Assistant Dean of Practicum Education & Clinical Associate Professor
Boston University School of Social Work
Dr. Kanako Okuda (she/her) is a social work educator, scholar, and practitioner. She serves as the Assistant Dean of Practicum Education and Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University School of Social Work. Passionate about practicum education, Dr. Okuda views it as a vital bridge between students, social work programs, and communities. She employs innovative tools to transform practicum experiences and support diverse learning strengths.
Her research with practicum educators focuses on improving student outcomes. She developed www.fieldanxiety.com to help students address practicum-related anxiety and use vulnerability as a learning tool.
In 2020, Dr. Okuda was selected as a Field Research Scholar by the Transforming Field Education Landscape (TFEL) Project at the University of Calgary. She is a founding member of the Practicum Education Directors’ group for the "Voting Is Social Work" campaign, which promotes voter participation through practicum education.
Dr. Okuda is also a clinical social worker, providing telemental health services to hard-to-reach populations. She began her career in child welfare and later worked as a pediatric oncology social worker at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York City.
Dr. Okuda holds a BSW from Lehman College, an MSSW from Columbia University, and a DSW from Rutgers University. Her scholarship includes topics such as social justice, practicum education, and health social work.
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