Dean of the School of Social Work announcement
July 8, 2026 1:01 PM

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share that Lisa Reyes Mason has been selected to serve as the next dean of the School of Social Work, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. Her appointment will begin August 1. 

After a competitive national search, Professor Reyes Mason emerged as uniquely qualified to lead the school as underscored by her significant experience, strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, and strong alignment with the mission and values of the School of Social Work. 

Professor Reyes Mason currently serves as professor and recently served as interim dean of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. Prior to that she served as associate dean for academic affairs. As interim dean at the University of Denver, Professor Reyes Mason led a school with a $50 million annual budget, more than 50 full-time faculty, approximately 200 adjunct faculty, 100 staff members, and 1,200 master’s and doctoral students. In this role, she provided stable and strategic leadership during a period of fiscal constraint, with particular attention to organizational culture, enrollment and revenue stability, and institutional advocacy. 

Professor Reyes Mason also brings substantial experience in academic innovation. She has overseen in-person and online programming, led curriculum revision efforts, strengthened student support coordination, and co-created new academic concentrations, including an MSW Ecological Justice concentration at the University of Denver. 

She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s and doctorate in social work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Her scholarship and professional work have focused on advancing social and environmental justice, reducing inequities, and building meaningful connections between research, policy, and practice. 

With a national reputation for interdisciplinary and community-engaged scholarship, Professor Reyes Mason has collaborated across fields including engineering, geography, public health, and public policy to address complex societal challenges.

Her focus on sustainable growth, systems thinking, social justice, and statewide impact, as well as her balance of innovation with institutional capacity and resources positions her well to move the school forward with purpose.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Chrystalla Mouza, dean of the College of Education, for chairing the search committee and to thank all the members of the committee for their thoughtful and measured work throughout the process.  

Please join me in welcoming Professor Reyes Mason into her new role at Illinois. 

Sincerely,

John Coleman 
Provost