UNC School of Social Work associate professor emerita Rachel Dedmon died on Nov. 29, 2019, in Pawleys Island, S.C.
Dedmon, who earned her Ph.D. at Smith College School of Social Work in Massachusetts, joined the UNC School of Social Work faculty in 1974. Over the course of her 28-year career at UNC, Dedmon held many different responsibilities, from associate dean to director of admissions and financial aid. As a faculty member, she taught courses in adult and child mental disorders, in mental health services, and in ethical decision-making.
She also published widely in the fields of child mental health, Tourette’s syndrome, mental health case management, attention-deficiency, and hyperactivity. Upon retirement and following her move to Pawleys Island, Dedmon served as a volunteer for Teach My People, an academically-focused afterschool and summer program for students in need. She also worked as a volunteer researcher at Brookgreen Gardens.
A memorial service for Dedmon was held on Dec. 3, 2019, in Shelby, N.C. Dean Gary L. Bowman, who credits Dedmon as a mentor and source of inspiration, spoke at the service. You can read Dedmon’s full obituary here.
Photo: Rachel Dedmon, right, with the late professor emeritus Carl Henley and the late professor Maeda Galinsky, both of whom also died this year. Photo credit: Dean Gary Bowman.
