Dr. Daniel Selvarajah Sanders was the first president and one of the founders of the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD). Under his leadership, the consortium, then known as the Inter-University Consortium for International Social Development (IUCISD), grew rapidly from a regional U.S. network into a global organization. He launched ICSD’s biennial international symposiums, expanded membership worldwide, and helped establish the consortium’s first European branch. A scholar and administrator at the Universities of Hawaii and Illinois, Dr. Sanders was internationally recognized for advancing social work as a force for peace, human rights, and social justice. His leadership set ICSD’s enduring direction as a multidisciplinary community dedicated to social and economic development for all.
Dr. Betty Sancier served as the second president of ICSD, guiding the organization through the transitional period following the death of its founding president, Daniel S. Sanders. Her short but stabilizing tenure helped ensure continuity in ICSD’s operations and its growing network of international members. A social-work educator and researcher, Dr. Sancier contributed to the field through studies on family systems, school social work, and continuing professional education. Her academic and administrative leadership helped maintain ICSD’s early commitment to integrating social welfare, education, and development practice during a time of transition in the consortium’s history.
Dr. James Billups led the consortium through nearly a decade of international expansion and professional recognition. Building on the groundwork of his predecessors, Dr. Billups emphasized collaboration, inclusiveness, and global scholarship in ICSD’s biennial conferences and publications. Following his unexpected passing, the organization established the James Billups International Social Development Leadership Award, which is presented biennially to recognize exceptional contributions to peace, social justice, and inclusive development. This ongoing award reflects the values that defined his presidency, linking academic excellence with humanitarian purpose, and preserves his enduring influence on ICSD’s global mission.
Dr. Shanti K. Khinduka was one of ICSD’s original founders. As the George Warren Brown Distinguished University Professor and long-time dean of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis (1974–2004), he strengthened ICSD’s academic partnerships and advanced global collaboration across social-work education. His presidency deepened the consortium’s research focus and international reach, reinforcing ICSD’s role as a global platform for knowledge exchange on social justice, development, and human welfare. A prolific scholar and editor, Dr. Khinduka’s leadership has influenced social-development education worldwide.
Dr. Charles “Chuck” Cowger guided ICSD into the twenty-first century and modernized its communications and publications infrastructure. During his presidency, ICSD assumed full management and copyright responsibility for its flagship journal, Social Development Issues, ensuring its long-term independence and scholarly continuity. Dr. Cowger successfully mobilized many universities as publication partners, negotiated the consortium’s first contract with a publisher for commercial distribution, and initiated the transition toward digital access for the journal. His leadership strengthened ICSD’s financial base, broadened its academic partnerships, and sustained its mission to promote research and education on social development worldwide.
Dr. Frank Raymond continued the consortium’s global expansion and deepened its collaboration with universities and professional bodies. A long-time contributor to ICSD’s scholarship, Dr. Raymond co-authored the historical overview “International Consortium for Social Development” with Chuck Cowger, documenting the organization’s origins and evolution. His presidency emphasized international partnerships, knowledge dissemination, and ICSD’s core values of equity and inclusion. Under his leadership, ICSD strengthened its regional branches and advanced preparations for subsequent global conferences, consolidating the consortium’s role as a central voice in international social-development dialogue.
Dr. Barbara W. Shank guided ICSD through an era of organizational growth and internationalization. As Dean and Professor Emerita at the University of St. Thomas, St. Catherine University, she has been deeply engaged in advancing social-work education and leadership. During her presidency, ICSD expanded its global outreach and strengthened its connection to allied international organizations. Dr. Shank’s long-standing commitment to education, ethics, and global collaboration has left a lasting impact on the consortium’s strategic direction and professional development initiatives.
Dr. Manohar Pawar served as president for eight years and oversaw the consortium’s 50th anniversary, including expansion across continents. A professor of social work at Charles Sturt University, Australia, and founding editor of the International Journal of Community and Social Development (SAGE), Dr. Pawar has advanced ICSD’s focus on theory, research, and practice that link social work, policy, and development. Under his leadership, ICSD’s membership, conferences, and scholarly publications grew in global scope and impact. His vision and scholarship helped to shape ICSD’s role as a leading voice for equitable and sustainable social development worldwide.
Dr. Leila Patel is the current president of ICSD, elected to serve from 2025 to 2029. She is Distinguished Professor of Social Development and the founding director of the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. A leading scholar and policy expert, Dr. Patel’s research has empirically validated social-development theory through her groundbreaking work on social protection, poverty reduction, and inclusive welfare policy. Her studies demonstrate how cash-transfer and social-protection programs contribute to human well-being across health, education, and livelihoods, work that has reshaped global understanding of social development in the Global South. Dr. Patel also served as ICSD conference chair (2021–2023), co-hosting the Johannesburg conference that launched the consortium’s Africa Branch. Her presidency marks a continued expansion of ICSD’s vision for equitable, research-driven social development worldwide.