Linda Hurley Ishem, Ph.D.
Emeritus Associate Teaching Professor

Education
2008 Social Welfare, University of Washington, School of Social Work, Ph.D.
1987 Management, Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Business, M.B.A.
1976 Psychology and Black Studies, Wellesley College, B.A.

Contact
lishem@uw.edu

Linda Hurley Ishem, Emeritus Associate Teaching Professor, is a self-described non-traditional, activist, pracademic.

Non-traditional – with an 11-year break between earning BA in Psych and Black Studies from Wellesley College (1976) and her MBA from Northwestern University 1987; followed by a 21-year break before earning her PhD in Social Welfare at University of Washington (2008).

Activist – Linda’s teaching, research, and practice are centered on community building (both relational and spatial) and neighborhood change while improving community members’ efficacy, advocacy, and quality of life, principally in inner-city urban neighborhoods.

Linda’s professional career spans three distinct but related occupations. The first 12 years as a corporate and community banker; rising to Senior Vice President of the nation’s largest Black owned bank. Second, 12 years as a State and county Public Administrator, rising to Director of Community and Economic Development in Pierce County, WA. Third, and final, 19 years as PhD student (School of Social Work, UW-Seattle); School of Urban Studies faculty member (2006-2020); and part-time Assistant Chancellor for Community Engagement (2016-2018) (UW Tacoma).