Education
Ph.D., Florida State University
MSW., Florida State University
B.A., Florida State University

Research Areas

Nonprofit and Community Leadership
Civic Engagement and Civil Society
Criminal and Juvenile Justice 
Mental Health

Teaching Areas

Policy Management and Leadership (including nonprofits)
Policy Development 

David W. Springer, Ph.D. is the Director of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, a University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and a Fellow to the Sid Richardson Chair of Public Affairs in the LBJ School of Public Affairs. After receiving his Ph.D. in social work from Florida State University, he joined the faculty at UT Austin in 1997.  

Professor Springer began his career as a clinical social worker with adolescents and their families. Bridging direct practice and public policy, his research and teaching coalesce around effective leadership, nonprofits, and systems to strengthen communities. Dr. Springer leads the RGK Center team in preparing the next generation of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders. He serves on several national and local nonprofit boards, and provides executive leadership training and mentoring for nonprofit professionals. 

Professor Springer has been recognized for his leadership in the field and impact on society: Nonprofit Times Power & Influence Top 50, a national list of the top working executives in the nonprofit sector; Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research; the 100 most influential social work journal authors by the British Journal of Social Work; Distinguished Alumni in Social Policy and Administration by the Florida State University College of Social Work; the Public Service Matters Spotlight Award by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA); the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Social Worker of the Year for his work on juvenile justice system reform; and the Austin City Council Distinguished Service Award.