MSW student Sarah Lovins Bacani is both an FSU student and an FSU employee working within FSU Advising First, a part of the Division of Undergraduate Studies. "I currently work in the Center for Academic Guidance, where we specialize in early response interventions for students who are beginning to show signs of academic disengagement or risk of dropping out," she shared.
Florida State University is commemorating a rare and historic achievement, marking 175 years since its founding. This milestone celebrates the university’s longstanding tradition of excellence and highlights its continued growth and significance as a leader in higher education.
Dean David Springer will conclude his deanship at the FSU College of Social Work in the summer of 2026. He will rejoin the faculty of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) as a Centennial Professor in Leadership for Community, Professional, and Corporate Excellence and as a University Distinguished Teaching Professor in August 2026.
The Florida Institute for Child Welfare at the FSU College of Social Work was featured on ABC 27 - WTXL Tallahassee for its virtual reality training program for social work students, which helps prepare them for working with children and families. Virtual reality immerses social work students and child welfare workers in simulated real-life case management scenarios, providing a controlled environment where they can practice and refine their skills.
Watch the video and read the transcript by clicking the button below.
One year post-launch, an innovative, self-paced program created by the Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children (Stoops CFC Center) at Florida State University's College of Social Work is helping individuals involved with the criminal justice system build healthier lives and reduce substance-related harm—without adding to staff workload.
Dr. Donald Ray Bardill, who served as a social work faculty member at FSU and as a dean for the then School of Social Work (1979–1994), passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on November 23, 2025.
“Dean Bardill will be remembered as a pivotal person in shaping the College of Social Work at Florida State University,” reflected Dean David Springer. “He led by example through his commitment to service and clinical practice. Ray cared deeply about this community, and his spirit and legacy carry on through our collective work in the College.”
Jails in the United States hold more than half a million people daily, with more than 80% of them experiencing multiple forms of trauma in their lifetime. Research has established a strong link between trauma and multiple forms of mental and behavioral health issues, including but not limited to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and substance use disorders.
Since 2012, Giving Tuesday has united millions worldwide in a Global Day of Generosity. This year, you can make a direct impact on the future of social work.
Social work students must complete internships to graduate—but most are unpaid. This creates financial strain, burnout, and barriers for students with limited resources. A recent survey within the college revealed that nearly 89% of past internships were uncompensated, forcing students to take on extra loans, work long hours, and even risk eviction.
“I was born and raised in a disenfranchised neighborhood where most people I knew rarely had second chances,” recollects Derrick St. Fort. “Too often, their mistakes overshadowed their entire existence. I wanted to change that.”
Gabrielle Dybalski, a graduate student in Florida State University’s master’s clinical social work program, brings a wealth of experience from her nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, where she rose to staff sergeant (E6) as an intelligence specialist.
Her time at FSU has been defined by her commitment to service and involvement with the FSU Student Veterans Center, which she credits for easing her transition from military to academic life.
