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 […]
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 […]
Interim Dean Gomez: What to know for the Fall 2022 semester
As interim dean of the VCU School of Social Work, I am excited to usher in a new academic year starting Aug. 23! We are welcoming several hundred new students as well as new faculty and staff or those transitioning to different roles. We are pleased to be offering amazing opportunities for engagement and connectivity. […]
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 […]
Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson
I am writing following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, which removed access to reproductive and medical care by overturning the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision. I have taken the last week to process information and emotions before reaching out to you. I’d like to share items that were helpful to me in […]
Message from the interim dean regarding Uvalde, Texas, shooting
Dear School of Social Work community, My heart is heavy today as I try to process the lives lost in Uvalde, Texas, as well as those forever changed. Many of you know that the place I consider home is an hour and a half from Uvalde, and I love and am deeply connected to this […]
Message from interim dean, President Rao on racially motivated violence
Dear SSW Community, It is heartbreaking to be writing to you again so soon, after the confirmation that the shooting Sunday in Laguna Woods, California, is being investigated as a “politically motivated hate incident,” according to authorities. We grieve for the Taiwanese community, and for the five victims, including John Cheng, who was fatally shot […]
Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., LCSW, to serve as interim social work dean
Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., LCSW, comes by her passion for the transformative power of higher education naturally – it’s in her genes. Gomez assumes leadership as interim dean of the VCU School of Social Work on May 16, 2022, after serving for nearly two years as associate dean of academic and student affairs. Dr. Gomez succeeds […]
VCU offering online undergraduate social work courses for Fall 2022
The nationally ranked Virginia Commonwealth School of Social Work is launching a selection of online courses for its Bachelor of Social Work degree, providing more flexible access for students who aspire to become change-making social workers and help address the critical need for mental health professionals in the commonwealth. Junior-level social work courses will be […]
2021 Council on Social Work Education presentations
As the Council on Social Work Education’s 67th Annual Program Meeting opens on Nov. 4 in Orlando, Florida, the VCU School of Social Work recognizes our faculty, students and alumni whose work has been accepted for the conference, along with an additional honor for one of our faculty from the Group for the Advancement of […]