MSU School of Social Work Fall 2016/Winter 2017 Fall 2016 - Winter 2017 | Page 2

FROM THE DIRECTOR

School grows its focus on
research, racial justice, advocacy,
and community engagement
Dear Friends,

Dr. Steve Anderson

I

t has been another busy and exciting fall in the School of Social Work. We again welcomed
strong new cohorts of BASW, MSW, and PhD students, with total enrollment in our social
work programs of over 700 students. Our research presence continues to grow and is
highlighted this year by the addition of three new tenure system faculty members: Associate
Professor Fei Sun and Assistant Professors Carrie Moylan and Deirdre Shires (see profiles
on p. 20).

Like many others, we at the School are troubled by the racially related violence that has
been occurring in so many communities. We are especially concerned by ongoing difficulties
in police and community relations, and the sometimes inappropriate use of force in police
interactions with minority group members. As social workers, it is important to raise our
voices and engage in actions to assure racial justice and equitable treatment of all members of
our society, and this certainly applies to community safety. The School’s Diversity Committee
will focus attention on racial issues this year, and the School already has co-sponsored a
speaking event with well-known pastor and author Jim Wallis that was attended by large
numbers of students and community members (see p. 23). Stay tuned for other events related
to race and racial justice in which the School will be involved during the year, and certainly feel
free to send any ideas you may have.

The School is proud to participate in MSU’s Empower Extraordinary capital campaign,
which has the goal of raising $1.5 billion by 2018 to enhance the University in many ways.
Through the generosity of our many alumni and friends, the School has made a major
contribution to this campaign and in so doing has enhanced scholarships for our students and
the strength of our community service programs. One example of this is the roll-out of our
new Advocacy Scholars Program, which will engage MSW students in enhanced advocacy
training, including targeted field placements, new curricula, and exposure to leading social
advocates. A highlight of our inaugural year has been the engagement of prominent community
leaders in small group discussions with our first group of scholars (see pp. 4–5).

Again, thanks so much to everyone who is contributing to making the School of Social
Work such a vibrant and growing place! I wish all of you a happy holiday season and the best
in the coming year.
Best regards,

Steve Anderson
Director and Professor, School of Social Work

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Cover photo © 2014 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Page 2 photo © 2013 Rose Homa

Fall 2016/Winter 2017 SSW NEWS