The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) welcomes new leadership and four new members to its Board of Advisors as it begins the 2026-27 academic year.
Joan Levy Zlotnik, PhD ’98, will serve as chair, succeeding Steve Kaiser. Lori James, MSW ’91, PhD, will serve as vice chair.
David E. Brainerd III, MSW ’79; Robin McKinney, MSW ’01; Carnitra D.P. White, MSW ’99; and Del. Jamila J. Woods, MSW ’02, also joined the board as new members on July 1. They will serve renewable three-year terms.
The Board of Advisors serves as a key advisory body for the school. Its members work closely with Dean Judy L. Postmus, PhD, ACSW, and serve as volunteer leaders, ambassadors, advocates, and philanthropic partners committed to advancing the school’s mission. The board meets four times each academic year.
“We are fortunate to welcome Joan and Lori as chair and vice chair, and we are equally grateful that four accomplished alumni have chosen to serve on the board,” Postmus said. “Their careers reflect the extraordinary breadth and impact of the social work profession. Their experience and perspectives will be invaluable as the school celebrates its 65th anniversary, prepares to move into its new building, and plans for the future.”
Zlotnik is a 2025 recipient of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Foundation’s Knee/Wittman Lifetime Achievement Award. She has worked in social work for more than five decades in clinical practice, policy, research, and education. Named an NASW Social Work Pioneer, she was the founding director of the Social Work Policy Institute from 2009 to 2018.
James is executive director of the National Association for Public Defense and has extensive experience in criminal justice reform, behavioral health, and advocacy.
Brainerd is a devoted alumnus, former member of the UMSSW Alumni Board, and longtime volunteer leader and supporter. He dedicated his social work career to child welfare, serving children and families in Greater Baltimore and across Maryland.
McKinney is co-founder and chief executive officer of the CASH Campaign of Maryland, which helps low- and moderate-income Marylanders improve their financial security.
White retired earlier this year as principal deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Services after a career leading child welfare and family services across the state.
Woods has represented District 26 in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2023. She is president and chief executive officer of Gabriel’s Lyric Therapeutic Services, which serves communities in Southern Maryland. She is also founder and pastor of Jabez Christian Community Church in White Plains, Md.