Michael Sherraden, the George Warren Brown Distinguished University Professor at Washington University in St. Louis and founding director of the Next Age Institute, has been named a Social Work Pioneer.
The honor, announced on July 19 by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Foundation, has been previously bestowed upon such social work luminaries as Jane Addams, Mary Richmond, Ida B. Wells, and George Edmund Haynes.
NASW Foundation Director Brian Williams praised Sherraden’s contributions to the social work profession, noting that he has “paved the way for thousands of other social workers to make their own contributions to the health and welfare of individuals and families facing significant challenges.”
The NASW Social Work Pioneers Program honors individuals who have “contributed to the evolution and enrichment of the profession” in ways that “have improved social and human conditions.” He and other members of the 2024 class of Pioneers will be honored on October 19 at the 18th Annual Pioneer Program in Washington, DC.
“Dr. Sherraden’s selection as a Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation recognizes his unwavering dedication and transformative impact on the field,” said Dorian Traube, the Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School and Professor. “With a remarkable 45-year career at the Brown School, his pioneering work in asset building and social policy has greatly influenced national and international practices. Recognizing him among the great social work pioneers is truly well-deserved.”
Reflecting on Sherraden’s pioneering spirit, Richard P. Barth, professor and former dean of the University of Maryland School of Social Work, praised his foresight and leadership.
“Sherraden epitomizes the spirit that social workers embody: a determination and deep commitment to advancing a just and inclusive society,” Barth said.
“Michael has been way ahead of his time, in countless ways, and social work has benefited from following his lead,” Barth added, noting, “He is a genius and a visionary and the most genuine and most mild-mannered of colleagues.”
Another perspective on Sherraden’s impact comes from colleagues who emphasize his mentoring and policy influence.
“Michael is the ideal recipient of this award because he has been engaged in Social Work policy and research for decades,” said Trina Shanks, the Harold R. Johnson Collegiate Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan, director of the Center for Equitable Family & Community Well-Being. “He has done cutting edge work himself but over the years also has trained dozens of doctoral students to do the same.”
Sarah Butts, director of public policy at the NASW, praised his achievements in policy and research.
“Dr. Michael Sherraden is most deserving of recognition as a social work pioneer. In addition to mentoring countless students, scholars and practitioners, he fundamentally shifted the way we understand poverty and inequality through his work on asset-based social policy,” said Butts. “He has also made substantial contributions to the profession through his focus on effective applied social research and his efforts to translate research to policy and practice. In all of this, Michael has broadened perspectives and driven transformative social change.”
“There have been a number of times when I have been involved in difficult policymaking processes and uncertain how to proceed,” she added. “I found my way forward in those situations by asking myself what Michael would do. Michael is brilliant and also humble. I have always admired his very inclusive and accessible approach.”
A prolific and internationally renowned scholar, Sherraden has authored or edited 14 books. He is best known for his work on asset-based social policy. His 1991 book Assets and the Poor: A New American Welfare Policy remains a seminal work.
In it, Sherraden proposed a universal system of asset-building accounts that would provide a policy structure for narrowing inequality and building wealth. At birth, each child in the United States would receive an account and assets, which would grow with the child until accessed for postsecondary education or other specified purposes.
In addition to his scholarship on inclusive asset building, Sherraden’s wide-ranging research interests have generated noted publications on financial capability, civic service, youth development, productive aging, economic inequality, voter suppression, and numerous other subjects.
SEED for Oklahoma Kids, his signature experiment to test a Child Development Account (CDA) policy in the state of Oklahoma, is now in its 17th year. Evidence from it has prompted several U.S. states and nations to adopt inclusive and progressive CDA policies. The most recent one, in Kazakhstan, launched in January 2024.
“Michael Sherraden’s long-held policy vision of an investment account for every child on the planet is in place for millions of children worldwide,” said Margaret Clancy, policy director at the Center for Social Development and director of the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment. “Professor Sherraden’s skill set is unique in that he is an excellent scholar, policy guru, and teacher. During his long tenure at Washington University, he has been an excellent mentor to hundreds of PhD and MSW students – including myself. We are grateful for his dedication and service to so many.”
Sherraden’s has also made enduring contributions to federal public policy in the United States. He helped to shape the Assets for Independence Act, the National and Community Service Act, the Edward Kennedy Serve America Act, and the Savings for Working Families legislation. His work on national service led to the creation of AmeriCorps. The administrations of George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama turned to him for counsel on asset-based antipoverty initiatives.
He continues to advise policymakers in the United States and elsewhere on evidence-based proposals to address racial wealth gaps and eliminate barriers to higher education.
Sherraden’s accomplishments have garnered numerous accolades. He holds the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration, the Social Policy Researcher Award and the Distinguished Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research, the James Billups Award for International Leadership from the International Consortium for Social Development, and several other tributes. Sherraden was a member of the inaugural class of fellows of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare.
A dedicated teacher, Sherraden often tells colleagues that his students represent his most important contribution. In his 45 years of teaching at Washington University’s Brown School, he has trained 34 doctoral students and inspired countless others.
Shanks, who studied under Sherraden in her master’s and doctoral programs at Washington University, said, “He inspires students at all levels to take innovative approaches to expanding economic opportunity whether through youth service, civic engagement, or asset building. I am honored to have worked with him for over 20 years and look forward to continued collaboration in the future.”
Sherraden reacted to the NASW Foundation’s announcement with characteristic humility, reflecting on the legacy of the social work pioneers and his gratitude for being counted among them.
“The pioneers of social work are my professional heroes – people like Ida B. Wells, Jane Addams, Grace Abbott, Frances Perkins, Wilbur Cohen, Whitney Young, and Brown School former deans Benjamin Youngdahl and Shanti Khinduka,” said Sherraden. “These remarkable leaders understood that humans are fundamentally social, and social requires work. Their lasting contributions make our world better every day. I am honored to be called a Social Work Pioneer, trying to add something positive in this long tradition.”