NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Kenneth S. Carpenter

Mr. Kenneth S. Carpenter attended Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, after which he was employed by the Polk County Welfare Board, Crookston, Minnesota, as a Public Assistance Worker. After two years he entered the Columbia University School of Social Work. He received his MSW in 1950.

Upon completing his MSW he returned to Minnesota and began his professional career in criminal justice, which covered a period of 55 years when he retired in 2004. Mr. Carpenter is the author of a number or professional articles on criminal justice. He worked with the Minnesota Youth Commission for ten years as Director of the Minnesota Diagnostic Center, Red Wing, Minnesota. In 1960 he joined the staff of the Children's Bureau, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare where he also worked ten years. He started as an Institution Consultant for the Division of Juvenile Delinquency, and later as Chief of the Technical Aid Branch.

In 1970 he moved to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, United States Department of Justice where he worked ten tears as Director of the Corrections Division and later as Director of Special Programs. In 1980 he moved to the National Institute of Corrections, United States Department of Justice, where he worked until his retirement in 2004. While there he worked as the Technical Assistance Manager, Community Corrections Division.

Mr. Carpenter has been a member of the National Association of Social Workers since it was founded. While he was in Minnesota he was a member of the Southern Chapter, NASW, and was President Elect of the Chapter when he moved to Washington, DC. He joined the Metropolitan Chapter of NASW upon moving to Washington, D C, and was a member of the Chapter's Criminal Justice Committee.

Mr. Carpenter has been active for many years as a member of the International Council on Social Welfare and has served as a member of the U.S. Committee, ICSW. He has attended ICSW Conferences in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa, and has served as a conference speaker, workshop leader, and resource consultant on criminal justice.

Mr. Carpenter has also been active in the alumni programs of the Columbia University School of Social Work officiating as Committee Chairman of the CUSSW Alumni in Minnesota and Washington, DC of which he's been a member of the Board and in 1976 he received the Alumni Federation of Columbia University Conspicuous Columbia University Alumni Service Award. He also served as President of the Columbia University Club of the Metropolitan Washington Area.

Upon his retirement in 2004 he was awarded a plaque from the National Probation and Parole Association for the decades of service in the field of criminal justice. Mr. Carpenter is married to Margery P. Carpenter who is also a NASW Pioneer.

Video: Kenneth Carpenter receives Alumni Medal from Columbia
University (April 201)