Alumna Shines as Social Work Leader at Florida A&M University

Katisa Donaldson (MSW 2000, BSW 1999) is in her fifth year as chairperson and director of the MSW Program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's (FAMU) Department of Social Work.

"I enjoy being able to help our BSW and MSW students," she shared, "along with supporting FAMU's College of Social Sciences, Art and Humanities (CSSAH) and our local and surrounding communities. But I wouldn't be this successful without the support of my colleagues and Dr. Valencia E. Matthews, dean of CSSAH."

Growing up in Tallahassee, Florida, Ms. Donaldson was drawn to the social work profession because of her faith and love of people and her dedication to "fair and equal treatment for all people."

As a student at Florida State University and in the College of Social Work, she met the many influential social workers who would help guide her career path in social work, which eventually leading to her current leadership roles in higher education.

"Being a two-time graduate of FSU was definitely God-sent," she emphasized. "If I had not attended and graduated, I wouldn't have met Dr. Brenda Jarmon, Keithen Mathis, and so many more great professors and staff."

In 2000, Ms. Donaldson would step into a job she landed through her MSW internships with Forward March, an advocacy campaign launched by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. She also worked with the Bethel AME Church in Tallahassee as their Civil Citation Program director.

But she noted at this time that "I still had a desire to help more at a larger level." It was her FSU professor, Dr. Brenda Jarmon, who would also become a leader at FAMU's Department of Social Work, who called her about the opportunity to join FAMU's faculty and continue in her footsteps.

Now, Ms. Donaldson has served for the past five years as department chair and MSW Program director, acting as a key leader and liaison for the academic unit at FAMU, navigating reaccreditation, and acting as an advocate, cheerleader, and visionary for the department, its programs, faculty, staff, students and alumni.

"What keeps me inspired is putting more 'angels,' which is what I call social workers, out in the world," she shared. "Standing up and speaking out for at-risk populations and ensuring that the world stays balanced to our best abilities as social workers is essential."

Ms. Donaldson and Dr. David Springer, dean of the FSU College of Social Work, also have a shared vision of increasing collaboration between the social work programs at FAMU and FSU, celebrating Social Work Month and collaborating on community events and outreach.