The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has announced Jordan Alexandra Steiger, LSW as the 2025 recipient of the Emerging Social Work Leader Award. This recognition highlights young professionals who have already made a significant impact in their field within just a few years of practice.
Jordan’s career reflects the heart of what social work strives to achieve: creating access, equity, and compassion across systems of care. She has focused much of her work on bridging the gap between behavioral health and physical health services, ensuring that patients are treated as a whole person rather than separate conditions.
A Career of Impact
Jordan began her career as a program specialist with the American Hospital Association (AHA) in Chicago. Today, she serves as Senior Program Manager for Clinical Affairs and Workforce at AHA, where she leads initiatives aimed at improving both patient and workforce well-being. Her projects have included:
- Launching a suicide-prevention learning collaborative to support healthcare workers.
- Leading a $900,000 project funded by the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- Developing trauma-informed communication tools for hospital staff affected by workplace violence.
- Exploring the impact of loneliness and social isolation on health outcomes through AHA’s Advancing Health Podcast.
Her leadership style blends humility with strategic vision, inspiring collaboration while addressing some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.
Why This Matters for Social Work
The Emerging Social Work Leader Award is designed to recognize professionals with fewer than five years of experience who are already shaping the future of the field. Jordan’s recognition shows that meaningful change can happen early in a career, when passion and purpose align with opportunities to lead.
As a Medical Social Worker, Christy Singrey finds her journey deeply inspiring. Her dedication to health equity and her ability to address both patient needs and systemic challenges remind us that social work has the power to create lasting, positive change in healthcare and beyond.
Learn More
You can read the official NASW announcement of Jordan Steiger’s award here.
Her story is a reminder of what’s possible when social workers bring innovation, compassion, and leadership to the communities they serve.
