Statement on Colorado Springs shooting
Dear School of Social Work community, It is heartbreaking to reach out to you once again in the wake of a hate crime, this time directed at the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado Springs. We grieve for those five killed and 18 injured, and their families; and we stand in solidarity with those directly impacted in […]
Statements on shooting in Charlottesville
Dear School of Social Work Community, As you begin your day this morning with heavy hearts, I join you in grief for our neighbors at UVA. I am grateful for our community and the confidence I have that we will support each other. Continue supporting, extending kindness and holding space for each other. Please also share and utilize counseling […]
Pay It Forward Fund available to assist students with emergency financial needs
As the calendar turns to November, stress can mount for students. The end of year holidays are approaching. Finals are less than six weeks away. And daylight savings time – and that extra hour of evening sunlight – ends this weekend. The last thing anyone needs is an unexpected financial situation to add to their […]
Queer and Trans Social Workers’ statement on trans students in Virginia public schools
Dear SSW Community, It has been an exciting fall semester. Watching the transformative power of social work education in the lives of students always fills me with an immense sense of hope. Part of that educational experience is about learning how to elevate and highlight voice. Empowering our communities to use their voice is a […]
Congratulations to 2022 VCU Alumni Stars Kimsey, Yeatts
Disrupted by COVID, the VCU Alumni Stars celebration skipped a year, but the wait was worth it for two School of Social Work graduates. The recently biennial recognition returned for the first time since 2019, and Karen Elizabeth Kimsey (M.S.W.’96/SW; Cert.’96/HP) and Emily Yeatts (B.A.’09/WS; B.A.’09/WS; Cert.’09/WS; M.S.W.’12/SW; M.P.H.’12/M; Cert.’12/GPA) were both honored Sept. 29 […]
Celebrating 105 years by serving our communities, starting Oct. 27
As the VCU School of Social Work recognizes our 105th anniversary this October, we are celebrating through 105 Moments of Service to the local communities we hold dear. Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, we’ll be providing opportunities for community service, and encouraging all members of our school family to join with us, or to engage […]
Panel discussion: A social work lens on the political landscape of election season
The VCU School of Social Work, with support from the C. Bernard Scotch Fund, presented Social Work, Policy and Politics: The Landscape Ahead of November, a panel discussion on Oct. 13. Social work plays a key role in the political process, promoting voter participation and meaningful engagement to advocate for and with populations that face […]
Statement on ASWB licensure pass rate data
Dear social work community, We are writing following the release of Social Work licensure pass rate findings from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). We have been actively listening, reading and processing the impact of these findings on our profession, and engaging in thoughtful dialogue about how to best support our graduates and students […]
Fall 2022 Convocation with keynote Paul Harris, Ph.D.: ‘Promoting equity on purpose’
The VCU School of Social Work kicked off the 2022-2023 academic year with our Fall 2022 Convocation on Aug. 19, featuring remarks by keynote Paul Harris, Ph.D.; Interim Dean and Associate Professor Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., LCSW; and VCU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D. Dr. Harris is currently a fellow […]
2 VCU alumni added to state Board of Social Work
Two VCU School of Social Work alumni have recently been appointed to the state Board of Social Work under the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Denise Purgold (M.S.W.’97/SW), LCSW, and Sherwood Randolph Jr. (B.S.W.’08/SW; M.S.W.’10/SW), LCSW, M.Div., BC-TMH, join the nine-person board, which has regulatory responsibilities for the profession, including licensure and licensure supervision. They […]