Diana DiNitto, Ph.D., ACSW, LCSW, AADC, is among the newest social workers to be recognized as a Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF).
DiNitto, who serves as a Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Cullen Trust Centennial Professor in Alcohol Studies and Education at SHS, is one of 25 social workers who will be honored in this year’s class. The program, founded in 1994, recognizes the “select few chosen to join the ranks of social workers who have explored new territories and built outposts for human services around the country.”
She is the 17th overall Social Work Pioneer with ties to the Steve Hicks School of Social Work (SHS) and 20th overall with ties to the University of Texas. She joins SHS social work luminaries such as Barbara White, the former Dean of SHS (1993-2011); Cynthia Franklin, the Stiernberg/Spencer Family Professor in Mental Health at SHS; and Ruth McCoy, Ruby Lee Piester Centennial Professor Emeritus in Services to Children and Families.
“Diana DiNitto is synonymous with the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, just as she is when it she comes to leadership and excellence in social work research and education,” said Allan Cole, Dean of SHS. “For nearly four decades, Dr. DiNitto has made invaluable contributions to our school by championing behavioral health initiatives, public policy, and research in the area of substance use disorders. She is an exemplary social worker and researcher, and an extraordinary teacher and mentor to many, including to me.”
DiNitto will be honored with the award during the 18th Annual Social Work Pioneer Program and Luncheon on Saturday, October 19, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The honor is the latest for Dr. DiNitto, who most recently received an honorary doctorate from Tallinn University (Estonia) for her contributions to social work doctoral education and was named Best Reviewer of 2023 for the Journal of Social Work Education (JSWE). She is also the namesake of the DiNitto Career Center at SHS, which is dedicated to offering accessible and comprehensive guidance for our students and alumni at every stage of their career journeys.
She also has been named as a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare; received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Social Welfare Policy and Practice Group; and was honored with the Social Work Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Association of Social Workers-Texas, Capital Area Branch, among other career accolades.
“As a social worker and NASW member for five decades, it is a great honor to be named a NASW Social Work Pioneer. I am so appreciative of this recognition, but what is most important is that our work continues to be critical to the well-being of society,” said DiNitto. “We are called to serve and advocate for individuals, families, and communities and to be changemakers on a broad scale by influencing policy and administering programs that address society’s most significant challenges. I am honored to be among the incredible social workers who do this work each and every day, and I am excited to continue working to improve lives.”
In addition to her accomplishments in the academy and practice of social work, DiNitto’s character is repeatedly lauded by her colleagues, students, and peers.
“She is even more stellar at being a model colleague and human, and she is one of the most deserving persons to be named as a NASW Pioneer,” said Cole. “Her colleagues at SHS and well beyond celebrate her exceptional contributions to social work research, policy, practice, education, and leadership.”
ABOUT DIANA DINITTO
Diana M. DiNitto, Ph.D., ACSW, LCSW, AADC, is a Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Cullen Trust Centennial Professor in Alcohol Studies and Education in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research and teaching interests are in social welfare policy, alcohol and drug problems, and violence against women. Her books include Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 8th ed., Chemical Dependency: A Systems Approach, 4th ed., and Social Work: Issues and Opportunities in a Challenging Profession, 3rd ed.
ABOUT THE NASW SOCIAL WORK PIONEERS PROGRAM
The NASW Social Work Pioneers® program honors members of the social work profession who have contributed to the evolution and enrichment of the profession. The Pioneer Program identifies and recognizes individuals whose unique dedication, commitment, and determination have improved social and human conditions.