School of Social Work
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Social Work receives prestigious NU honor When Gwen Howard says she is impressed by UNO's School of Social Work, one must consider that her opinion carries a bit more weight than others.   Howard earned her master of social work (MSW) degree at UNO in 1974. She is an accredited member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Academy of Certified Social Workers. An adoption specialist, she has served as a practicum instructor at the school through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. And as a Nebraska senator representing District 9 in Omaha, she continues her role as a policymaker for the school and the university system.

 

Clearly, hers is a voice of experience.

 

"I feel the School of Social Work is an incredibly valuable institution," she says. "The MSW program in particular really offers the opportunity for enhancement for those individuals who have obtained their bachelor's degree and are interested in staying in that field and getting more skilled in social work. It's a wonderful program."

 

The school this year earned one of the University of Nebraska's most prestigious honors—the University-wide Departmental Teaching Award. The award, which comes with $25,000—recognizes a department within the university that has made a unique and significant contribution to teaching. It was presented April 12.

 

Directed by Dr. Theresa Barron-McKeagney, the School of Social Work focuses on teaching, research and service. With its student volunteer, service learning and practicum training programs, the school contributes more than 51,000 hours of service to the community each year. From the skilled and dedicated faculty to its roster of successful alumni, the School of Social Work "is reaching out and creating a better society," Barron-McKeagney says.

 

An arm of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, the school was established in 1908. Degree programs include the bachelor of science in social work (BSSW), the MSW and off-campus MSW at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and the master of social work/master of public administration. Graduates' first-time pass rates on the Association of Social Work board exams are well above the national average.

 

The school averages approximately 200 graduate students and 100 undergraduate students. They come from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and Minnesota.

 

"As we further develop our programs and our relationships with other institutions, such as the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, I see us gaining a national presence over time," Barron-McKeagney says.

 

One example of the school's positive effect on the community is the recently completed Aguante Project, a family-based mentoring program for at-risk Latino students in the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) system.

 

The school received a $210,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department for the Aguante (the Spanish equivalent of "persevere") Project, an expansion of the Family Mentoring Program coordinated by Social Work.

 

The project provided academic and personal mentoring for 50 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students from Omaha's Field Club and Liberty elementary schools. Students from UNO's Goodrich Scholarship Program and community volunteers served as mentors.

 

"I'd like to see our work with OPS expanded to involve our students not only through mentoring projects, but in different roles at different levels, all to further enhance the service learning aspect of the school," Barron-McKeagney says.

 

Placing social workers in the schools would be a smart move, Sen. Howard says. "I think this avenue alone would really enhance education and deal with a lot of the concerns we're seeing in the public school setting."

 

The mission of the school is to produce highly qualified social work professionals, to advance knowledge through scholarship and research, and to engage with diverse communities to promote positive change within society. Its vision is to convey social work values and ethics, promote social justice and strengthen professional skills and competencies in order to enhance students' capacities for effecting positive changes.

 

No one is better suited to help fulfill the mission and vision than Barron-McKeagney, Sen. Howard says. "I can't sing her praises loudly enough. She is completely committed and dedicated to social work. Everyone associated with the university is grateful she is there."

 

The youngest of 11 children born to parents who emigrated from Mexico, Barron-McKeagney brought with her a history rich with life experiences when she became director of the school in January 2004.

 

"When I think about the last 16 months and what I have seen as a director and leader at the school, I think about the passion we have for our students, our community and the people we serve," she says. "We have the focus, we have the drive and we have the passion to continue with our mission and vision."

 

Graduate student Rushton "Rusty" Gunter says that he and his fellow students share her opinion.

 

"This program has a way of bringing to the surface what people are really passionate about," he says. "The program makes students look inside themselves and see where they are strong and where they are not. That helps bring out who we truly are."

 

Gunter, who will receive his MSW in August, says he is eager to put his studies to use, perhaps in Omaha, perhaps in San Diego where he served in the military. "I have the confidence that with this degree wherever I go I can compete for jobs and serve the community."

 

Giving students that edge requires a strong faculty and the continued support of alumni, Barron-McKeagney says. Gifts to the master's program, financial support for internships and donations for scholarships, stipends and living expenses are areas where alumni help is appreciated.

 

"No one should expect to fix everything that's wrong with the world," she says, "but by working together, hand in hand philosophically, our students know that they can make the world a better place."

 

By fulfilling its mission and vision, the UNO School of Social Work continues to positively impact society, one life at a time.

 

Faculty, staff and grad assistants of UNO's School of Social Work. Seated, from left: Claudette Lee, faculty; Dr. Jane Woody, faculty; Dr. Theresa Barron-McKeagney, director; Patricia Carlson, faculty; Dr. Ann Coyne, faculty. Standing, from left: Dr. Peter Szto, faculty; Sarah Eades, grad assistant; Dr. Deb Anderson, faculty; Rebecca Dartman, grad assistant; Dr. Henry D'Souza, faculty; Paul Sather, faculty; Judy Milner, staff; Dr. Jeanette Harder, faculty; Deb Allwardt, adjunct faculty; Mary Lee Tisdale, staff; Barbara Weitz, faculty; Dr. Amanda Randall, faculty; Dr. Alva Barnett, faculty; Christy Taylor, student worker; Jacque Reiser, faculty.