Ronald G. Lewis

Who is Ronald G. Lewis?

Dr. Ronald Lewis was the first American Indian to receive a Ph.D. in the field of social work in 1974, was declared a NASW Social Work Pioneer, and has become known as the “Father of American Indian Social Work.”

In addition, he was the first American Indian tenured in the University of Wisconsin system, first American Indian Full Professor in the field of Social Work, and first American Indian to hold the position of "Dean" in Canada.

Born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Dr. Lewis had his first academic appointment in 1975 at the University of Oklahoma, School of Social Work. From there Dr. Lewis was tenured at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Arizona State University, and at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College as Dean. Additionally, Dr. Lewis has guest lectured across the country at universities for 30 years.

Beyond the academic world, Dr. Lewis was a psychiatric social worker who developed mental health programs for American Indians at the Tahlequah and Claremore Indian Hospitals in Oklahoma and later for the state of Oklahoma. As the director of the Indian Liaison Office at the Fitzsimons Medical Hospital in Denver, he worked with returning American Indian Vietnam veterans. Dr. Lewis also trained hospital and medical personnel about culturally appropriate services for American Indians. Always a political activist, during this time Dr. Lewis was also at the Wounded Knee Incident in 1973 and the Alcatraz takeover.