The School of Social Work was saddened to announce the recent passing of Social Work alum, Board of Visitors member and former WSU Board of Governors member, Jacqueline E. Washington. Ms. Washington was a social worker and community activist who modeled her personal and professional integrity - and commitment to social justice - with every breath she took.

Ms. Washington began her career as a school social worker in Detroit and in 1970 helped establish and became chair of the first Violence Against Women Committee of the NOW Detroit chapter. Ms. Washington worked to raise awareness of spousal abuse in Detroit  and helped changed police response to victims of domestic violence. She went on to also advocate for minorities, the poor, the right to choice and women in organizational leadership roles. Ms. Washington was the co-founder of New Options, a personnel agency responsible for the placement of women and minorities in desirable, nontraditional, affirmative action positions in business and industry, the first female president and CEO of the Pontiac Urban League, the first African American woman to serve as executive director of the Planned Parenthood League of Southwest Michigan and co-founder and president of the Sojourner Foundation. She also served on numerous boards of local humanitarian organizations.

You will find that in death, as in her life, she supports the School of Social Work as the family requests donations to her scholarship funds in lieu of flowers. For more information on donations contact Joye Clark at joye.clark@wayne.edu.