For the first two decades of her career, alumna Dr. Julie Buckey worked as a social worker at various levels. Receiving her MSW (1996) from the FSU College of Social Work’s Part-Time Program in Jacksonville, Julie worked in both supervisory and administrative roles in child welfare, health and mental health. It was not until she returned to the College in 1999 for her doctoral degree and began her dissertation that her focus would change, setting the course for the next stage of her life’s work.

“It’s time to stop being politely angry,” said Leymah Gbowee, the Liberian social worker and peace activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. Leymah spent a weekend at Florida State this month, helping students and teachers learn how to harness their personal difficulties and anger at injustice into positive energy towards change.

Leah Cheatham will be among the 15 doctoral students nationwide to receive the Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being. Through an annual national competition these students were selected to be the, “new generation of leaders interested in and capable of creating practice and policy initiatives that will enhance child development and improve the nation’s ability to prevent all forms of child maltreatment.”

Each year The Graduate School at Florida State recognizes only six special graduate students across campus with the Graduate Student Research and Creativity Award for their exemplary research and creative endeavors.  Two students are selected from three areas: natural and physical sciences (including science, technology, engineering and math); social and behavioral sciences; and, humanities and art.

The Institute for Family Violence Studies within the Florida State University College of Social Work, with a multidisciplinary partnership, launched a unique online prevention curriculum and resource site for medical professionals on domestic violence.

Florida State University’s College of Social Work is gearing up to launch a part-time, online Traditional Master of Social Work program in spring 2015 that will be available to people not only with a Bachelor of Social Work degree but also bachelor’s degrees in other fields.

Students will benefit from the new program’s flexibility, according to Craig Stanley, director of the college’s Master of Social Work program.

The College of Social Work celebrated the graduation of its spring 2014 graduates with the annual convocation ceremony on Friday, May 2, 2014.  Associate Dean of Academics Dr. Dina Wilke presided over the ceremony, acting in Dean Nick Mazza’s stead.  Students from all levels, BSWs, MSWs and doctoral students were in attendance along with hundreds of family members and friends to celebrate their accomplishments.

Business savvy and nonprofit know-how are often seen as opposing skill sets, the yin and yang of career pursuits. But for graduate student Kelly O’Sullivan, combining both interests made perfect sense.

“I knew I wanted to do more than clinical social work; I wanted to manage,” said O’Sullivan, Florida State University’s first graduate of its Master of Business Administration/Master of Social Work (MBA/MSW) joint degree program. She participated in the May 3 afternoon graduation ceremony.

For the fifth year running the Law Enforcement Families Partnership, a vital part of the FSU College of Social Work’s Institute for Family Violence Studies, was awarded a Prudential Productivity Award. The partnership was honored, along with other recipients, at an awards luncheon on June 3, 2014 at Florida State. The awards recognize state employees and organizations for work productivity and innovation that improves state services and saves Florida taxpayers and businesses money.

The third annual College of Social Work Arts & Athletics Camp, a program for Big Bend-area middle school students that provides opportunities for personal growth through artistic, athletic and college preparatory activities, is taking place on the Florida State University campus through Thursday, July 3.