Good afternoon, students of social work:

I'm writing to wish you good luck on this, your first week of classes. There's a back-to-school energy in the air; hold on to it all semester and you will do outstanding work!  I know I emphasized this at orientation, but I want to stress again how much the School of Social Work has to offer you. The best way to enhance your training in the classroom and the field is to begin taking advantage of these many opportunities early.

Social media

Please take a moment to find us on Facebook, Twitter and our website. This is one of the best ways to get up-to-the-minute news about Social Work-related events and opportunities.

Faculty

Be proactive in forging relationships with our faculty, who are among the best practitioners and researchers in the country. Learn about their research areas, take advantage of their office hours, ask them for career guidance, inquire about research projects, soak up everything they have to teach you. All are seasoned administrators who can help you get the most from your degree preparation. Learn more about faculty passions, areas of expertise and how to contact them via faculty website profiles. If you haven't already, get to know the director of your degree program: B.S.W. Coordinator Susan Lebold (ft2230@wayne.edu); MSW Coordinator Shirley Thomas (av3743@wayne.edu) and Doctoral Program Director Faith Hopp (bb2938@wayne.edu).

Service-minded staff

Reach out to our staff, as well, particularly our excellent advisors. They are here to make sure your plan of coursework is coordinated and comprehensive, so there are no surprises or setbacks as graduation approaches. If you are uncertain about anything at all, please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services at 313-577-4409, sswadmissions@wayne.edu or set up an appointment with your advisor via our online scheduling system.    

Putting the "social" in social work

Want to combine your professional and personal interests? Join one of our student organizations and make friends while gaining skills and service hours.

Research opportunities

Whether you pursue scholarship or practice, assisting with a faculty-led research project gives you invaluable experience. The Social Work Student Research Community holds regular meetings on research issues and facilitates student-faculty collaborations. For more information, please contact Caitlin Brown, Manager of Research Support, at eh5898@wayne.edu, or Neva Nahan, Coordinator for Research in our Center for Social Work Research, at ad3451@wayne.edu. I encourage you to also view our latest publication, Ready for Research, which profiles a dozen bachelor's, master's and doctoral social work students who are gaining exciting research experience with the help of our world-class scholars and educators in the premier urban research environment we call home - Detroit. 

Save the date!

Wayne Warriors honor World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All Wayne State Warriors are encouraged to show their support for suicide prevention and sign a candle to remember a lost loved one and for the survivors of suicide.

Annual Scholarship Reception on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Students who have received scholarships enjoy this opportunity to meet and thank the person who has provided this financial assistance to them.

Edith Harris Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 3 to 5 p.m.
We are proud to host Elizabeth Kita, Ph.D., clinician, researcher, author and teacher in the master of social work program at UC Berkeley, as the keynote speaker for the 2018 Edith Harris Endowed Lecture. Dr. Kita will present "They hate me now but where was everyone when I needed them?": Trauma, mass incarceration, and social work praxis
through a psychoanalytic lens. More information on this lecture visit the Wayne State Event Calendar.

With your hard work and commitment to the study of social work, you are helping us uphold our over 80-year tradition of excellence. We are grateful, proud and look forward to seeing the social work impact-in-action you create. 

With best regards,

Sheryl Kubiak
Dean, Professor and Director of The Center for Behavioral Health and Justice