Hello Everyone,

It's June and flowers are beautifully blooming in our courtyard (thanks in large part to a committed team of volunteers from the SSW led enthusiastically by Margaret Madej). My hope is that you are all taking time for summer fun and rejuvenation. Self-care is so important in our work and what we model to others!

All of us here at the SSW need a bit of self-care this summer. As an organization we are changing and change whether good or bad brings a certain amount of stress. It is my sincere belief that our upcoming organizational changes will lead to a better future for our students, faculty, staff and our reach into the community. I'd like to highlight a couple of changes:

1. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs becomes Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs. In our previous organizational structure, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs was responsible for admissions, student advising, field, curriculum monitoring, part-time faculty hiring/training, and student academic discipline. A HUGE job responsibility that Dr. Joy Ernst accomplished with aplomb (if not a bit of stress!). With Dr. Ernst stepping down from her Associate Dean role this August (she will stay on faculty and facilitate our curriculum revision), and Dr. Jerry Brandell stepping down from his role as Associate Dean of Faculty affairs, there was an opportunity to think more strategically about redistributing the load.  We have done that, and Dr. Debra Patterson will now be the interim Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs. Although it looks as if we added to her role we have shifted admissions, student advising and field to our NEW Assistant Dean of Student Affairs (see below) and asked Dr. Patterson to focus more on mentoring faculty and academic staff to ensure tenure and promotion.
2. Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.

Dr. Anwar Najor-Durack will be our first Assistant Dean of Student Affairs (interim) overseeing the departments of Admissions, Student Advising and Field. Dr. Najor-Durack has many years in various roles at the SSW and is well respected by all within the school, as well as the community. We have asked her to lead this office so that our students are prioritized and that 'customer service' is an added mission. Our belief is that centralizing these immediate interactions with students under one department will enhance efficiencies and continuity as we admit and enroll students to the SSW.

Our sincerest thanks to Drs. Ernst and Brandell for their leadership and service through-out the years. They have important places in our collective hearts and history. I also pledge my support as I hope you do yours to Drs. Patterson and Najor-Durack as they undertake their new roles.

In August we will distribute a 'roles and responsibilities' flyer so that everyone has the information they need.

Now back to summer….

Sincerely,

Sheryl Kubiak, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Dean and Professor, School of Social Work
Wayne State University
5447 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
313-577-4400
email: deanssw@wayne.edu