Michael Sherraden

Michael Sherraden, PhD, is the founding director of the Center for Social Development and the George Warren Brown Distinguished University Professor. Working with CSD colleagues and many partners, he creates and tests innovations to improve social and economic well-being. He has defined and informed a growing body of applied research and policy to promote inclusion in asset building. This work has influenced asset-based policies and programs in the U.S. and many other countries.

His research results have also informed inclusive and progressive Child Development Accounts in St. Louis, other U.S. cities and states, and internationally. In addition, his research on Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s contributed to the creation of AmeriCorps, and he was in attendance for the signing of the bill at the White House.

Michael was elected to the inaugural class of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, serves on the board and is a co-director of the national initiative Grand Challenges for Social Work. Among other awards, he has been a Fulbright Scholar and listed by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.