UCLA Luskin associate professor of social welfare Carlos E. Santos has been elected president of the Association of Latina/o Social Work Educators (ALLSWE), a national organization dedicated to advancing teaching, scholarship, and leadership in social work and social welfare.
“Being elected president of ALLSWE is a profound honor, both personally and professionally,” said Santos. “Personally, it affirms the importance of community, solidarity, and shared purpose among Latin American-origin (LAO) social work educators, especially at a time when many of us, and those in our communities, are navigating significant professional, political, and social challenges. Professionally, it represents a responsibility to steward an organization that has long served as a critical intellectual home for LAO social work educators. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and committed to honoring the legacy of ALLSWE while helping it evolve to meet the needs of our diverse and growing community.”
As president, Santos aims to expand ALLSWE’s reach to educators both within and outside the U.S. and strengthen it as a space of support and community. “I hope ALLSWE remains responsive to the evolving needs of LAO communities, advancing scholarship, teaching, and practice that promote equity, dignity, and collective well-being,” he added.
Santos is widely recognized for his intersectional research on how overlapping systems of oppression shape mental health, educational outcomes, and civic engagement, particularly among queer Latinx youth. His work bridges developmental psychology, social welfare, and public policy, with a strong emphasis on translating research into practice.
He has received multiple awards, including the 2019 Early Career Award from the Society for Research on Child Development Latino Caucus and recognition as a Rising Star by the National Multicultural Conference & Summit.
