’73 classmates form volunteer dream team for social work fundraising campaign
Sherry Peterson (M.S.W.’73/SW) knew what a successful fundraising campaign looked like. Katharine Webb (M.S.W.’73/SW) was as connected an alumna as you could hope to find. Together, the VCU School of Social Work classmates – along with Sherry’s husband and fellow classmate, Bill (M.S.W.’73/SW) – formed the perfect team, serving as volunteer chairs for the school’s […]
Going the distance: Colbys’ philanthropy will aid students from underserved populations
After earning his master’s degree at the VCU School of Social Work, Ira Colby, D.S.W. (M.S.W. ’75/SW), did a little bit of everything to make ends meet as a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania. When a federal grant fell through a month before classes started, he took out student loans, worked with faculty […]
A proud alum, Odera returns to School of Social Work as director of field education
Stephanie Odera, Ed.D., keeps writing new chapters at the VCU School of Social Work. The two-time social work graduate (B.S.W.’04/SW; M.S.W.’06/SW), who also earned her doctorate of education from VCU in 2018, rejoined the school in October 2020 as the new director of field education. She has previously served at the school as an adjunct […]
Discussion explores systemic racism, disproportionality, equity in child welfare
The VCU School of Social Work and its Child Welfare Stipend Program hosted a panel discussion, Systemic Racism, Disproportionality, and Equity in Child Welfare: Our History and Where to Focus Our Change Efforts? Nov. 10, 2020. See the March 2021 panel Systemic Racism and Equity in Child Welfare: The Role of Social Work Education in […]
Beckett and Purnell’s support increases student access by honoring an old friend
Joyce Beckett, Ph.D., laughs heartily and acknowledges that, yes, after all these years she is still an “autumn.” Beckett, who retired as professor in 2005 after 20 years at the VCU School of Social Work, is explaining how she became friends with Rita Schleuter (M.S.W.’88/SW) – and why she chose to fund a scholarship in […]
‘Essential for the future’: Biggerstaff’s gifts support doctoral research
As a graduate student in social work in the 1960s, Marilyn A. Biggerstaff was the beneficiary of the era’s ample federal grants, bolstered by the Higher Education Act of 1965. Times have changed. Forbes reported in early 2020 that student debt is a record $1.56 trillion – the second-highest consumer debt category in the country. […]
Gilbreath’s giving helps students who want to follow in her macro footsteps
With a laugh, Allison Gilbreath (B.S.’11/GPA; M.S.W.’16/SW) explains that she’s a law school dropout. It turns out that macro social work was really the career she was looking for. “Law school was the only pathway I knew to do what I know now as macro social work,” says Gilbreath, who was accepted to – but […]
‘True pioneer’: Schneider’s influence lives on in macro, gerontology
Robert “Bob” Schneider, Ph.D., was a big-picture guy, but one who never overlooked the details. Schneider, a former professor and assistant dean at the VCU School of Social Work for 34 years, passed away Sept. 4, 2020, at age 78. For much of his professional life, the big picture was macro social work. Colleagues remember […]
‘Classic social worker’: Lynch is 10 Under 10 winner for 2020
By VCU Office of Alumni Relations VCU Alumni’s 10 Under 10 awards program recognizes the noteworthy and distinctive achievements made by alumni who earned their first VCU degree (undergraduate, graduate or professional) within the past 10 years. The School of Social Work’s winner for 2020 is Stephanie Lynch (B.S.’10/H&S; M.S.W.’13/SW). Lynch never thought she’d run for […]
Social work supporters contribute $3.2 million to Make It Real Campaign
“Giving 110 percent” is one of the oldest cliches in the books. But the VCU School of Social Work’s network of donors, alumni and friends have turned a trite saying into an amazing reality. When the university closed the books on the eight-year Make It Real Campaign at the end of June, giving to the […]