President

Tova Walsh, GADE President
GADE President

Tova Walsh, PhD, MSW

President, 2026–2028

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tova Walsh is the Anne Wackman Oros Associate Professor and PhD Program Director in the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research focuses on parenting during children’s earliest years of life through two interconnected areas of study: adjustment among families with young children who are facing adversity, and strengthening the inclusion of fathers in perinatal and early childhood programs.

Dr. Walsh designs and conducts research that amplifies the voices of parents who are often overlooked, deepens understanding of their strengths and challenges, and informs the development of interventions that are responsive to their needs. Her research draws on her experience working as a home visitor with families with children from birth through age three in low-income communities.

Her work has been supported by grants and fellowships from the Doris Duke Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and National Institutes of Health. Her research has also been covered by media outlets including Reuters, Slate, Men’s Health, and National Public Radio.

Past Presidents

President, 2024–2026 Mimi V. Chapman, PhD, MSW, LCSW University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
President, 2022–2024 J. Denise Burnette, PhD, MSSW, MS Virginia Commonwealth University
Co-Presidents, 2021–2022
G. Lawrence Farmer, PhD, MSW Fordham University
Julia R. Henly, PhD, MSW The University of Chicago
President, 2019–2021 Mo Yee Lee, PhD The Ohio State University
President, 2017–2019 Cynthia G. S. Franklin, PhD The University of Texas at Austin
PRESIDENT, 2015–2017 Elizabeth Lightfoot, PhD University of Minnesota
President, 2013–2015 Theresa J. Early, PhD The Ohio State University
Chair, 2012–2013 Kia J. Bentley, PhD Virginia Commonwealth University
Chair, 2009–2011 Barbara Rittner, PhD University at Buffalo
Chair, 2006–2008 Paul H. Stuart, PhD Florida International University
Chair, 2004–2006 Jeane W. Anastas, PhD New York University
Chair, 2000–2003 Rowena G. Wilson, PhD Norfolk State University
Chair, 1997–1999 Ann Nichols-Casebolt, PhD Virginia Commonwealth University
Chair, 1993–1995 Enola K. Proctor, PhD Washington University in St. Louis
Chair, 1992–1993 Sheila B. Kamerman, PhD † Columbia University
Chair, 1989–1991 Richard J. Estes, PhD University of Pennsylvania
Chair, 1985–1988 Barbara K. Shore, PhD † University of Pittsburgh
Chair, 1981–1983 Elizabeth M. Timberlake, PhD † The Catholic University of America
Chair, 1978 Aaron Rosen, PhD † Washington University in St. Louis
Chair, 1977 Thomas P. Holland, PhD † Case Western Reserve University

† Deceased