Danielle Woodward

Danielle is the founding co-director of Survey Research Division (SRD) of Social Development Research Group (SDRG), part of the School of Social Work (SSW). Under her leadership, SRD has cultivated an exceptional reputation for high quality data collection and management services within SDRG, generating approximately $2million annually.As one SRD team member conveyed, “She builds relationships not only at SDRG but within the School of Social Work and across the UW, with our study partners within and outside UW. A skilled communicator, she is direct, respectful, kind, and always generous with her knowledge and experience.”

Tell us why you are nominating this individual or team

Danielle’s service began in 1994 when she was hired to collect data for a Social Development Research Group (SDRG) research study. Because of her outstanding ability, commitment, and organizational and interpersonal skills, Danielle quickly assumed greater responsibility and eventually became a founding co-director of Survey Research Division (SRD). Under her leadership, SRD generates approximately $2million annually. She and her ~35-person team of supervisors, locators, data managers, programmers, and interviewers are respected and cherished for their service and results, including extraordinarily high retention of 85%+ in longitudinal studies spanning decades.

Rising through the ranks from staff member to leader, Danielle has consistently demonstrated exemplary performance, the highest quality relationships and customer service, and a deep devotion to her staff and colleagues. Danielle was appointed Assistant Director of SDRG in fall 2024, with a focus on operations, in recognition of her leadership skills, her highly collaborative style, and her overall effectiveness.
What makes this nominee worthy of the DSA?

Social Development Research Group (SDRG) staff are thrilled to nominate Danielle: “One of the busiest people we know, she always makes time for anyone at SDRG. She is a true model of supervising through strong relationship building, openness, listening, respectfulness, caring, honesty, and willingness to mentor and teach. She cares for us as people, prioritizing our health and well-being, not just productivity or project success (although she’s had a LOT of project success).”

She also shines during stressful times. Recalling a week when project goals were elusive, one staff member shared “[Danielle] said, ‘In a lot of ways it’s more important to check in with you on a week when you’re having a hard time than the weeks that you’re doing well. Let’s talk about what’s going on, and we will try to come up with a solution.’… I strive to emulate this…with my own team.”

Danielle routinely goes above and beyond, offering solutions to challenges large and small: “A creative thinker and problem solver, Danielle is incredibly resourceful, devising innovative solutions while always remaining open and interested in others’ ideas.”

She is also a true team player: “Literally there is no task or problem that is beneath her or that she doesn’t embrace fully. She just always steps up to any challenge…You can tell her in passing about a problem, and she often finds the solution before you get back to your office!” Many of her contributions⎯such as many hours spent advocating for better wages for her staff⎯fly under the radar.

Summing up why she is so special, one SDRGer said, “Danielle is an anchor at SDRG, involved in virtually every aspect of our functioning. From budgets to project proposals, data collection to outreach, individual to organizational leadership, she keeps us rolling, calms us during crises, helps us stay connected to the work and with each other.”
Was there anything else?

Danielle Haiku
from an SDRG colleague

Danielle guides our path—
Guide, linchpin, wheel, rolling strength
She moves us forward

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