College of Social Work honors distinguished alumni and student scholarship recipients
The Florida State University College of Social Work celebrated with alumni, donors, faculty, staff and students at the annual Student Scholarship and Distinguished Alumni Dinner on September 10, 2015 at the FSU Alumni Association. Dean Jim Clark and faculty member Rosalyn Deckerhoff presided over the ceremony, which included words of gratitude and inspiration from MSW student Rachel Mack. A majority of the 57 social work scholarship recipients at the BSW, MSW and Ph.D. level were in attendance to receive recognition. And, five very special alumni of the College of Social Work were honored with the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards. The alumni award recipients included:
Jones P. Carter the recipient of the Distinguished Emeritus Alumni Award, presented to an alumni that graduated more than 50 years ago and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and contributions to social work. Mr. Carter received his MSW (1960) from FSU and spent his career at the Advent Christian Village. He was instrumental in developing the retirement community and increasing its residents from 60 in 1960 to its 800 current residents.
David Albright was awarded the Distinguished Young Alumni, which is given to alumni that graduated less than 10 years ago and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions in the field of social work. Dr. Albright received his MSW (2006) and Ph.D. (2012) from FSU and is currently an Associate Professor and Hill Crest Foundation Endowed Chair in Mental Health Research at the University of Alabama. He is a military veteran and former research fellow with the Department of Veteran Affairs and the RAND Corporation’s Center for Military Health Policy Research.
Nicholas F. Mazza received the Distinguished Social Work Educator Alumni Awardfor his significant contributions to the area of social work education. Dr. Mazza is the Patricia V. Vance Professor of Social Work at FSU, has been a social work faculty member for 34 years and served as dean from 2008 until 2015. He holds licenses in clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and psychology. Dr. Mazza is also the founding and current editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy, now in its 28th year of publication.
Art Cleveland was presented with the Distinguished Social Work Practice Alumni Award, awarded to alumni with high ethical standards in social work who has made major innovations and improvements for community members, clients and the social work community. Mr. Cleveland received his BSW (1979) and MSW (1982) from FSU and is currently an adjunct professor. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 35 years experiences with children, teens and their families. He currently maintains a private clinical practice and holds advanced credentials as a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work.
Carol Preston received the Distinguished Social Policy and Administration Alumni Award for meritorious efforts to serve the social work profession in policy making. Carol received her MSW (1992) from FSU and has worked for the Florida Legislature for more than 30 years. Her work with the Legislature has included a role as advocate for issues important to the social work profession. During the last legislative session she was instrumental in working with senators on the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs to bring legislation forward that created the Florida Institute for Child Welfare and other changes positively impacting those in the child welfare workforce.