2020 Reflections & Best Wishes for the New Year

Dear TSSW Community,

While this holiday season may feel different, it is still a time for reflection on what was learned and accomplished over the past year. I am so grateful for the amazing community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni at the Tulane University School of Social Work. You have been collaborative, supportive, adaptive, and committed for each other, our School, and our communities. I am so proud and wanted to share some highlights over this year.

• Over 500 students have participated in our degree programs, and over 120 completed their degrees.
• Faculty were awarded $2.7 million National Institutes of Health research grant to promote resilience in Native American families and a COVID-19 supplement to support participant stipends. 
• Through our Field Education Department, students continued addressing the needs of our communities through nearly 97,000 hours of field work.
• You’ve shared your Stories from the Field with us, demonstrating how you are empowering individuals and communities outside of the classroom.
• We initiated the Empowering Change Task Force and website.
• Highly qualified individuals have joined our faculty, staff, and administrative team.
• Online programs expanded to include the dual degree of Master of Social Work with the Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership.
• Faculty and staff have co-authored articles, contributed to media coverage, received accolades, and been placed on committees and boards.
• Our Porter-Cason Institute and Center for Lifelong Learning quickly adapted to offer online continuing education opportunities.
• The Elk Place Health Spot, Disaster and Collective Trauma Certificate, and Alumni Association provided timely information through free and public webinars about race, voting, and criminal justice.
• We launched our Self-care Resources website to support individual well-being.
• Faculty received a grant for and launched Putting Policy in its Place Fellowship, providing students the opportunity to explore how policy impacts practice.

These highlights represent a small portion of the way everyone at TSSW has continued to “Do Work That Matters.” Each person and collaboration has played a part in making this a wonderful place to learn, work, and serve. We hope that you use this time to reflect on what gifts this year has brought you and congratulate yourselves on what you have accomplished despite the year’s many challenges. 

I extend my personal gratitude to each of you as valued members of our School and wish you all the best in 2021 and beyond. Please take time for yourselves to practice self-care, remember to wear your mask, wash your hands, and social distance to continue protecting your communities!  

Sincerely,
Patrick

Patrick S. Bordnick, PhD, MPH, LCSW
Dean, Tulane School of Social Work