Fall 2017 - Winter 2018 MSU School of Social Work Newsletter MSU-Social-Work-2017-2018-Newsletter | Page 2

Common humanity and human community
Dear Friends,
I
Dr. John Mooradian
n September 2017, our School bid farewell to Dr. Steven Anderson, who served as our director
for the past three academic years. Under Dr. Anderson’s leadership, our School continued to
thrive and achieve our mission to integrate research, education, and community engagement.
We are grateful for Steve’s contributions, and we wish him well in his new role as dean of the
School of Social Work at University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign.
Upon Dr. Anderson’s departure, I began service as interim director of our School. I am
honored to fulfill this role, and I appreciate the support of my outstanding colleagues, the brilliant
students in our School, and our field and community partners throughout the state of Michigan
and in other countries. Together, we are committed to the values of our profession—service,
social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and
competence—and to advancing initiatives that give these values life.
Since assuming my new responsibilities, “together” is a word that echoes ever more
frequently in my thoughts.

Reverberating through my recent conversations with faculty, administrators, and students
is recognition of the opportunities facing our profession in a time that is particularly divisive
for our country. I believe that these divisions signal real grievances, but also that they are
increasingly fomented and exploited by people whose intentions conflict with the social good.
This disruption and exploitation exacerbate oppression and undermine efforts to solve real
problems that affect a broad spectrum of human beings.

I am convinced—more than ever—in the simple truth that effective solutions to complex
human problems are implemented by people who recognize the common humanity and the
human community that connect us all across constructed and imposed divisions, while realizing
the effects of differential experiences, structures, and contexts. Such solutions are shaped
through discourse rather than invective; and are informed by critical thinking and evidence
instead of perception bias and obfuscation. These solutions apply individual inputs and mobilize
collective resources.
I believe that, acting together as social workers and citizens, we can resist manipulation,
exploitation, and oppression in all of their forms and that we can build equitable, inclusive, and
just pathways to a better future.

In the following pages, you will read about some of the efforts our students and faculty are
making to advance collective solutions to human challenges and to expand opportunities for
others to participate.

It would be wonderful if these descriptions touch you and add to your inspiration to improve
our world.
Best regards,
Dr. John Mooradian
Interim Director and Professor, School of Social Work
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Fall 2017/Winter 2018 SSW NEWS