CSW General

“I have always been fascinated by human behavior,  our relationships with others and what contributes to our individual and collective well-being,” recalled Leslie Langbert (BS ’93, MSW ’95), “and the Master of Social Work program was an ideal opportunity for me to gain the training to work in behavioral health with clients from a lens of recognizing their resilience, and also understanding the environmental and structural factors that shape their experiences.”

Dr. Lisa Schelbe, associate dean for Academic Affairs and Jeanene M. Janes Professor in Child Welfare at the FSU College of Social Work, was elected to serve as director-at-large for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR). Her three-year term begins February 1, 2026.

The Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children, a part of the FSU College of Social Work, is partnering with Charlie Ward Champions Ranch, a 112-acre campus founded by Charlie and Tonja Ward, to bring the Center’s Rebound & Recovery program into Champions Ranch programming.

The FSU College of Social Work (FSU CSW) participated in the 2026 Society for Social Work and Research Conference in Washington, DC.

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 FSU College of Social Work welcomed its newest cohort of Student Ambassadors for the 2025-2026 academic year. These student leaders are taking a forward-facing role at the college, acting as representatives of the college and its mission in multiple roles.

As a case management assistant at AdventHealth Central Florida Division, Online MSW student, Fabiana Mattos Da Rocha, works alongside hardworking doctors, nurses, and other helping professionals and connects with patients and their families on a daily basis. She noticed in 2025 an increase in signs of quiet burnout, exhaustion and being overwhelmed across the board.

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.