Alumni & Friends

In collaboration with the FSU Alumni Association, the FSU College of Social Work established a new networking opportunity for social work alumni, known as the Social Work Alumni Group (SWAG). The vision is to connect College of Social Work alumni for networking and outreach initiatives.

Interest in the creation of an alumni networking group began in early 2018 as the College celebrated 100 years of social work at Florida State.  Seeing a need for a way to celebrate the legacy at FSU with the need to connect with graduates of all ages, the SWAG group was created.

On the last day of the summer 2018 semester, the FSU College of Social Work hosts its Summer Graduation Reception. The reception celebrates the graduation of 17 BSW and 103 MSW students and includes a program featuring remarks by Dean Jim Clark, Reception Speaker and Alumnus John Sheetz, and Student Speaker and BSW Graduate, Jenna Michelson.

“My passion for social work began here,” Dr. Shalay Jackson (BSW, 2006) said emphatically about her experiences as a social work student at FSU. “I was challenged, supported, and inspired by a compassionate faculty, staff, students, and alumni community." Dr. Jackson received her BSW and MSW degrees and later her Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of South Florida. 

As Florida State University prepares to welcome more than 6,000 freshmen this fall, the university is offering a new online tool to help students adjust to campus, improve mental health, increase resilience and reduce stress.

“I love helping people ---and there’s nothing more special than giving yourself to a little being,” College of Social Work Alumna Patricia (Pat) Grise says about her role as a volunteer “baby cuddler.” For more than twenty years, Pat has been cuddling, bathing and bottle feeding premature and newborn babies at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (TMH) to help them thrive.

This year was the seventh annual College of Social Work Arts & Athletics Camp. The Camp utilizes arts and athletics to introduce local middle school aged youth, ages 11-14, to the university environment and encourage them to pursue higher education. This program aims to enhance leadership development, grow confidence in academic achievement, socialization, and other life skills for young adults living in the local community, including those with limited social and economic opportunity.

International Programs at the FSU College of Social Work began with efforts of one faculty member, Patricia (Pat) Lager (MSW, 1983, BA 1967). Pat transitioned from work in the areas of mental health and child welfare education, teaching at Florida A&M University before being hired by [then] Dean Ray Bardill. “I graduated from FSU, so I’ve always loved this university and the College of Social Work. It’s a passionate program,” Pat related about taking on her first academic role at FSU as a part-time field faculty placing students in their internships.

William (Bill) Anderson came out of the U.S. Army in 1972 looking for a social work MSW degree program. He had three to choose from, and it was the financial support FSU offered that first brought him to Tallahassee. It would be his experiences in the program and faculty support that made him stay.

FSU College of Social Work students proceeded into the FSU Ballrooms at the Oglesby Union wearing their regalia surrounded by proud family and friends and cameras clicking. The College’s annual Spring Graduation Reception started early Friday morning, May 4^th with more than 650 people in attendance to watch FSU social work students graduate among their peers.

In the hours leading up to the 100 years celebration, I was incredibly nervous but excited. A college that I’m a part of is celebrating 100 years of dedication and achievement to students, social work education and profession. From the excellence of my curriculum to the academic opportunities provided by the college, I understood how noteworthy and important this celebration was too many. I was the only student attending that was speaking in front of my professors and other distinguished social work alumni.