Social Work Person of the Year
Each year, the University of Houston-Downtown Center for Public Service & Community Research (within the UHD College of Public Service Social Work Program) selects one individual to be honored as its Social Work Persons of the Year.
Presentation of the Social Work Person of the Year
Presented by CPS Social Work Faculty.
Tuesday, March, 31st 2026 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. in room C-100
The Social Work Person of the Year Award is an annual event honoring individuals whose work embodies the core values of social work—service, civic fairness, dignity and worth, relationships, integrity, and competence—recognizing those who advocate for underserved populations and drive positive, compassionate change. This year we honor UHD’s own Dr. Shahnaz Savani whom exemplify these values through dedicated advocacy, compassionate service, and impactful collaboration within our community.
Dr. Shahnaz Savani
Dr. Shahnaz Savani is a passionate and accomplished educator, researcher, and social worker with deep expertise in mental health, suicide prevention, and intervention. Her scholarship centers on understanding the lived experiences of suicide in low-income contexts and advancing innovative, scalable solutions to reduce the mental health treatment gap. She pioneered the use of social work field students to deliver evidence-based mental health interventions in underserved communities in Houston, expanding access to care while training the next generation of practitioners. At UHD, she teaches Research Methods, making research accessible, engaging, and meaningful for BSW students. She also leads a Study Abroad program to India, which she has directed for the past 10 years, mentoring more than 100 students through a transformative academic and cultural experience that extends well beyond the classroom.
Previous Social Work Persons of the Year honorees include:
- Judge Jan Krocker, 2011
- Dr. David Buck, 2012
- Sheriff Adrian Garcia, 2013
- Angela Blanchard, 2014
- Lisa Falkenberg, 2015
- Mayor Sylvester Turner, 2016
- Jim McIngvale (Mattress Mack), 2017
- DA Kim Ogg, 2018
- Russell Ybarra, 2019
- Chris Hollins, 2020
- Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Maria Bottazzi, 2021
- Robin Cole, (S.O.J.E.S), 2022
- Rhonda Kuykendall, 2025
For further information contact Steven Villano, director of the Center for Public Service and Community Research at villanos@uhd.edu.