Jordan Lewis

I graduated from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work in 2000 with a concentration in Gerontology. While having applied to several other social work graduate
programs, my decision to become part of the Brown School community was influenced by the work and advocacy of Alaska Native peoples by Dr. Eddie Brown and the Buder Center. As an advanced standing graduate student, I had the opportunity to intern in the
Office of Senator Tom Daschle in Washington D.C. as a scholar with the Morris K. Udall Native American Congressional Internship Program. The internship encouraged me
to pursue a career in Alaska Native/American Indian health policy.

My Buder Scholar cohort was small, yet very supportive of each other. In the rigor of the coursework and extracurricular activities, the small cohort stuck together through the program. I want to recognize and acknowledge the support of Dr. Nancy Morrow-Howell and Martha Ozawa for their encouragement during my social work education.

Currently I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work in Seattle, Washington. I enjoy teaching at the graduate level and the ability to continue my research interests. In addition to my professorship, I have an appointment with Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, a research facility within the University of Washington. My area of research focuses on improving the well-being of Alaskan Native elders and the communities I call home. I hope my research goes beyond my personal goals and inspires the students I mentor and others who view my work. I feel
that I have come full circle in mentoring and guiding future social work students.

I have continued my connections with the Buder Center through a research project with Dr. Patterson and Dr. Tovar. In addition, I have also collaborated with Jessica Black on multiple projects. My advice to current and future Buder Scholars is to find the support network that will guide you through your challenges and successes.

I would like to thank the Buder Foundation for supporting my academic interests through the scholarship. While it has been some time since my completion of the MSW program, I continue to experience the honor of being a Buder Scholar.