Melinda Lewis

Melinda Lewis is a Professor of Practice in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas, where she teaches graduate courses in macro social work and policy, human rights in the BSW program, and in the University Honors Program. She is also Director of the School’s Center on Community Engagement and Collaboration, where she leads the School’s efforts in lifelong learning, public scholarship, and support for community-engaged research. She works with key community partners, represents the School of Social Welfare in community engagement efforts, and serves as an ambassador for the School and the profession in community coalitions and related initiatives. Since 2022, Melinda has been the faculty lead for the School’s International Social Work study abroad program in Costa Rica, a role for which she was awarded the International Affairs Advisory Board International Teaching Award in 2024. For five years, Ms. Lewis was Assistant Director of the Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion, now based at the University of Michigan. At AEDI, she co-authored three books about wealth inequality, student debt, and policies to make education an equitable ladder of upward mobility, as well as peer-reviewed scholarship about asset development approaches. With her co-author, Melinda co-hosts the Tangible Hope podcast, talking with scholars and policymakers about wealth inequality, its effects on our democracy, and justice-forward policy solutions. She is also co-author of the book Social Policy for Effective Practice: A Strengths Approach (6th edition, 2023). In addition to service at KU, Melinda is an appointed member of her city’s Environmental Committee and a board member of the Kansas Action for Children and the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights.