School of Social Work Ethics Scholar Named to Distinguished Professorship

Dr. Kim Strom-Gottfried, professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work, has been appointed the first Smith P. Theimann, Jr. Distinguished Professor for Ethics and Professional Practice.

The appointment, effective July 1, 2006, was approved in June by the UNC Board of Governors.

The professorship is named in honor of Smith P. Theimann, Jr., who received his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1942 and his master’s of social work in 1944 from the University. It was established by gifts from Theimann’s estate with matching funds from the North Carolina Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund.

Strom-Gottfried received her doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, her master’s in social work from Adelphi University and her bachelor’s degree in sociology and social work from the University of Maine. She joined the School of Social Work in 1999 as an associate professor and as associate dean for academic affairs. She served as the school’s interim dean from 2000 to 2001. She was a Moister Ethics Fellow with the University of North Carolina Institute on the Arts and Humanities and formerly served as chair of the National Association of Social Workers’ National Committee on Inquiry. She is a faculty fellow with the Parr Center on ethics at Carolina.

A nationally-recognized researcher, trainer and consultant on ethical misconduct and ethical problem solving, Strom-Gottfried is the author of more than 30 articles and monographs on ethics. In 2002 she co-authored a curriculum resource book on ethics and she has two more texts forthcoming on ethical practice. She is also co-author, with Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney and Larsen, of “Direct Social Work Practice.”

“The Theimann Distinguished Professorship is the first in the nation that is focused on ethics and professional issues in a social work program,” said Jack Richman, dean of the UNC School of Social Work. “Given the escalating importance of ethical issues in health care, business and the social sciences, ethics is a critical area of concern in all facets of professional and personal life. Dr. Strom-Gottfried is a recognized international leader in ethics and social work research and practice, and she will make an important contribution to UNC, the nation and the profession.”

The Smith P. Theimann, Jr. distinguished professorship is one of eight professorships in the UNC School of Social Work.