School of Social Work names Joan Blakey as new director

CEHD is pleased to announce Dr. Joan Blakey will be joining the college on July 1 as an associate professor and the new director of the School of Social Work (SSW). She comes to SSW from the School of Social Work at Tulane University in New Orleans where she served as associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor. Prior to Tulane, she was a department chair and associate professor at the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

As the director of SSW, Blakey serves as the school’s chief administrative officer, with responsibility for programs and resources, personnel, budget development, fundraising, and administrative planning. She also provides leadership as an active scholar and by supporting research and innovative learning in the school.

Blakey holds a BS and MSW from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in social work from the University of Chicago. Her areas of expertise include child advocacy, protection, and welfare; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); justice and corrections; substance use and substance use treatment; and trauma and trauma-informed care. She also focuses on anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice within the social work profession.

With more than 25 years of experience in senior academic and organizational consulting, she is recognized for her leadership skills in strategic planning. She has a proven record of spearheading effective DEI, belonging, power analysis, and anti-racism initiatives, and developing high-performance, collaborative, and cohesive teams committed to the academic success of students.

“We are so happy that Dr. Blakey will join us this summer,” said Dean Michael C. Rodriguez. “On top of being a proud multigenerational Minnesotan and UMN alumna, she brings great scholarship, leadership, and lived experience, as well as new energy and commitment to goals that are closely aligned with those of the SSW and CEHD. The CEHD community is brighter and stronger because Dr. Blakey will be with us. Join me in welcoming her!”