David W. Springer, Ph.D., MSW is the Centennial Professor in Leadership for Community, Professional, and Corporate Excellence and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor in the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin.
Bridging leadership, direct practice, community building, and public policy, Dr. Springer is a distinguished scholar focused on collaborative leadership to promote mental well-being and resilient communities. His areas of scholarly expertise include nonprofit and community leadership, happiness and well-being, mental health policy and practice, positive youth development, and criminal and juvenile justice.
A first-generation college student from the Space Coast of Florida, Dr. Springer began his professional career as a clinical social worker in community and school-based settings working with adolescents and their families. Upon completing his Ph.D. in social work from Florida State University he joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin in 1997.
Dr. Springer has served in numerous leadership roles at UT Austin, including: Interim Dean of the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Director of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Advisor of the School of Social Work. During his tenure at UT Austin, Springer has received a number of university-wide teaching awards, including the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, Outstanding Graduate Advisor Award, and selection into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. He has served as Dean of the College of Social Work at Florida State University and as Dean of the School of Social Work at Portland State University.
Professor Springer has been recognized for his leadership in the field and impact on society: recognized as a Social Work Pioneer® by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW); Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare; Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research; Nonprofit Times Power & Influence Top 50, a national list of the top executives in the nonprofit sector; Social Worker of the Year by NASW, Texas Chapter/Austin, for his work on juvenile justice system reform in Texas; the 100 most influential social work journal authors by the British Journal of Social Work; Distinguished Alumni in Social Policy and Administration by the Florida State University, College of Social Work; the Public Service Matters Spotlight Award by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA); and the Austin City Council Distinguished Service Award.