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A Message from the Dean | August 2022

Lori Messinger

There is something about a plan. When I announced our College’s new strategic vision last March during our Social Work Month conference, I was so proud to finally be able to share all of the work the faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni, and stakeholders put into thinking about our future. We have a clear set of values to guide our movement, aspirational goals to give us direction, and energy and excitement to propel us forward.

Our faculty and staff are busy starting on those goals in spring and summer: updating curricula, planning educational events and fun activities for the coming year, working on policy changes to enhance equity and inclusion, and staffing up in our new, sustainable infrastructure. We have eight new faculty joining our ranks, which will help us increase the percentage of full-time faculty teaching courses and expand our research portfolio. New staff advisors will provide support for BSSW and MSSW students throughout their learning experience and into their professional careers.

We are also enhancing our continuing education offerings—for both CEU programs and post-graduate certificates. We plan to partner with our colleagues across campus on interprofessional trainings and collaborative events that will benefit practitioners in many fields.

We also had a few administrative changes that I am pleased to announce as well:

  • This summer, Dr. Kate Chaffin started a newly created position as Assistant Dean for Faculty Development, supporting all part-time and full-time faculty, and Dr. Carmen Reese Foster agreed to serve as Interim Director of the Online MSSW Program for the coming year.
  • Dr. Camille Hall, longtime faculty member and Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion (ADEI), left to take an incredible position as Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Missouri Kansas City, where she will use her expertise and her social work skills to lead the university on equity and inclusion. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Javonda Williams Moss will step up to take on a second role as Interim ADEI to help us pursue our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals while we search for a new ADEI. Dr. Williams Moss will be assisted by DEI Faculty Fellows Christy Hickman and Andrea Joseph and DEI Staff Fellow Ashley Howdeshell, along with the DEI Advisory Council.
  • Dr. Shandra Forrest-Bank has returned to full-time faculty after three years of service as Director of SWORPS, and we will welcome Ms. Daryl Chansuthus as the incoming SWORPS Director in September.
  • Ms. Natalie Crippen has taken a new position at the College, overseeing our academic systems; Ms. Gina Middleton is now working with the new Center for Student Success; and Ms. Jennifer Scagnelli will be serving as Academic Programs and Enrollment Manager, supervising Knoxville program support staff.

As you can see, it is a time of great change and growth at the College, as we focus on our mission to pursue a more socially just society through education, scholarship, and engagement. I hope you will engage with us as we move forward, and give us feedback on how we are doing along the way. We have our plan, and we are moving!