On July 1, Mike Spencer, UW Presidential Term Professor, will become the associate dean of academic affairs, replacing Tessa Evans-Campbell, who has served in that position since 2017. Mike is also director of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander & Oceanic Affairs at the School’s Indigenous Wellness Research Institute.
Mike’s research interests focus on health and wellness among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, exploring interventions that promote health among Native Hawaiians through indigenous practices and values.
“Mike is passionate about supporting our students,” said Dean Eddie Uehara. “His leadership skills, extensive experience, and outreach with diverse student populations will help us maintain our excellent reputation in all things academic. We’re delighted to welcome him as a new member of our leadership team.”
Mike has a long history with the UW. In 1996, he received his PhD in social welfare from the UW School of Social Work. After spending more than a decade holding a variety of academic positions at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, he returned to the UW School of Social Work in 2018 as a faculty member.
He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW) and the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) where he serves as the co-chair for the Indigenous cluster and special interest group. He also is the co-chair for AASWSW’s Closing the Health Gap Grand Challenge.
Tessa’s tenure as the associate dean of academic affairs spanned the historic challenges that arose with the surge of COVID-19 in 2020. “Tessa‘s excellent leadership – and the respect, trust and support she earned across SSW staff, faculty, and students alike – were evident throughout the pandemic, where she maintained a strong student- and instructor-focused, highly responsive and proactive approach,” said Dean Eddie. “Her leadership was also pivotal to our strong engagement with CSWE accreditation. We are extremely grateful for her years of service.”