Harry Specht

About the Author

Harry Specht is a distinguished scholar and advocate in the field of social work, with a career spanning decades of teaching, research, and policy influence. A former dean of the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley, Specht has long been a voice for reforming the profession to realign with its foundational principles of community engagement and direct service. His incisive critiques highlight the drift toward individualism and bureaucracy that has diluted social work's impact on societal inequities. In his seminal work, Unfaithful Angels: How Social Work Has Abandoned its Mission, Specht calls for a return to ethical roots, drawing on historical analysis and practical recommendations to inspire practitioners and policymakers alike. Through his writings, Specht continues to challenge the status quo, urging a renewed commitment to collective well-being in an era of fragmented social services.