Alice Cagampang Ryan

Alice Ryan is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work, where she has dedicated her career to educating and mentoring the next generation of social workers. Alice also serves as Director of the Carol Lamar Scholars Traineeship Program, guiding Master of Social Work students with interests in end-of-life care, life-limiting illness, palliative care, and hospice social work. Since joining the University of Washington, she has taught graduate-level courses and developed learning experiences focused on attachment theory across the lifespan and integrative approaches to social work practice. Her commitment to teaching excellence has been recognized through multiple MSW Students’ Choice Teaching Awards. With nearly three decades of experience as a clinical social worker, educator, and advocate, Alice has built her career around supporting individuals and families navigating grief, loss, and bereavement. She previously managed the Journey Program at Seattle Children’s Hospital, a bereavement program focused on supporting children and families after the loss of a child and a significant relationship. During her leadership, Alice expanded equitable access to culturally responsive grief services by increasing clinician representation and ensuring Spanish-speaking families had access to appropriate support. Her innovative work in pediatric bereavement earned her the Odessa Brown Ken Feldman Award from Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Bridge to Healing Award from the Safe Crossings Foundation. In addition to her academic and healthcare roles, Alice maintains a private practice providing therapy and clinical supervision for therapists working toward independent licensure, with a focus on culturally responsive care and supporting BIPOC practitioners. She serves as a board member of Wild Grief, a nonprofit organization dedicated to grief support, and is a member of the Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network. Alice earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Religious Studies from the University of Michigan and her Master of Social Work from Western Michigan University. Guided by influential mentors including Jackie Kite, Clarissa Barber-Kurose, J'May Rivara, and Isaac and Gloria Cagampang, Alice continues to advance compassionate, inclusive, and community-centered social work practice.