College of Education and Human Development

School of Social Work

Articles

SSW alum Neerja Singh named 2023 Bush Fellow

The Bush Foundation has named School of Social Work alum Neerja Singh (MSW ’03) a 2023 Bush Fellow. The fellowship is a recognition of a person’s extraordinary accomplishments and support for their potential. The Fellowship includes a grant of up to $100,000 to help awardees strengthen and develop their leadership. Singh is currently a behavioral […]

SSW Faculty Member, Dr. Jessica Toft, Takes Three PhD Students to Capitol

Johara Suleiman — PhD advisee of School of Social Work faculty member, Dr. Jessica Toft — recently participated in a unique workshop at the Minnesota Capitol. The workshop was organized by Dr. Toft, who served as a Legislative Policy Advocate for Family & Children’s Service (now known as Family Partnership) from 1994 to 1996. “I […]

Joan Blakey receives prestigious social work service and leadership award

Joan Blakey, associate professor and director of the School of Social Work, is a recipient of the prestigious 2023 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Established Faculty Service and Leadership in Social Work Education Award. The award recognizes a social work educator with 10 years or longer of service and leadership excellence and pays tribute […]

School of Social Work Announces New Operations Director, Crystal Heimer

The School of Social Work has welcomed Crystal Heimer as its new Director of Operations. Prior to joining the University, Crystal worked at the Mayo Clinic for twenty years— most recently in the role of Administrative Office Manager in Psychiatry.  She completed her bachelor’s degree, and MBA, from Western Governors University during the pandemic.  Says […]

Journal of Family Violence names Lynette M. Renner as editor-in-chief

School of Social Work Professor Lynette M. Renner has been named the incoming editor-in-chief of the Journal of Family Violence (JOFV). JOFV is committed to the dissemination of rigorous research on preventing, ending, and ameliorating all forms of family violence. Renner has served on the editorial board of the journal for the past four years. […]

Larissa Lavrov Named New Director of Admissions, School of Social Work

Larissa Lavrov (she/they) has joined the School of Social Work as the new Director of Admissions. Prior to joining, Larissa worked as a campus recruiter for JPMorgan. She has a, nearly, twenty year-career in admissions and higher education. Larissa is committed to providing a safe space for academic goal exploration through people-centered outreach. Larissa is […]

Kaia Forde, Graphic Designer, Joins the School

The School of Social Work’s Center for the Advanced Study of Child Welfare (CASCW) has welcomed Kaia Forde to its outreach team. A graphic designer, Kaia will be responsible for creating compelling messaging, marketing, and communication materials, to be used within and outside of the CASCW. Kaia grew up in the Brainerd Lakes Area but […]

School of Social Work Welcomes Betsy Snyder as New Grant Coordinator

Ms. Betsy Snyder has been welcomed to the College, as a new grant coordinator. She will be working with the School of Social Work, and the Department of Family Social Science. Betsy has a wealth of experience in human services work and grant funding.  Most recently, she served as an executive director of Southeast Seniors, […]