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Biography:
Dr. Spencer Zeiger was born and raised in Los Angeles, and lived for 15 years in at the same house that once belonged to the late actress Rita Hayworth. It was a time before freeways and smog. He graduated from high school in the lower half of his class. Undeterred, he continued his education and received a baccalaureate degree in psychology at the University of California Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in psychology form California State University at Sonoma. After a 10-year stint as a professional photographer, he pursued more higher education. Dr. Zeiger received his M.S.W. (1986) and Ph.D. (1989) degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle.
He has been a professional social work educator for 22 years. He has taught (primarily courses in Research Methodology) in Minnesota, Alaska, Massachusetts, and Georgia. Dr. Zeiger’s practice experience includes working with emotionally disturbed adolescents in residential treatment, working with older adults in day treatment at a mental health institute, and working with teen fathers in the Seattle public school system. His research interests include men in care giving roles, social work faculty longevity, and gender roles. He began his current position as Associate Dean and Professor of the Department of Social Work at Dalton State College in Georgia in August, 2009.
Dr. Zeiger has served on the Executive Board of the Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors (BPD) as Treasurer (1998-2000) and President (2001-2003). As President of BPD, he was the primary force in establishing voting rights for all members of the organization. He has published numerous articles in social work journals and served on editorial boards. His latest book, Career Reflections of Social Work Educators, currently in press and published by Lyceum Books, was released in 2010. Dr. Zeiger’s landmark publication gives voice to 66 social work educators from 35 different states (and Guam), as they tells stories of survival in academia, and the challenges and joys in preparing the next generation of professional social workers.