Social Work
The UTSA Master of Social Work (MSW) Program has several personnel changes to report since spring 2008. Dr. Rebecca Vela retired from the Department effective August 31, 2008. Her unique contribution to our social work program will be greatly missed. A faculty search chaired by Dr. Houston-Vega is commencing. One faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level is posted on our departmental website. Dr. Robert Ambrosino, who was serving in a one year non-tenure track (NTT) appointment, has been promoted to a three year senior lecturer NTT position in the Department of Social Work.
Sandra Posada stepped down after years of capable service as the Graduate Advisor of Record. Dr. Rosalie Ambrosino now serves as Graduate Advisor of Record. With her able assistance, our MSW program has its largest enrollment ever, with 124 students, including nine students who are commuting to UTSA from Laredo, Texas, and one student commuting from Killeen, Texas. Other personnel changes include the promotion of Vicki Weber as Senior Administrative Associate within the College of Public Policy.
The UTSA Department of Social Work has much to celebrate. Dr. Dennis Haynes, who was named Social Worker of the Year by the San Antonio Unit of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was named Texas Social Worker of the Year by the Texas Chapter of NASW in a statewide competition. Three social work faculty have been elected or appointed to national positions with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It is an amazing recognition of our program to have three of ten faculty selected for service at the national level. Dr. Goutham Menon was elected as the graduate faculty representative to the CSWE Board of Directors; Dr. Jolyn Mikow serves on the CSWE Council on Practice Methods and Specializations; and Sandra Posada serves on the CSWE Council on Field Education. At the state level, Dr. Dennis Haynes serves as the President of the Texas Association of Social Work Deans and Directors.
A number of UTSA MSW students were recently selected as recipients of scholarships from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. Rosanne Trevino Dominguez was one of five recipients statewide of a $5,000 Hogg Scholarship in Mental Health. Debra Colorado, Abel Garcia and Diana Molina have each received full tuition Hogg Bilingual Scholarships. Congratulations to our faculty and students on these noteworthy accomplishments.
Finally, we recognize the continuing active service of our student organization, Social Workers Advocating for Change Together (SWACT). Our student organization is now producing a student newsletter; they have developed their own website; have sponsored our first annual BBQ fundraiser; and are now selling SWACT tee shirts with a new design developed by Patricia Valdes, one of our MSW students. For more information regarding our student organization, see website http://swact.net/index.html
For additional information regarding the UTSA MSW Program, please refer to our web site: http://utsa.edu/copp/SW/socialwork.html or contact our office at (210) 458-3000. Prospective MSW graduate student applications are available on line at the UTSA Graduate School web site: https://apply.embark.com/grad/utsa/34/
Submitted by Dennis Haynes, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Dean,
College of Public Policy.
501 West Durango Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78207 PH (210) 458-2530 FAX (210) 458-2431