Social Work professor Craig LeCroy named Fellow

Social Work professor Craig LeCroy will be bestowed the honor of Fellow by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare at the 2018 Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research in Washington D.C. on Friday, January 12. To become a fellow, members must be supported by a nomination committee and approved by at least 60 percent of all Fellows. There are currently 125 AASWSW Fellows.

“It really is looking at a person's body of work and the impact of their work on the profession,” said James Herbert Williams, director of the ASU School of Social Work who was honored as an AASWSW Fellow in 2016. “It recognizes an exemplary body of scholarship and that their work has had an impact on the profession.”

LeCroy, the Communitas Professor of Social Work at the school’s Tucson campus, focuses his research on home visitation services, social competence in adolesence and evidence-based practice. Social Work professor Jose Ashford has known LeCroy since he began teaching at the university in 1984. They co-wrote a book and have co-authored dozens of articles over the years.

“It's a great distinction primarily because in our field very few have embarked on very consistent research agendas that have made major contributions to knowledge building,” Ashford said. “And Craig has really distinguished himself self along those lines especially in areas dealing with skills preparing children to acquire skills and also in the area of adolescent and child development and their interventions.”

The significance of the distinction is not lost on LeCroy.

“Being elected Fellow is really a deep level of appreciation and recognition of all the hard work that you've done over the course of your career,” acknowledged LeCroy. “Really what it means is you've been able to do significant knowledge building and that part, I think, probably speaks the most to me because as a researcher, as a university professor, my biggest role is really creating knowledge that people can use so they can so that we can get things better, get things right, and do a better job.”

LeCroy strives to integrate research in every component of the educational experience.

“If anyone ever has a conversation with him, his premier question is always, ‘where is the evidence?’” Ashford said. “That's something that I think there is more of a need for rather than individuals just reacting strictly out of emotions.”

That shows in his interactions with student and faculty.

“He encourages so many students to get involved in research and helps them to create really innovate thesis projects,” said associate professor Lela Rankin Williams, coordinator of the school’s Tucson campus. “He’s also a great mentor to junior faculty. He really goes above and beyond, whether it’s to help them make connections in the community or foster great writing skills.”

LeCroy is the third professor in the ASU School of Social Work to be named a Fellow by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. Flavio Marsiglia was given the title in 2012. James Herbert Williams in 2016.

Williams says the honor speaks to the growing reputation of the school.

“The ASU School of Social Work really is on the move and has a number of great scholars,” Williams said. ”It's great for the school to have one of our own recognized by such a prestigious national body.”

LeCroy was elected a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in 2016.

He earned his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his MSW from Western Michigan University and BSW from San Jose State University. LeCroy is the author or co-author of 15 books and more than 125 journal articles and book chapters.