Ep. 2: Michael Spencer

Michael Spencer is the Balmer Endowed Dean in Social Work at the University of Washington School of Social Work. He made history with the 2023 appointment, becoming the first ever native Hawaiian to serve as a dean at the University of Washington. He's an expert on indigenous population health and wellness and recently served as the Director of Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander and Oceanic Affairs at the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute. He's originally from O'ahu and is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. Dean Spencer's research examines health and wellness among native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, focusing on interventions to promote health among native Hawaiians through indigenous practices and values. He also received his degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992.