Sonia Duckworth, a field liaison and faculty member in the Office of Field Education, is passionate about social justice and empowering youth through education and creativity. Her practice interest and experience focus on community-centered collective engagement, nonprofit strategic planning, management and fundraising. She has a wealth of experience in student recruitment, community-focused partnership development and wellness/mindfulness practice.  

Sonia has worked at the UW for many years. Early in her career, with the Social Development Research Group (SDRG) and the UW Family Medicine Community Health Advancement Program (CHAP). At the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, she worked as a psychotherapist with clients in a behavioral change study designed to teach new ways of thinking and behaving to improve depression. Earlier at the UW School of Social Work’s Office of Admissions, she led all aspects of recruitment, event planning, and marketing. She increased graduate applications by 33 percent over four years, redesigned the admissions website and oversaw all recruitment events. 

More recently, at the UW School of Public Health, she directed MPH students to move through their practicum experience by advising and reviewing practicum plans and evaluations. In addition, she negotiated placement contracts and agreements and managed the development of a new student management system.  

Sonia has and continues to serve on and lead several advisory boards to local K-12 schools and nonprofit organizations. She is also a certified yoga teacher. Sonia received her MSW in multi-ethnic community practice from the University of Washington in 2002.