Prof. Renée Spencer Named Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Professor Renée Spencer has been appointed associate dean for faculty affairs at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) beginning September 1, 2024.
Spencer has been a faculty member at BUSSW since 2002 and is well-positioned for this new role having served as department chair twice, first as chair of the Human Behavior department from 2010-2018, and more recently as the inaugural chair of the Human Behavior Research & Policy department since 2021. She also recently completed two years of service on Boston University’s Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure Committee (UAPT).
In Spencer’s time at BUSSW, she spearheaded many grant-funded research projects exploring how supportive relationships with adults promote positive development in youth. Her research identifies the relational processes at work in youth mentoring relationships – those that are successful and those that are not. Her work has delineated why and how relationships end prematurely, highlighted how parents are under-engaged stakeholders, examined how mentors’ attitudes and behaviors can enhance or detract from a quality relationship, and highlighted the importance of tailoring mentoring to the specific needs of special populations of youth, such as systems-involved and military-connected youth.
Her current research exploring these processes is funded with grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Templeton Foundation. She has written over 100 publications, including articles in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Adolescent Research, Children and Youth Services Review, and New York Academy of Sciences Annals.
As the associate dean of faculty affairs, Prof. Spencer will work closely with the dean to guide the promotion and career development of the School’s faculty across all ranks. The role is a three-year appointment held by a tenured full professor and is part of the Dean’s leadership team.