Eugene "Dan" Edwards
Eugene
"Dan" Edwards, Yurok, DSW,
is
professor of social work at the University of Utah. He
also has an appointment in the Ethnic Studies Program
where he is the director of American Indian Studies.
Edwards is the recipient of the 2006 University of
Utah Diversity Award. One person who nominated Edwards
for this award wrote, "His work has been dedicated to
providing and improving opportunities for American
Indians and Alaska Natives at the University of Utah".
The writer also said that Edwards’ work has been
dedicated to promoting "social justice and
understanding richly diverse ethnic
communities."
To address the absence of social work professionals in
Indian Country, Professor Edwards established the American
Indian Social Work Program at the University of Utah in
1971—the only program of its kind for many years.
During the course of 30 years he has assisted hundreds of
American Indians and Alaska Natives earn masters and
doctoral degrees. Of these graduates, over one-half
have been women.