Hello WSU School of Social Work Family,

Where has the time gone? It is nearly Thanksgiving and it feels like we just began our new semester with students, staff and faculty returning to campus for 'face-to-face' interactions! We are rebuilding and restructuring those interactions in the safest way possible. Through vaccine and mask requirements as well as the daily symptom screenings and flexible work arrangements WSU has limited the risk and as a result the number of positive COVID cases on campus. Although all of us had to readjust to these in-person activities after a full year of remote activities we are so happy to reduce our time on Zoom!

One of the most exciting things this fall was witnessing students enjoying our newly renovated building; in the classrooms, our beautiful community room, group study areas, and the outdoor courtyard areas. The vibrancy of their energy is all the sweeter knowing the trials and tribulations involved in getting to the completion so that we had space for them in the building!

It warms my heart to know how the SSW never slowed down and continued to build community through the transitions necessitated by the pandemic. This newsletter demonstrates just a few examples of the sustained activity level by our faculty, staff, and students. One example, BSW students organized their own support group to help each other stay engaged and connected. In another example, faculty members Suzanne Brown and Anwar Najor-Durack continue their commitment to federally supported training programs. These grants are important not only because they provide specialty training but because they also afford $10,000 in student stipends that can offset the tuition cost. Finally, a wonderful partnership between FEMA and the SSW was developed to support our many community members affected by the summer floods. SW student teams (supervised by faculty and staff) are assisting 1,000 vulnerable individuals in Detroit who need assistance in getting FEMA claims approved.

THE WAYNE STATE SSW IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE! Please join me in welcoming our new faculty (Bryan, Kess, Luisa and Lisa) and postdocs (Bakari and Killian). They join our nurturing family and community and as we nurture them, I know they will in turn provide their gifts to our students and greater community!

At this time of the year, I think of the gifts we all bring to the SSW; gifts that have sustained us in some very dark days over the past 20 months and gifts that will bring us into a more inclusive, diverse and innovative future for social work in the 21^st century! I am very grateful to each of you for the gifts you bring!

Wishing you a safe and relaxing fall,

Sheryl Kubiak, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Dean, School of Social Work