Marianne Yoshioka

Marianne Yoshioka, PhD, LCSW, MBA is the Dean of the Smith College School for Social Work, a role she has held since 2014. With 20 years of leadership experience, she has led complex organizations, served on nonprofit boards, and guided national workgroups and research teams. Dr. Yoshioka brings deep expertise in organizational management and alignment with anti-racism and anti-oppression principles, and is known for her collaborative style and innovative perspectives.

Originally trained as a clinical social worker, her scholarship has focused on addiction, family therapy, HIV/AIDS, and family violence within Asian communities. She is also an experienced leadership coach and consultant for professionals in academic and nonprofit sectors. In 2023, she resumed her role as co-director of the Leadership Academy of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work.

As a queer Japanese American woman, Dr. Yoshioka is deeply committed to advancing equity and supporting individuals who have experienced marginalization to step into their leadership with confidence and clarity. She has been active in community-based leadership throughout her career, including service as a Japanese American leadership delegate, co-chair of the Queens Sakura Festival, and volunteer work with the New York City Japanese Consulate. She has supported Asian student groups and created space for underrepresented voices in institutional settings.

Dr. Yoshioka holds a PhD in Social Work from Florida State University, an MSW from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is a licensed clinical social worker in Massachusetts.