Dean’s Column

Welcome to the spring issue of Mosaics. As I write this, the campus is buzzing with eagerness, as commencement approaches and we celebrate our outstanding students for their achievements and scholarship. Soon, with their degrees in hand, the Class of 2023 will join social workers like you around the world in making a profound impact.

After college, my first professional role was with the Darlington County Department of Social Services in South Carolina. Our office would receive reports of parents in distress. As I investigated these issues, I mostly saw people doing their best and trying to figure out how to be there for their children. As a result, I established and facilitated the county’s first parent support group to provide these caregivers with the skills they needed to feel more confident in raising their children.

As social workers, we dedicate our time and expertise to empowering others every day. We help people build on their strengths and work through challenges — and, of course, we live our professional values, dedicated to honoring the dignity and worth of all those we meet. Given this premise, I must pause in solemn salute to the 10 Black lives lost last May 14. The one-year anniversary of the racially fueled massacre at Tops supermarket is upon us, lest we forget that gun violence and racial hatred are ills that continue to plague our society.

As we valiantly work toward racial, social and economic justice, we break down barriers for marginalized populations across the spectrum. You will notice that theme woven throughout this issue in the experiences of our alumni, students and faculty.

Our cover story demonstrates how perinatal social workers improve the lives of pregnant people, children and families at a particularly vulnerable time. It also serves as a call to action for all of us to continue working to remove obstacles that limit access to mental health services for far too many.

On the West Coast, online MSW student Adam Fryer assists individuals who find themselves in the criminal justice system because of victimized circumstances. In Buffalo, Jack Kavanaugh, MSW ’15, and his colleagues at GLYS WNY create safe and positive environments for LGBTQ+ youth.

You, our alumni and friends, play a critical role in helping us to empower students who will break barriers in their careers and communities. Consider the inspiring example of Greer Hamilton, MSW ’16, BA ’16, and Danise Wilson, MPH ’14, whose generosity has built a community of students who seek to improve health outcomes for underserved populations. They created the Hamilton-Wilson Student Assistance Fund, which provides an annual award and mentorship for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in the MSW and MPH programs. Today, I invite you to invest in their vision and make a gift.

Thank you for being a valued member of our school community, and for all you do to represent the social work profession to the highest standards.

In camaraderie and solidarity,

Keith A. Alford, PhD, ACSW
Dean and Professor