2017 Scholarship & Distinguished Graduate Dinner Celebrates Excellence
Florida State University College of Social Work honored its distinguished alumni and student scholarship recipients on Thursday, November 2nd at The Gathering in Tallahassee, Florida. Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Craig Stanley presided over the event, which included reflections by Dean Jim Clark, Development Director Colette Podgorski, and student speaker and scholarship recipient Julie Mishoe to an audience of current and former students, faculty and staff. There were 57 students awarded scholarships totaling $62,000 for the fall 2017 semester.
“Without the generosity of all the donors in this room, many of the students that are present, including me, would not only not be in this room, but may not even be able to be a part of the program. Or maybe we would be in the program, but with much higher stress,” Julie Mishoe, student speaker, and Gainesville MSW student said during the ceremony. “What an adventure. The last year and a half being a part of this program changed my life infinitely more than I could have hoped for when I applied…A lot of people have asked how I’m doing this with two young kids. And the answer is, that I am doing this for my kids…I am trying to show my kids that when you have the option and the ability to help, you do. You make it happen even when it seems hard. You make sacrifices for the greater good.”
Iris Larson – Distinguished Emeritus Alumni Award
Iris earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Florida State in 1950. Iris and her husband Bob were among the first entrepreneurs during the Disney era of tourism in Kissimmee, Florida. They moved to Osceola County in 1958 to be closer to her parents. Iris and Bob started a Red Carpet Inn, went on to expand the hotel, build a second, and open a 36-acre water park. In 2002, the couple was inducted into Florida’s Tourism Hall of Fame. Today, their family continues their entrepreneurial spirit through work in the tourism industry and other business ventures.
Shaleiah Fox – Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Shaleiah Shaleiah received a dual Master’s Degree from FSU’s CSW and Askew School of Public Administration and Policy in April 2011. While at FSU, Shaleiah’s graduate research and volunteer work addressed transitional living programs and the gaps in services for youth who have aged out of the foster care system, believing very simply that these children are ours to care for and protect. Since leaving FSU, she’s worked in upper-level management in the private sector, founded a Fresh Chefs Society, a non-profit that aims to empower youth transition out of the foster care system through the power of food, and most recently, oversees development and external relations at Black Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. She is an advocate and philanthropist, who has worked to turn her personal experience in the foster care system into positivity wherever possible. She is a proud mother of a well-fed toddler, would always rather be camping, and will happily finish your plate should you need help.
Helen Levine – Distinguished social work educator Award
Helen Levine is the Regional Vice Chancellor for External Affairs for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She directs USFSP’s initiatives with state and local officials, policymakers, and the business communities. Levine has a long career arc in the public sector including directing communications and external affairs for the City of St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, and LaGuardia Community College in New York City. Levine is a proud three-time Florida State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social work (1979), a master’s degree in higher education (1981), and a doctoral degree in foundations of education (1987). Helen is married to Katee Tully; between their two immediate families, they have ten degrees from FSU.
Cheryl Rowland – Alumni in Social Work Practice Award
Cheryl Rowland, MSW, LCSW maintains a private practice working primarily with women and is the founder and moderator of A Day of Dialogue: Women of Interest Speaker Series. During her 30-year career, she has advocated for and empowered women. For 15 years, Cheryl served as the director of the returning women’s program at Tallahassee Community College. She also worked with the TMH outpatient counseling program and was the founding clinical director for Veterans Village, a therapeutic residential community for homeless veterans. She received her bachelor’s degree (1981) and master’s degree (1982) in social work from FSU. Cheryl continues to supervise MSW graduate interns and serves on the College of Social Work’s Leadership Council for the College of Social Work. She was founding chair for Women for FSU, an FSU Foundation initiative providing meaningful opportunities for women to re-engage with the University. She and her husband, Brian Rowland, President/CEO of Rowland Publishing, Inc. are both very active in the community and enjoy travel, tennis and all the natural beauty in and around Tallahassee.
Tom Herndon – Distinguished Alumni in Social Policy & Administration
Tom’s state government career spans over 32 years, serving at the highest levels of management in Florida government including key positions in the executive branch, the Legislature, and the Cabinet. Tom is the recipient of several state and national public service awards including the prestigious Florida Distinguished Service Medal for Exceptionally Meritorious Service to the State presented in 1995. A Florida Native, Tom graduated from the University of South Florida and earned a master’s degree at Florida State University. He is very active in the Tallahassee community and currently serves on the boards of the Helios Foundation, Capitol Health Plan, the Claude Pepper Foundation, the Lawton Chiles Foundation, and the FSU Foundation. He also supports the College of Social Work MSW Social Leadership track the Herndon Geriatric Program and an endowed scholarship.
View photos of the event on our Facebook page.