CSW General

MSW alumna (2014) Sofia Olds and her husband DeShoan Olds always knew they wanted to adopt since their marriage in 2004. In 2006, they completed the Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) classes to prepare for adoption, but building their lives together took precedence.  DeShoan served several tours in Iraq and Sofia was active duty Army while she pursued her bachelor's and master's degrees in social work at the Florida State University College of Social Work.

Successful Co-Parenting After Divorce, an online FSU multidisciplinary training/research project housed in the Institute for Family Violence Studies at the College of Social Work, has presented a new policy recommendation asserting that co-parent education for divorcing parents should be “trauma-informed.” An article describing this research, “Trauma-Informed Co-Parenting: How A Shift in Compulsory Divorce Education to Reflect New Brain Development Research Can Promote Both Parents’ and Children’s Best Interests,” was pub

This fall, the FSU College of Social Work will welcome a new addition to its faculty, Dr. John Mathias. A recent graduate of the University of Michigan with a joint doctoral degree in anthropology and social work, his research focuses on qualitative studies of community organizations, advocacy, and non-profit management.

Arriving at Florida State University as an undergraduate with an interest in film and creative writing, Danielle, or Dani, Groton thought a major in marketing and advertising was a practical use of her skills. But something was missing, and she wasn’t quite satisfied with the trajectory of such a career. A visit to the FSU Career Center introduced Dani to the possibilities social work had to offer.

Growing up in South Korea, FSU College of Social Work doctoral student Jungup Lee witnessed a time of rapid economic growth, but she also noticed the severe competition, inequality and social discrimination that accompanied it. “I was curious why there were gaps in social status, gender, race, or political group,” Jungup reflected.

Five Florida State University faculty members are fanning out across the globe to teach and conduct research in Russia, Finland, Ireland, Hong Kong and the Czech Republic through grants from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

Pam Graham MacDill, Director of the BSW and Professional Development Programs at the FSU College of Social Work was presented with the Partners with a Purpose Award on May 16, 2017, for her contributions to the FSU Unconquered Scholars program of the Center for Academic Retention, & Enhancement (CARE).

The following awards are for fall 2017, except as indicated, and are contingent on students enrolling in classes and satisfying any other terms of the specific scholarship.Congratulations to our scholarship recipients!

Bernhard Scher Undergraduate Scholarship

• Stephen Sardelis

Bill & Nolia Brandt Scholarship

• Jade Weaver
• Kelsey Hangstorfer
• Leah Salcedo
• Taylor Mack

Cheryl Rowland Endowed Scholarship

Academic leadership takes many forms. Two FSU College of Social Work students exemplify the abilities and talents necessary for a student to excel and to exemplify leadership on and off campus. MSW student Mandi Cauley and BSW student Zoe Genkin were awarded 2017 Academic Leadership Awards that were celebrated during the spring 2017 semester, each receiving an award for this honor.

The Institute for Family Violence Studies (IFVS) at the College of Social Work benefits from the tremendous talent and energy of student researchers who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of children and families. “The Institute could not operate without these rockstars. Each one made a significant contribution to building the IFVS,” said Karen Oehme, IFVS Director.  In return, the Institute launches these graduates into a lifetime of meaningful work.