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Bowen wins national award for school social work

Associate Professor Natasha Bowen, MSW ’96, Ph.D. ’99, is the winner of the 2012 Gary Lee Shaffer Award for Academic Contributions to the Field of School Social Work, from the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA).

Gary Shaffer was a UNC School of Social Work faculty member, and a passionate advocate for children and the field of school social work. He passed away in 2009. Later that year, the SSWAA established this award program “to commemorate his contributions through an annual recognition of a university faculty member that has made significant contributions to the field.”

“I am proud of the contributions that Dr. Bowen has made to the field of school social work for more than 10 years,” said Dean Jack Richman in his nomination letter.

“She does so on a research level with her peer-reviewed articles related to school social work and schools, on a teaching level by instilling in students practice and research skills critical to school social workers, and on a service level by supporting and advocating for school social workers in multiple settings. Dr. Bowen recognizes the unique needs of school social workers, and she is moved to respond.”

The award will be presented at the SSWAA national conference March 28-31 in Boston.