WASHINGTON - TelAve -- The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) announced today that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Mayor of Atlanta and former Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and Dr. Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief of the Science family of journals, will serve as featured plenary speakers at the 2026 SSWR Annual Conference.

The joint plenary will examine the growing pressures facing social science and social work research – including federal funding cuts, political interference, and misinformation – and the critical role evidence-based research plays in shaping policy, protecting vulnerable communities, and strengthening democratic institutions.

Dr. Thorp will open the session with a keynote addressing the resilience of the social work research enterprise amid increasing attacks on academic freedom and scientific independence. Drawing on his leadership at Science and decades in higher education, he will highlight how social work research continues to drive innovation, inform policy, and advance equity despite mounting political challenges.

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Mayor Bottoms will join the discussion to offer a perspective on translating research into action. From governing Atlanta through the COVID-19 pandemic and a national racial justice movement to advising the White House on public engagement, Bottoms has relied on data-driven, community-centered research to advance housing stability, public health, economic opportunity, and criminal justice reform.

"This conversation speaks directly to the moment we are in," said Dr. Ramona Denby-Brinson, President of SSWR. "Social work research is essential to a functioning democracy, yet the systems that support it are under threat. This plenary underscores why research, policy, and public leadership must work together to protect communities and advance the public good."

The moderated discussion will focus on safeguarding social science research, strengthening partnerships between universities and governments, and equipping scholars to turn evidence into effective policy amid political and economic uncertainty.

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The SSWR Annual Conference is the leading international forum for social work research, convening scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students committed to advancing knowledge that improves lives and communities.

More information:
https://sswr.org/2026-conference-home/featured-sessions-plenaries-and-invited-symposia/#pp

About SSWR
The Society for Social Work and Research advances, disseminates, and translates research that addresses issues of social work practice and policy and promotes a diverse, just, and equitable society.