Dean Allan Cole, UT School of Social Work

Allan Cole, Ph.D.
Dean of University of Texas School of Social Work

About the program and speaker:

Dean Allan Cole leads The University of Texas School of Social Work with a unique perspective shaped by his background in philosophy, divinity and social work.

Cole will address the critical importance of social workers at a time when the Texas Social Work Workforce Study projects severe shortages by 2030, especially in rural areas.

As dean of the School of Social Work and deputy for medical humanities and technology at the Dell Medical School, Cole champions initiatives to help future social workers make a meaningful difference through innovative teaching, impactful scholarship and compassionate service. 

After earning degrees from Davidson College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Columbia University, Cole taught at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary for more than a decade and served as dean before joining UT and the social work faculty in 2014. While at UT, President Hartzell appointed Cole deputy for societal challenges and opportunities in 2021, a position he held until being named dean of the School of Social Work in 2022. His scholarship includes 16 books … and counting.

Eight years ago, Allan Cole added another area of expertise to his skill set when he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. This experience inspired him to become an education advocate for people affected by Parkinson’s. He developed the blog PDWise.com and two PBS documentary films, “The Only Day We Have” and “Empowered by Parkinson’s” — in addition to a number of books on living with and learning from the disease. 

His leadership combines academic rigor with genuine compassion, preparing the next generation of changemakers to address complex social challenges with both expertise and heart.

Agenda: