Marianne R.M. Yoshioka, MSW, MBA, PHD, LCSW

Dean and Elizabeth Marting Treuhaft Professor at Smith College School of Social Work

Backstory

By Sue Coyle

Marianne R.M. Yoshioka, dean and Elizabeth Marting Treuhaft professor at the Smith College School of Social Work, describes her current role as that of a “most marvelous conductor of all this incredible work, creation, intellectual capacity and trying to make a difference.” As dean, she runs the School of Social Work, overseeing its fundraising, increasing visibility, creating a supportive environment for staff, and leading the educational program, which Yoshioka calls the heart of the school.

Yoshioka came to Smith College 10 years ago, having been a professor for nearly two decades before that. Higher administration had not been her goal when she entered social work and even when teaching. She started as a sociology major. She took a job with a former professor after graduation, where she interviewed pregnant teens—and was deeply impacted by it.

“I was really struck [by them]. I watched, particularly during the second interview, and saw really vast differences in outcomes. This professor said to me, you should go to graduate school, and, eventually, I started to investigate, and I decided to get an MSW. I thought I would work with individual teens again.”

Instead, after earning her MSW, Yoshioka got a job providing family therapy to individuals seeking treatment for alcohol use. She loved it, but there was a research component to the position that further sparked her interest (along with encouragement from friends and mentors) to return to school for her PhD.

Yoshioka then became a professor at Columbia School of Social Work and eventually the associate dean of Academic Affairs while also working with the Open Society, helping to develop social work programs in other countries. After 18 years at Columbia, she decided she wanted to either return to teaching or become a dean. This led to her current position at Smith.

In addition to her role as dean, Yoshioka co-leads an academy for deans and directors of social work and is a coach through the Lenny Zakim Fund. Yoshioka describes herself as a lifelong learner—a fact evidenced by the MBA she has earned since becoming dean, as well as the recently acquired yoga certification and upcoming plan for a DJ course.

Outside of work, Yoshioka has two adult children, a partner and “a lovely community of friends, chosen family. I’m very grateful,” she says. “I know I’m very lucky.”