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 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 Distinguished Emeritus Alumni Award recipient, presented to an alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago and 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 800 current residents.
David Albright was awarded the Distinguished Young Alumni, which is given to alumni who graduated less than 10 years ago and who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions in 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 Award for his significant contributions to 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, which is awarded to alumni with high ethical standards in social work who have 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 worker and marriage and family therapist with over 35 years of experience with children, teens, and their families. He 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 over 30 years. Her work with the Legislature has included advocating for issues important to the social work profession. During the last legislative session, she worked 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.