Savannah Native, Dr. Catherine R. Gayle; Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work at Tuskegee University was appointed to serve as a member of the Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (COA). The term becomes effective July 1, 2015−June 30, 2018. The work of the Commission on Accreditation fulfills the critically important function of maintaining and advocating for quality in social work education through its accreditation/candidacy of more than 750 social work (Baccalaureate and Masters) programs in the United States. In addition, the commission acts as the policy body for developing and interpreting accreditation standards and assuring that policies and procedures are fairly and consistently applied to all social work programs.

Membership on the Commission on Accreditation is a demanding commitment of time. The commission meets three times each year to review and take action on an agenda of programs seeking candidacy, initial accreditation, or reaffirmation of accredited status. The preparation for these meetings involves reviewing self-studies and associated documents from Colleges and Universities from around the country. Additionally, Commissioners are obliged to conduct two Commissioner Site visits each year.

Moreover serving as a member of the National Board of Directors for the Baccalaureate Programs Directors (BPD), Dr. Gayle is extremely excited for this impressive appointment as a Commissioner for the Council On Social Work Education (CSWE) because CSWE is the sanctioning body for Social Work Education. Dr. Gayle is a 1985 graduate of Florida State University where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Presently, Dr. Gayle is Chair of the Department of Social Work at Tuskegee University and was recently tenured and promoted to Associate Professor.