MSW student named Stephen Martin Scholar

Tulane School of Social Work is proud to have students who embody hope, dedication, and transformative potential. Today, we are thrilled to celebrate one such remarkable student: Master of Social Work (MSW) student Janae Dean, who has been honored as a Stephen Martin Scholar.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to Dean's exceptional commitment to both her academic pursuits and her passion for social change. The Stephen Martin Scholars program honors Stephen Martin Sr., the first Black athlete to play a varsity sport in the Southeastern Conference. Martin played his first baseball game for Tulane in 1965. Prospective candidates for this honor exemplify strong character, leadership, academic drive, and civic-mindedness — qualities which were also attributed to Martin.

“I feel extremely honored to be named a Stephen Martin Scholar,” said Dean. “Stephen Martin is a Tulane legend who has paved the way for student-athletes from diverse backgrounds like me to be able to show my academic achievements as well as my athletic achievements. My hope is to continue to grow and build upon the legacies left by those before me.”

Social work is important, and I want to help work towards a more equitable society. TSSW will help me do work that matters!

Janae Dean

Dean’s choice to pursue her MSW was driven by a profound desire to address systemic issues and support marginalized populations.

“I am a big advocate for social justice and serving underserved communities,” Dean said. “TSSW has a top social work program, and I wanted to make sure that I learned from the best. Social work is important, and I want to help work towards a more equitable society. TSSW will help me do work that matters!”

But Dean is not just an equity-minded student – she is also a distance runner for Tulane’s Track & Field team. Among other accolades, she earned All-Conference honors at the 2023 American Athletics Conference Outdoor Track & Field Conference with a 2:06.76 run time in the 800-meter race.

“Being an athlete has allowed me to develop as an all-around person and pushes me to continue to better myself to serve the communities around me,” Dean said. She cites her experiences as a collegiate athlete as the source of strong “skills like communication, empathy, cultural competence, self-awareness, and adaptability,” all of which she’ll use as a social worker.

Tulane School of Social Work is proud to have such a distinguished scholar in our MSW program and looks forward to witnessing the continued impact she will undoubtedly make in the realm of social justice. Please join us in congratulating Dean for this achievement and wishing her luck in her upcoming season.