CSW General

Florida State University’s Institute for Center for the Study and Promotion of Communities, Families, and Children (CFC Center) launches its inaugural research lecture series: “Engage, Inform, & Influence” this September.

The lecture series will start out with its first event entitled “Substance Use During Pregnancy: Time for Policy to Catch Up with Research,” presented by Dr. Samantha Goldfarb, an assistant professor at the FSU College of Medicine and College of Human Sciences, on Friday, September 28^th at the FSU College of Social Work.

“I love traveling and have always had a spirit for adventuring. In addition, I always dreamed of traveling to Australia one day,” Mary Green said when reflecting on her decision to pursue a study abroad opportunity in  Australia.

Mary described her four and half months in at Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia as life-changing. From February through June of 2018, she experienced life as an Australian college student taking four social work courses. 

Dr. Jessica Pryce and her team at the Florida Institute for Child Welfare (Institute) are continuously working with researchers and organizations to find effective, evidence-based solutions to child welfare challenges in Florida. As a part of this mission, Pryce has actively sought out unique, innovative opportunities to inform and address the challenges present in child welfare.

Dr. Michael Killian (Ph.D., 2012; MSW, 2005; BS, 2003) always took a keen interest in exploring psychological and social issues. While at FSU as an undergraduate student majoring in psychology (B.S., 2003) he worked in several of the university’s psychology labs. His interest to work more directly with families led him to an interest in social work.

There are many ways to serve your country, and the career of Captain Jay A. Seligman (MSW, 1993; BA, 1990) reflects a lifetime of dedicated service to both his country and its citizens. After four years of service as a clinical social worker and an Officer with the United States Air Force, Captain Seligman knew he wanted to serve in a different capacity. He commissioned with the  United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and received an assignment with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in 1998.

“I came to social work because I wanted to work in a discipline that valued the individual’s lived experience,” Dr. Tanya Renn stated when reflecting on why she chose the social work profession.

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. 

Undergraduate student Kaylyn Thigpen has always been one to stand up for herself Faced with several personal health issues, open conversations about them became a necessary reality. Since November 2017, Kaylyn approached each of her professors on the first day of class to inform them of her brain aneurysm diagnosis and how to respond in an emergency situation. “This led to a lot more conversations with my professors, particularly with Carol Edwards,” she explained. “We talked about health insurance and how hard it is to get quality care.”