Dawn Apgar, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Social Work
Department of Social Work

Dawn Apgar, Ph.D., joined the faculty at Seton Hall University in 2016 after serving as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the largest department in New Jersey state government with more than one-third of the State workforce (15,000 employees/contracted staff) and an annual budget of more than $18.7 billion. Prior to becoming Deputy Commissioner, Apgar was an Assistant Professor at Marywood University and the Director of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Institute at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has extensive direct practice, policy, and management experience in the social work field.

Apgar also writes and does research on social work licensure and has served as chairperson of the New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners. Many of her publications are used by states across the country to assist social workers with passing the licensure examinations.

She is a past President of the New Jersey Chapter of NASW and has been on its National Board of Directors. In 2014, the Chapter presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.