Robin G. Arndt, MSW, LSW, is Coordinator of Field and Continuing Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Robin moved to Hawaiʻi in 2008. Upon moving he began working at Child & Family Service (CFS). During his time at CFS he held various positions including Clinical Specialist, Program Director, and Program Administrator. He supervised multiple programs including Healthy Start; Enhanced Healthy Start; Job Education and Training; SNAP Outreach; and Pathways to Work.
In 2012 he began working at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoaʻs Center for Disability Studies on the Hawaii Patient and Incentives to Support Empowerment (HI-PRAISE) project where he worked with federally qualified community health centers, hospitals, health insurance organizations, and other partners to create and implement continuous quality assurance initiatives. While working on the project he developed and conducted workshops on motivational interviewing, data entry, and performance improvement initiatives.
Before his move to Hawaiʻi, he worked as an Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Healthʻs Office of Continuing Professional Development in Medicine and Public Health. It was here that Robin discovered his passion for education and saw how continuing education is similar to mezzo and macro practice social work. In developing educational interventions for healthcare providers, you increase their knowledge and competence which impacts the lives the patients they interact with. During his time with the office, he coordinated regional conferences and developed performance improvement initiatives. This position laid a foundation for his understanding of adult learning and evaluation which he continues to draw upon today.
Robin has held multiple volunteer positions with the Hawaiʻi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). He’s served as Member-at-Large, President-Elect, and President. In these roles, he developed policies and procedures for the Chapter, including the Continuing Education Approval Program that is still used today. In 2022, he was elected to the Secretary of the Board of Directors for NASW. He previously served on the Board as Director from Region XII.
Mr. Arndt is currently in first term as Commissioner for the Commission on Educational Policy. He previously served two terms on the Commission for Membership and Professional Development with the Council on Social Work Education.
His interest areas include technology in practice and education; lifelong learning and professional development/competency; values, ethics, and reflective practice; leadership; and interprofessional education.