UNC School of Social Work

Our School is ranked #3 in the nation!

US News & World Report has released its graduate school rankings for 2019, and UNC School of Social Work is ranked third place in the nation! This is the highest ranking our School has received to date, according to Dean Gary Bowen, and it marks an increase from our previous fifth-place ranking.

Five U.S. schools tied for the third-place rank, with each receiving the same score as its peers -- we are ranked equally with University of Washington, University of Chicago, University of California-Berkley and Columbia.

We're really proud to earn this national recognition of excellence. Congratulations to our faculty, students, alumni, staff and partners on this acknowledgement of our achievements! You can find the list of all ranked schools, along with the methodology used to determine the rankings, at the US News & World Report website.

In The News

Chapman appointed Frank A. Daniels Distinguished Professor

Mimi Chapman, Ph.D., has been appointed the Frank A. Daniels Distinguished Professor for Human Services Policy Information, effective Aug. 1. The professorship was established in memory of Frank A. Daniels Sr., former publisher of The News & Observer, to help provide unbiased and readable information about social issues of concern.

“Dr. Chapman’s work speaks to the professorship’s purpose,” said Dean Gary Bowen. “Throughout her career, she has built bridges between real people’s needs and the university’s resources. She is an excellent example of a community-engaged scholar.”

Zimmerman to serve on national committee for dementia care and support

Professor Sheryl Zimmerman has been invited to serve as a member of the steering committee for the 2nd triennial National Research Summit on Care, Services, and Supports for Persons with Dementia and their Caregivers.

A national leader in the field of aging, Zimmerman was tapped to serve on the committee because of her expertise in conducting applied research to improve the care of older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia. Her service to this committee will include co-chairing a session focused on care settings, environments, and transitions.

Lanier to serve on national committee for 2020 Home Visiting Summit

Associate professor Paul Lanier has been invited to serve on the steering committee for the 2020 National Home Visiting Summit. The three-day summit is scheduled for January in Washington, D.C., and will focus on the latest research, innovations, and policies that impact communities served by the home visiting field.

Zerden selected for Academic Leaders Network

Lisa de Saxe Zerden, senior associate dean for MSW education at UNC School of Social Work, is one of five University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus leaders se Lisa Zerden lected to participate in the ACC Academic Leaders Network (ALN) program for 2019-2020.

Zerden will join UNC colleagues Misha Becker (chair, linguistics department), Julie Byerley (executive vice dean, UNC School of Medicine), Patricia McAnany (chair, anthropology department) and Mary McClurg (executive vice dean, Eshelman School of Pharmacy) in a series of networking and collaboration sessions with ALN participants from other universities.