FROM THE DEAN
The School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University was on a roll in academic year 2023-2024. I am delighted to share a number of highlights with you!
Of particular note, we maintained our No. 28 national ranking in the latest U.S. News and World Report survey of the best schools of social work! Then, four faculty were featured on a fall panel discussion focused on VCU’s Common Book, Seek You: A Journey Through America Loneliness. At the CSWE’s Annual Public Meeting, where a number of faculty presented and participated in leadership and networking initiatives, we built community by reaching out with gifts for deans and directors of each exhibiting program, and drew in more than 350 participants for a raffle to win a stuffed Rodney the Ram mascot. We closed the semester with our first official December Commencement ceremony.
Spring came in – and went out – like a lion, with a full slate of events. Following the Society for Social Work and Research conference, where many of our faculty and doctoral students presented, we started a seven-part continuing education webinar series on Serious Mental Illnesses. Building on our emphasis on mental health, we held four clinical skills labs for our M.S.W. students. Moreover, our international social work initiative took shape with faculty-led strategic planning meetings and goals for developing formal relationships with universities in a number of countries. Our Office of Student Success and B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs held multiple events to engage and celebrate our students, and our Cultural Awareness Day returned for the first time since 2019, led by our Association of Black Social Workers at VCU student group and featuring two alumni speakers.
Celebrating Social Work Month, our alumni were once again in the fore, leading discussions at our annual Social Work, Policy and Politics event, highlighting the social determinants of health; and on our panel Beyond the Micro: Myth, Realities and Opportunities in Macro Social Work. In May, I had the privilege to host many of our dedicated donors at our Dean’s Circle event, and we wrapped up the year by recognizing nearly 370 graduates last May.
The cycle of academia – and life – continues to spin, of course. You’ll read more about the passing of the legendary Florence Z. “Flossie” Segal at age 99 and the retirements of longtime faculty Frank Baskind, Ph.D., and Elizabeth “Liz” Cramer, Ph.D., and the introduction of five new faculty for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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Gary S. Cuddeback, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H.
Dean and Professor
VCU School of Social Work