Professor Hilary Weaver Named Chair-Elect of CSWE Board of Directors

Congratulations to Professor Hilary Weaver for being named the Chair-Elect of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Directors (BOD). She will assume all duties as BOD Chair in July 2022. Weaver currently serves as the vice-chair and secretary for the CSWE-BOD and ran on a platform focused on member concerns about navigating changes to the educational landscape in a post-pandemic world, the need for ongoing injustice awareness and learning how to manage shifting political landscapes.

“UB is thrilled to learn about this honor. Professor Weaver is a distinguished member of the UBSSW faculty and this position will help to bring UB to the forefront of national discussions about the transformations needed in social work education-related to antiracism and decolonization,” said Dean Nancy J. Smyth. “Dr. Weaver has been intimately involved in the creation and delivery of explicit and implicit curricula that highlight social justice and human rights--she will now have the ability to influence CSWE membership to manage the diverse educational landscape that requires flexibility on the part of all social work educators.”

Weaver is a professor and associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion. Most of her work focuses on the importance of culture in helping processes with a particular focus on Indigenous Peoples with a secondary focus on refugees. 

“I am deeply honored to be chosen for this role and I look forward to strengthening relationships between the board and staff and ensuring board members understand their roles and responsibilities, thus enhancing board productivity,” said Weaver. “It is only because of my Indigenous and Tribal Social Work Educator (ITSWEA) colleagues and my deep roots within CSWE that I have the strong foundation to spread my branches and have a larger impact on our profession. I hope to be able to help CSWE to be open, responsive, and supportive of its diverse members and build bridges between CSWE, ITSWEA, and similar groups.”

Founded in 1952, the CSWE is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include over 800 accredited baccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs, as well as individual social work educators, practitioners, and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education. CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories. The Board of Directors oversees and must approve all CSWE programs, plans and budgets and is responsible for the activities and accountability of all governance and program units and commissions. The Board of Directors reviews resolutions passed at the Annual Program Meeting, shapes the affirmative action plan, establishes membership dues and conducts the president's annual performance evaluation review.