Dean’s Welcome

Welcome to the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Whether you are a prospective student exploring your future, an alum reconnecting with your roots, a community partner seeking to collaborate, or a colleague from another academic institution, we’re so glad you’re here.

For over a century, the Brown School has been a beacon for those called to improve the lives of others through research, policy, and practice. We are a close-knit, place-based community where passionate students, innovative faculty, and talented staff collaborate to tackle society’s most pressing challenges—locally, nationally, and globally. Together, we are committed to rigorous science, transformative education, and partnerships that turn knowledge into action.

We are grounded in an unparalleled legacy of excellence in education and field-leading scholarship in social work and social policy. Our work spans child and family wellbeing, economic mobility, international development, evidence-based practice, implementation science, and beyond. We share a deep belief in the social contract—the idea that society functions best when it offers a fair chance to everyone.

I often say that “social work is a verb.” It’s a tenacious commitment to creative problem-solving and a categorical refusal to leave vulnerable people uncared for. In today’s world, where portions of the social fabric are so frayed that the calling to serve is sometimes misunderstood or even distrusted, our community’s optimism is a radical act. It’s a resistance to despair, to cynicism, to the belief that things cannot get better.

By being here, you are the legacy we’ve been building for over 100 years. If you share our commitment to justice, mercy, and impact, we invite you to join us.

With gratitude and hope,
Dorian Traube
Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean
Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis