William Whitaker, a professor of social work at Boise State University, has been named Idaho’s Social Worker of the Year by the Idaho chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
William Whitaker, Ph.D.
Whitaker came to Boise State in 2002 as the coordinator of the master of social work program. In 2005 he was honored with the Faculty Award for Service by the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. During his more than 40 years as a social worker, he has been involved in a variety of community and university programs, including serving two elected terms on the board of the Council on Social Work Education and a two-year term on Boise State’s Faculty Senate. He is also a consulting editor for two professional journals, the Journal of Community Practice and Social Development Issues.
As president of United Vision for Idaho, Whitaker has helped initiate and implement New Voices, New Vision, a statewide effort to develop a progressive agenda for Idaho for the next 15 years. One agenda issue is universal health insurance for Idaho. As part of this, Whitaker has supported the development of Idaho Health Care for All, the rejuvenated chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program. In May, he will complete his two-year term as IHCFA co-chair. Whitaker also is an organizer and convener of the Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger.