June 2015
Legacy of Dr. Barry Ackerson Honored as School Welcomes Class of 2015 Graduates

On May 16, the School of Social Work celebrated 5 PHD, 89 MSW, and 50 BSW graduates in a convocation ceremony at Smith Hall.

Associate Dean Barry Ackerson served as the honored speaker for the 2015 ceremony. Dr. Ackerson will retire this month, having been at Illinois since 1998, serving as associate dean since 2002, and directing the MSW and PhD programs during that time. He was also recently named the recipient of the NASW Illinois Chapter Lifetime Acheivement Award

As Ackerson departs, he leaves behind a legacy of support through the establishment of the Ackerson Award for Excellence in Student Teaching. This award is given to a student who excels in teaching while in pursuit of a doctoral degree. Read more about this award.

Tello-Rodriguez Named Orman Award Winner

Astrid Tello-Rodriguez was named the recipient of the 2015 Suze Orman Graduate Award during the School's recent convocation ceremony. Following graduation, Astrid looks forward to pursuing her passion of working with refugee populations.

This award is presented to an MSW student who excelled as a student despite family obligations and a burdensome loan debt. The award is provided thanks to Suze Orman, BSW 1977, and is given as a surprise during the Social Work convocation ceremony.

Be sure to check out the Spring newsletter to learn more about the impact this award has made for previous award recipients.

SSW Named Recipient of New (HEALS) Scholarship Program


The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) have awarded 10 universities with scholarships under the Social Work HEALS: Social Work Healthcare Education and Leadership Scholars program.

 

The scholarships, which are provided due to funding from The New York Company Trust will be used to educate and train social workers to improve delivery of health care in the United States.

 

"A large percentage of social workers work in health care settings, improving the quality of care that patients receive," NASW CEO Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, said. "NASW is honored to work with CSWE and The New York Community Trust to enhance the training of social workers so they can provide thousands more Americans with access to quality health care, especially vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children."

 

Read more.

Save The Date for 4th Biennial International Research Symposium 


Healthy Women, Healthy Societies: New Strategies to Address Global Health Disparities

This event is a collaborative project with the SSW and the Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Join us on Saturday, October 31- Sunday, November 1, 2015
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work
Room 2027
1010 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL

Students in Action


BSW Students Selected for Capitol Scholars Award
 
In cooperation with sister University of Illinois campuses at Chicago and Springfield, the Office of Undergraduate Research participated in the "Posters Under the Dome" event at the Illinois State Capitol on April 30th, 2015. Eleven students from the Urbana campus (see above) were chosen as Capitol Scholars based on the quality of their research and relevance to state policy concerns. Those students presented their posters in the main hallways of the Capitol to members of the state legislature, their staffs, and visitors. Students also received a tour of the Capitol.

School of Social Work Capitol Scholar Award winners are:
Emily L. Dietze
Elizabeth A. Badskey
Anna Lin


        
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IN THIS ISSUE
Social Work Welcomes New Alumni
Suze Orman Graduate Award
HEALS Grant
Biennial International Research Symposium
Student in Action