Kim Hokanson

Kim Hokanson, PhD, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers), is a full-time lecturer at BUSSW; coordinator for the Children, Youth, and Families Specialization; and teaches courses including policy, reproductive justice, research methods, and ethics. She has been a child welfare social worker for more than 20 years, serving both in direct service with children and families as well as in the policy and advocacy realms. Dr. Hokanson began her clinical career at a residential treatment home for children healing from maltreatment, worked in public child protective services in Texas, facilitated parenting education and support groups, and has provided individual therapy for children and adults.

She has been involved in policy and advocacy work since her teens in roles ranging from local campaign volunteer to co-chairing Social Workers for Harris/Walz in 2024. Dr. Hokanson currently co-chairs NASW’s national political action committee, PACE (Political Action for Candidate Election), as well as serving as chair of the Massachusetts chapter. She is a board member with Influencing Social Policy (ISP); a vice chair of her town’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee; and is a board member in her town’s Commission on Disabilities and Pride Committee.

Dr. Hokanson’s PhD dissertation focused on retention and turnover in public child welfare employees, her published works address supporting workers as well as youth aging out of foster care, and she has co-created anti-racism trainings for social workers. Her hobbies include researching and writing about activist women’s history and adoring her cats.