The Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) at Pitt Social Work, founded by Dean Davis, marks its 20th anniversary in 2022. CRSP was the first-ever center focused on race and racial equity at any school of social work in the country, and the first center at the University of Pittsburgh with a racial focus.

Dean Davis published more than 50 scholarly articles on race, color, ethnicity and their influence in America.

The School of Social Work was formed in 1918 as a division of the Pitt School of Economics' Department of Sociology. Dean Davis led the School’s Centennial Celebration and Alumni Reunion in 2018.

CRSP presents $500 awards to Pitt students who write outstanding papers on contemporary race-related issues. In this university-wide competition, CRSP solicits papers from seven areas: economic disparity, education disparity, race relations, family and youth, older adults, mental health, criminal justice, and health.

More than 1,000 scholars, researchers, students, leaders of industry, public officials, and community leaders gathered for CRSP’s “Race in America: Restructuring Inequality” Conference in 2010.