Warm holiday wishes to you, your family, friends, and loved ones.
This holiday season, I am pausing and remembering the gifts and blessings of who we are as the UGA School of Social Work and as important supporters of our vision and mission. We all have personally and professionally risen to many challenges together and responded with grace, honor, love, compassion, care, support, healing, reset, sacrifice, forgiveness, detour, hope, peace, and gratitude. I am very honored to be part of our UGA SSW community. This is a very special place and a living example of social justice and inclusion where the culture of service to the community, consciousness building and commitment to actions against injustices speak louder than the mere rhetoric.
Over the last years, we have faced messages and signals of disunity and divide in our society, but we rose stronger by remembering our place and calling in hi(her)story to keep on marching forth with commitment to advancing social justice and inclusion through academic excellence in research, teaching, and service. There is so much appreciation by people who watch us from afar with continued expectations to be the hope for our profession and academic discipline of social work. I am truly are blessed to be amongst the best of the best who are part of the team of educators and supporters of training the future generation of social workers. We have all modeled resilience and grit in so many ways in every corner of our lives and lived out the true mission of social work by being there for others while dusting off our own obstacles.
While we may all be in our circles of conversations during this season, let us imagine us being at a large dinner table together as one community of UGA School of Social Work and sharing our journey, reflecting and celebrating who we are, where we have been, and where we would like to go in service to our vision and mission. I hope there will be many opportunities to work together as we share the meaningful stories that keep our fire going. I would like to be part of turning our dreams and ideas into actions that will keep the needle moving for the wellbeing of our vulnerable and citizens who are our very own ancestors, sisters, brothers, children, and family members. Your journey is so important and I hope that this holiday season brings you peace, harmony, fulfillment, and a renewed commitment to your cause and passion for social work and social justice.
Finally, I hope that during the holidays you will take a little time to connect with us here at the School of Social Work. We would love to hear from you, and our students would love to connect with alumni and learn about the “real world” of social work practice. As you think about our students at the School, and you consider your own end-of-year giving and charitable tax deductions, please consider joining me in making a gift to the school at the Commit to the SSW webpage. Even a small amount of support can make a big impact on a student, helping them buy books, visit the state capitol, or participate in a clinical training.
All of us here at the School of Social Work wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. I hope we can connect soon, and over the coming years. May 2023 be a year of peace and justice for us all. Happy Holidays! |
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Philip Hong Dean and Professor |
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The Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach at the University of Georgia School of Social Work will receive $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of State to expand research on labor trafficking in Southern Africa in the first stage of a long-term project. The new award broadens the work of CenHTRO, which has previously received approximately $24 million from the State Department’s Office to Combat and Monitor Trafficking in Persons for its global counter-trafficking projects. Click here to read more on the CenHTRO website |
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Grant allows social work team to evaluate Georgia parole services |
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Dr. Orion Mowbray, Associate Dean for Research, has received a $535k grant from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision to further his research into Day Report Centers, a series of facilities that provide programming and services to assist various people on parole or probation who are dealing either with substance abuse issues or were incarcerated due to a drug charge.
Dr. Mowbray’s research team includes Michael Robinson, associate professor and co-PI; Anna Scheyett, professor and co-I; Ed Risler, professor emeritus; Jeff Skinner, project coordinator; and Oluwayomi Paseda, Ph.D. student at SSW.
Click here to learn more about the grant. |
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Dean Hong and professor emeritus Ed Risler were honored to serve as honorary coach and offensive coordinator, respectively, at the Kent State football game on September 24. They’re pictured here with head coach, Kirby Smart. UGA won the game, 39-22! |
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UGA SSW alumnus honored by NASW as “Pioneer” in Washington, D.C. |
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JEFF YARVIS
School of Social Work alumnus Col (RET) Jeff Yarvis Ph.D.’04 and adjunct faculty member has been named by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) a National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Social Work Pioneer®. Being elected by his peers as a Social Work Pioneer is one of the profession’s highest honors. The NASWF Pioneers are thought leaders, mentors, and luminaries who have, through innovative teaching, program management, and advocacy work, changed their communities for the better, often with ripple effects nationwide. Yarvis and 2020 Pioneer Honoree former dean and professor Anna Scheyett will be honored at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., on October 15, 2022. Read more about Dr. Yarvis' pioneering contributions on the NASWF Pioneers website. |
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| MSW student Andrea Garcia has been at the University of Georgia for less than two years, but she is already making an impact. |
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In the second year of her master’s degree studies at UGA’s School of Social Work, Garcia has co-authored a paper with her professor Anna Scheyett, Ph.D., to study mental health and resources for rural farmers in the South. The researchers used a survey to find sources of trust, signs of stress and other factors in the farmers to better understand their needs.
“In rural areas, you don't have a lot of resources or doctors, nurses, especially ones that focus on mental health,” Garcia said. “There is a lot of stigma behind mental health in rural areas and for men in general – the idea of farmers thinking ‘Power through it,’ being the ‘strong man of the house.’ Our goal is to assess the needs of rural areas and figure out the best ways to bring these resources without affecting or being disrespectful of their culture.”
Read more about Andrea here. |
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Joon Choi accepts director position at Georgia State University School of Social Work |
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| Dr. Y. Joon Choi is leaving the SSW after over 11 years of service to UGA. The following is a message from Dean Hong congratulating Dr. Choi on her new appointment.
"Congratulations to Joon Choi, our Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs, who will be joining Georgia State University as a professor and director of their School of Social Work on January 1, 2023. On behalf of the UGA SSW, I want to say thank you to Joon for her leadership, her passion, and her dedication to preparing culturally responsive social work practitioners and scholars. I look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in your new role, and I'm grateful to have your voice representing social work in our state."
Good luck Dr. Choi! We will miss you! |
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Betty Rivers Bellairs, MSW '66 |
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December 9, 1928 – October 15, 2022 |
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Mrs. Betty Rivers Bellairs, MSW '66, was the School of Social Work’s first graduate and spent the majority of her life serving her community in Newton County Georgia. She was an avid Bulldogs fan and traveled near and far for games. In 2006, she was named the R.O. Arnold Award winner for her work with the Newton County Humane Society and the Newton County Animal Shelter. Mrs. Bellairs was a pioneer in establishing the Newton County Humane Society and widely credited as being one of the key influences for the shelter's existence. In addition, she worked tirelessly for the needy, elderly, and at-risk youth of Newton County through community outreach programs and civic organizations. Mrs. Bellairs loved her Sunday School "Seekers" and led them for 40 years.
Link to Betty Bellairs' obituary |
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Have you been promoted, started a new job, won an award or accomplished something amazing? |
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We want to hear from you! Share your news with fellow SSW alumni in our Connect Magazine. Photos to accompany a Class Note can be submitted as well. Just click the button below to share what's happening with you! |
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Join fellow Social Work Bulldogs committed to increasing access and affordability for the next generation. Your gift, no matter the size, empowers students to deliver innovative solutions for challenges and transform the way people experience life. |
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