Peggy O'Neill, Ph.D., LCSW, has been appointed interim dean of Smith College School for Social Work effective July 1, 2026. O'Neill has been a member of the faculty since 2012, spending three years of that tenure as associate dean of academic affairs.
"I am confident that Professor O'Neill will ensure that operations continue to run smoothly during this interim period, while helping to fortify SSW’s foundation for the arrival of the permanent dean," said Smith College Provost Daphne Lamothe. "Thank you to everyone who shared input and feedback for the interim dean search. Many members of the community were incredibly generous, contributing their valuable time, expertise, and insights in support of this process."
In her new role, O'Neill will lead Smith College School for Social Work as it seeks a permanent dean and continues to provide a leading clinical social work education to students from across the country grounded in the School's Core Principles.
O'Neill brings more than 25 years of experience as a clinical social worker, educator, administrator, and consultant to her work. Her clinical practice is primarily relationally based, rooted in contemporary psychodynamic theory. She employs an integrative approach that draws from multiple theoretical frameworks, including psychodynamic, attachment, humanist/existential, CBT, and somatic perspectives, to address complex areas of concern. Central to her work is the application of an anti-oppressive lens, ensuring that the realities of the world and the complex forces individuals navigate are integrated into a shared understanding of their experiences.
"As interim dean I am committed to navigating this period of transition with thoughtful, attuned leadership," said O'Neill.
O'Neill succeeds former Dean and Elizabeth Marting Treuhaft Professor Emerita Marianne Yoshioka who served as Dean from 2014-2026.
