On January 16, 2026, Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, PhD, Hooyman Endowed Professor and Director of the The Goldsen Institute and Healthy Generations at the University of Washington School of Social Work, delivered the prestigious Aaron Rosen Lecture at the 30th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) in Washington, DC.
Her lecture, titled “Crisis to Catalyst: Mobilizing Gender and Sexuality Science to Ignite Lifelong Health and Inspire a Transformative Social Work Future,” addressed the rapid social, political, and cultural changes shaping the field of social work and their implications for practice, research, teaching, and community well-being.
Dr. Fredriksen-Goldsen drew on her landmark longitudinal research, including Aging with Pride, National Health, Aging, and Sexuality and Gender Study (NHAS) and community-based interventions focused on health, aging, and resilience among sexual and gender-diverse as well as other underserved populations to illuminate how the profession and society can respond with vision, integrity, and resolve to current and emerging societal challenges.
The Aaron Rosen Lecture is one of SSWR’s most distinguished invited addresses, highlighting scholarship that significantly advances social work research and its impact on social issues. Dr. Fredriksen-Goldsen’s selection and award as the 2026 keynote speaker reflects her national leadership in advancing equity and inclusion in aging and health research, as well as her ongoing commitment to translating rigorous science into community-centered action