Prof. Augustina Naami
Prof. Augustina Naami, Associate Professor of Disability and Social Work and Head of the Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Hokenstad International Lecture, making her the first Ghanaian and West African scholar to be accorded the honor.
The lecture will be delivered at the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) 71st Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, from October 23 to 26, 2025.
This year’s conference will be held under the theme “It’s Time to Act: Championing Disability Justice and Disability Joy in Social Work.
Prof. Naami, who has built a distinguished career in teaching, research, and policy advocacy, focuses her scholarship on disability, mental health, gender, poverty, and social policy.
She teaches courses in macro-level social work practice and policy at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and has published widely in leading academic journals and books.
Her work also includes an evidence-based manual designed to provide practical solutions for dismantling barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
Beyond academia, Prof. Naami has been actively engaged in shaping national and international policy, consulting for global organizations, and serving on a range of university and governmental committees.
She has taught internationally, bringing African perspectives into global conversations on social work.
Her academic journey began with a BA in Economics, with a minor in French, from the University of Ghana.
She later pursued graduate studies in the United States, earning a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago and a PhD from the University of Utah.
The Hokenstad International Lecture series, established in 2007 through an endowment from former CSWE president M. C. “Terry” Hokenstad, is one of the organization’s most prestigious platforms.
It is designed to enhance the global dimensions of social work education and is closely tied to the work of the Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education.
While past honorees have included scholars from Africa, notably South Africa, Prof. Naami’s selection represents a milestone for Ghana and the wider West African region.
Her recognition signals the increasing visibility of African voices in shaping international conversations on social work education, policy, and practice.
