School of Social Work Events Calendar
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$1 million gift given to the School
Sam and Betsy Reeves of Fresno, CA have generously made a $1 million gift to the School. $667,000 of the gift, plus a state match of $333,333, will be used to establish a distinguished professorship that will expand the School's capacity to "serve families and at-risk children through development of a program of research focused on improving social work practice, the design of curricula and program innovations to teach students evidence-based methods of working with families, and engagement with communities agencies and helping professionals to promote best practice models." The remaining $333,333 will go into an expendable fund to reward faculty and student excellence and innovation.
Armfields create School's largest scholarship
Janie and Billy Armfield have made a $250,000 pledge to the School to be directed to the Armfield scholarship. The Armfields established the scholarship about 15 years ago with a gift of $100,000. The current market value of the fund is about $215,000, and last year it supported 10 MSW students. The additional gift will make the scholarship the largest one at the School.
Spring issue of Contact published
Contact, the School of Social Work magazine for alumni and friends, is now available. Look for your copy in the mail, or visit our Web site to download it. It's our biggest issue yet -- packed with news, a special section on how the School is addressing the needs of aging Americans, and our academic annual report.
Tom Lambeth honored for his work on behalf of children
Tom Lambeth, longtime School of Social Work board of advisors member and former chair of the board, was honored on June 13 with the North Carolina Children's Lifetime Legacy Award. Given by Action for Children North Carolina, the award recognizes Tom's lifelong dedication to improving the lives of youth in North Carolina. Look for more information to come in the fall edition of Contact.
Area L AHEC in Rocky Mount will be hosting the presentation "The Ethics of Practice with Minors" with Kim Strom-Gottfried, PhD, on Tuesday, June 26 from 9:00 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Early registration is $60; registration after June 20 is $70. For more information, contact Debbie Robbins at (252) 972-6958. Thanks to Sherry Mergner for contributing this item.
Alumni: a student needs you as a mentor The School of Social Work Alumni Council is calling for alumni volunteers who would be interested in mentoring an enrolled student during the 2007-08 academic year. This program is designed to match students with alumni who are practicing in an area of the students' interest. It is an informal way for students to network and receive real world knowledge without being graded. If you are interested, please e-mail your job title and agency, the best way to contact you, and a short paragraph about what you do to Kristen Huffman.
Congratulations to Mimi Chapman on being granted tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. "This is a wonderful achievement and acknowledgement of her expertise and productivity in teaching, research and service," said Dean Jack Richman.
We extend a warm welcome to Matthew O. Howard, PhD, formerly a professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and the School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry. Matthew joins our faculty on July 1 as the Frank A. Daniels Distinguished Professor of Human Services Policy Information.
Dennis Orthner was in Israel this month meeting with leaders of the social welfare and education ministries. He presented at a national conference of social workers on the role of technology in social work practice and on innovations in organizational learning in social service agencies. He also presented his research on CareerStart, a middle school intervention that targets the needs of at-risk students, to education and welfare researchers in Israel as part of their efforts to examine programs and policies for school reforms in their country.
Congratulations to Anna Scheyett, MSW '89, who was named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Anna will replace Vanessa Hodges, who is stepping down after six years of outstanding service. "Vanessa Hodges has done an amazing job as Associate Dean over the last six years. I am grateful for her dedication and her service to the school and look forward to welcoming her back to the faculty. Anna Scheyett has been an outstanding teacher and mentor to many students over the years and her leadership is critical to the continuing success of our student affairs division," said Dean Jack Richman. Anna starts her new position on July 1.
Editor: Michelle Rogers (919)962-1532
michrog@email.unc.edu
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Daniel Brezenoff, MSW '00, has opened a private practice in California, and is running for congress.
Muki Fairchild, MSW '76, recently retired from her position as Director of the Department of Social Work at Duke University Hospital and the head of the Division of Psychiatric Social Work in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center.
Geri McKinney Arrindell, MSW '96, completed her law degree at the University of Illinois, and has passed the Illinois Bar.
If you have received an award, promotion, taken a new job, gotten married, or added a new member to the family, let us know. We would love to share your news with other alumni and the School of Social Work community. Please e-mail your alumni news to sswalumni@unc.edu.