Originally from Michigan, Amelia Mueller-Williams carries a strong family legacy of social work. While her initial interest leaned towards anthropology and biology, her connection to the profession was shaped by her two paternal grandparents, both social workers and civil rights activists, and an uncle who is a social worker in Florida.
Kimberly Harvey is not new to the College of Social Work, but this year she steps into a new role as an Assistant Teaching Professor, working with the Field Education Office and teaching undergraduate and graduate classes.
A recent article by doctoral student Priscilla Wilson explored how Ghana’s child protection system is impacted by the cultural dissonance between global rights-based mandates alongside local duty-oriented cultural practices. The study argued that the implementation gap is due to the cultural dissonance between the two rather than from a lack of resources.
As an undergraduate student, Dr. Zach Cooper was fascinated with clinical psychology and sociology, with a strong desire to be a therapist providing clinical services while also being trained to address social determinants of health. When he discovered social work, he realized he had found the field that converged these interests.
Dominic M. Calabro (MSW' 79) was recently awarded the Frederick P. Greenberg Lifetime Achievement Award from the Governmental Research Association, a 112-year-old national, nonpartisan, nonprofit association of organizations and individuals engaged in public policy, governmental, and civic research. The organization's mission is to improve governmental effectiveness, accountability and efficiency through independent research.
With the approaching departure of Dean David Springer this summer, one of his remaining goals was to leave the College of Social Work with lasting tokens of inspiration from his mission as dean to cultivate connection, creativity, and well-being.
Growing up in Central Florida, Jalynn French enjoyed helping others, particularly children. This interest, along with the institutions' commitment to community and leadership development, led her to pursue social work when she came to Tallahassee, Florida, first to complete her BSW at Florida A&M University and then her MSW at Florida State University.
A new program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration at the FSU College of Social Work is training young people from rural North Florida to become Certified Behavioral Health Technicians and bringing much-needed care to the region.
Distinguished Research Professor Bruce Thyer was honored at the NASW 2026 National Conference among the ten social workers nationwide to be named a 2026 NASW Social Work Pioneer. Dean David Springer was among the 2025 NASW
Florida State University has named nationally recognized scholar and academic leader Kirk A. Foster as the next dean of the College of Social Work.
Foster currently serves as dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington and will begin his role at Florida State on Aug. 17.
