial and emotional well-being, which is the way we think about social work now,” he said. “Basic needs are important. You can’t self-actualize if you’re hungry.”

Williams, director of Arizona State University's Center for Child Well-Being, is reflecting on social work’s history and its future as he prepares for the next phase of his career: professor emeritus. Williams is retiring at the end of June — but before then, he will be honored as a NASW Social Work Pioneer, a lifetime achievement award.

The honor is among many that Williams has earned in his 50 years in social work. He has held leadership positions at ASU's School of Social Work, the Graduate School of Social Work at University of Denver, and Washington University in St. Louis, as well as in multiple national organizations. He was named the Arizona Centennial Professor of Social Welfare Service, the Distinguished Emil M. Sunley Endowed Chair at University of Denver, and the ASU Foundation Professor of Youth and Diversity. He is an elected fellow in two renowned research societies: the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, and the Society for Social Work and Research.

Williams’ experiences in the field — first as a social worker for 17 years and then as a scholar, educator and university leader — mirrors what he sees as a tension in social work between a practicing profession and an academic discipline. 

When he decided to pursue a doctorate in social work in 1991, the field was transitioning from an almost entirely practice-based profession to one making a significant investment in research infrastructure and knowledge development.

“A profession says that we train our people to do things in the community to impact people's lives and make the quality of people's lives better,” he explained. “But now we also consider that research and developing knowledge can be used to improve people's lives as well.”

As he started on his academic path, there was an emphasis in social work on establishing a strong research agenda, as well as earning grants, publishing articles and expanding doctoral education to improve the quality and scholarship within the profession, he said. Achieving tenure became more about publications than teaching, he added.

The change led to new associations to further organize the discipline, including the Society for Social Work and Research in 1994. Williams served the society as vice president and president.

In the past 10 years, Williams has seen a shift in the philosophy of social work research that better reflects the professional values of practitioners. Researchers are diving into questions around exploitation and exploring opportunities for inclusion while also actively working with the populations impacted by a project or policy.

“One of the things we’ve done very well at ASU, and what we’re really known for at our School of Social Work, is community participatory-based research, which means we engage the community as we plan research. We engage them as the research is being implemented so it becomes a partnership that helps them,” he said.

In the future, social work will need to do more to incorporate technology, big data and artificial intelligence in education, Williams said. The field also needs to develop intentional strategies around tuition support, salaries and professional quality of life while navigating legislation and political threats that are antithetical to the profession’s values and ethics — particularly around race and diversity, he added.

“As social workers, it is so important that we continue to advocate and support the communities we serve. We are an important voice for those communities,” he said.

The legacy of Williams’ leadership will continue to impact the School of Social Work for years to come, said Cynthia Lietz, dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

“Dr. James Herbert Williams served in many administrative roles including school and center directors with distinction,” she said. “His leadership ensured we advanced research and educational programming of the highest quality that better prepared the next generation of social workers along with those currently working in the field.”

Thinking back on his extraordinary career, Williams said there isn’t much he would change. Knowledge is something one builds over time; gaining new insights is part of the journey. If he could go back to the beginning, the only alteration he’d make would be to pursue opportunities with more intention. It is advice he gives his grandchildren and his students.

“I was never a person that sought out or made opportunities. I was just fortunate enough that there were a number of people that intersected with my life who felt as though they saw potential in me,” he said. “I like to think if you go back and ask them now they’d say I didn't disappoint them.”