Dr. Michael S. Spencer is the Ballmer Endowed Dean and Professor of Social Work at the University of Washington School of Social Work. He is also the Director of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Oceania Affairs at the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute. His research is in the area of culturally grounded, community-based research with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and the Society for Social Work Research, serves on the Grand Challenges for Social Work Executive Committee, and chairs the Close the Heath Gap and Eliminate Racism Grand Challenges. Dr. Spencer received his PhD from the University of Washington, MSSW from the University of Texas, and BA from the University of Hawai'i.
