NASW-NC Member Victor Armstrong Named 2025 National NASW Social Worker of the Year

NASW-NC member Victor R. Armstrong, Sr., MSW was honored on June 16, 2025 at the National NASW Conference in Chicago as the 2025 NASW National Social Worker of the Year!

A member of NASW for 26 years, Armstrong is recognized for his leadership in public mental health, suicide prevention, and health equity.

Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement with the American Foundation for Suicide prevention, Armstrong was the first Chief Health Equity Officer for the North Carolina Department of Health & Human services. He has more than 30 years of experience in human services, primarily dedicated to building and strengthening community resources to assist those who are marginalized.

He currently serves on the steering committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, as well as the 988 National Advisory Committee. He is also on the Board of Directors for College for Behavioral Health Leadership, Recovery Innovations International, and i2i Center for Integrative Health. He is a member of the NC Institute of Medicine and is the host of the “Strong Talk” podcast.

Armstrong is also very active in the professional social work community. He was the keynote speaker at NASW North Carolina’s 2021 Advocacy Week and has contributed to conferences and workshops focused on stigma, access to care, and health disparities. He was named NASW North Carolina’s Social Worker of the Year in 2022.

He holds an MSW in Social Work from East Carolina University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from North Carolina Central University. He previously held leadership positions in state government, hospital systems, and national nonprofits. Throughout his career, Armstrong has maintained a focus on expanding access to mental health care and improving outcomes for underserved populations.

NASW is proud to honor Victor R. Armstrong, Sr., MSW, for his ongoing commitment to the values and mission of the social work profession.

Read more about Victor and full press release here.