Undergraduate Student Ashley Rhodd is from Miami, Florida. While volunteering at a Thanksgiving food drive with friends in 2019, she realized through a conversation on social justice just how passionate she was about the subject. Almost a year later, Ashley, who is currently a junior, is a social work major with a minor in education.
Shevaun Harris (MSW, 2004; BA, 2002) was appointed in October 2020 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as acting secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The agency oversees the state’s $25 billion Medicaid program. She replaces Mary Mayhew, who left the agency to become CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, a group representing more than 200 hospitals in the state.
In 2018, a group of students created the Social Leadership Student Organization (SLSO) with an interest in creating an organization that would allow them to network and share resources related to the social leadership practice track. In a few short years, SLSO has become the Macro Social Work Student Network (MSWSN), affiliated with a nationally recognized organization of the same name.
Robyn Metcalf, the statewide director of Voices for Florida’s Open Doors Outreach Network, has been selected as a 2020 Notable Nole by the FSU Alumni Association.
Karen Keroack was a long-time faculty member in the FSU College of Social Work. She served as an instructor and area coordinator of the MSW program offered in Gainesville, Florida, which is now part of the online MSW program. Karen established and coordinated the Gainesville program for 28 years, providing for the education of a multitude of social workers in the Gainesville area.
FSU College of Social Work Alumnus Dr. Daniel Dunleavy graduated this summer with his social work doctoral degree. His dissertation, titled “Appraising contemporary social work research: Meta research on statistical reporting, statistical power, and evidential value,” (Major professor: Dr. Jeffrey Lacasse) reflects his research interests in research methods and statistical inference. Dr. Dunleavy’s research interests also include mental health, substance abuse, child welfare and the philosophy of science.
On July 1, 2017, Florida Statute 409.996 (22) was amended to require the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to develop a statewide accountability system for residential group homes based on measurable quality standards. Funded by the Florida Institute for Child Welfare and DCF, a research team led by FSU College of Social Work faculty member Dr.
Prevent Child Abuse America was recently awarded a three-year grant for more than $1.05 million by the Center for Disease Control. The project examines the prevention effects of key public policy strategies, such as paid family leave and child care provisions, on the rate of child abuse and neglect and intimate partner violence (IPV).
Distinguished Research Professor Bruce Thyer was recently awarded a 2020 Educational Leadership Award by the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE). The organization, comprised of social work doctoral program directors worldwide who represent member universities, promotes excellence in social work doctoral education.
The Florida Institute for Child Welfare is pleased to welcome new colleagues and current colleagues into new roles. Join the institute in welcoming these colleagues into their new roles and learn about an opportunity to join the institute’s team.
