School of Social Welfare Dean's Update

As the KU School of Social Welfare has expanded degree programs and enrollment over the past decade, we have been equally intentional about strengthening the systems that support our students’ success.

Since fall 2021, we have added key student support roles, including a professional writing consultant, student support coordinator, BSW retention coordinator, and additional associate directors of practicum education. Through our partnership with CAPs, students on the Lawrence and Edwards Campuses also have access to in-house mental health support – reinforcing our commitment to their academic and personal well-being.

Our investment in students does not end at graduation. The Practicum Education Office continues to support alumni as they pursue social work licensure and enter professional practice. This includes:

Strong partnerships with community agencies and alumni remain central to this work. Together, we are preparing social workers who are ready to meet critical needs across Kansas and beyond.

As always, we welcome your questions, ideas, and feedback at kusswdo@ku.edu. Your engagement and partnership are deeply valued and essential to advancing our shared mission.

Take good care and Rock Chalk,

Michelle Carney, PhD, MSSA
Dean and Professor
KU School of Social Welfare

Melissa Wilson wants to help those without easy access to resources, and that means making tangible change to the system. 

Wilson, MSW 2023, graduated with a macro social work specialization to do just that. Now, Wilson works as a mitigation specialist with the Missouri State Public Defender's office.

"I noticed that so many things are wrong from the top that are making the bottom impossible to progress or get into better spaces," Wilson said. "No matter how hard we work to get people connected with resources, at the end of the day, there has to be change up top first."

The University of Kansas is a top-ranked public university for funded research in social work, according to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education & Research Development (HERD) Survey.

The survey ranked KU in:

The latest HERD survey is based on fiscal year 2024 data and includes research in the field of social work from all KU campuses.

Many of the KU School of Social Welfare’s funded research projects focus on improving outcomes in the child welfare and health care systems in Kansas.

Read more about KU’s research growth and economic impact in Kansas.

The new Native American School of Social Welfare MSW Scholarship will provide $7,000 per academic year to eligible KU Master of Social Work students.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must:

This scholarship is made possible by donor support through KU Endowment.

One Day One KU – the university's annual giving event – is coming up on April 28-29.

The School of Social Welfare is recruiting ambassadors to help us raise funds for:

Sign up as an ambassador for One Day One KU.

The KU School of Social Welfare is hosting events in Salina, Kansas, on March 31.

Alumni + Friends Reception

Alumni and friends are invited to meet with faculty and staff, enjoy refreshments, and hear program updates.

CEU Events: "Caring for Self and Others in Anxious Times"

KUSSW is partnering with K-State Salina and the Central Kansas Mental Health Center to present a two-part, hybrid continuing education session on March 31.

Research Impact Talk: Combating Stigma, Honoring Strengths, Cultivating Resilience
Tuesday, March 10
12-1 p.m.
Online
CEU: 1

Standard 6, Real Self-Care, and Ethical Social Work in this Political Moment
Tuesday, March 31
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Online and at Central Kansas Mental Health Center
CEU: 3 ethics

Growing Up in Our Distressing World: Diagnosing and Treating Youth Anxiety
Tuesday, March 31
1:30-4:30 p.m.
Online and at Central Kansas Mental Health Center
CEU: 3 clinical Dx/Tx

Alumni Reception in Salina
Tuesday, March 31
5-7 p.m.
K-State Salina Campus

Complicating the Frame: Multi-Level and Survivor-Centered Levers for Ending Gender-Based Violence
Thursday, April 9
12-2 p.m.
Online
CEU: 2

Diagnosing Children and Adolescents: Best Practice Strategies for Clinical Interviews and Assessment
Hosted by Bert Nash's Director of Youth Community Services, Annas Boyer, LSCSW, LCAC
Friday, April 10
12-2 p.m.
Online

Justice and Healing for People & Planet: Eco-Social Work Approaches in Research, Teaching, and Practice
Thursday, April 23
12-2 p.m.
Online
CEU: 2

Jaye L. Mueller, MSW 1988, is entering 47 years as a social worker in the mental health arena and 23 years in private practice. Mueller works part-time in the Topeka area, providing services to adults, and serves on the board of the Topeka Helping Hands Humane Society.

Joshua Arce, BSW 2002, is president and CEO of Partnership With Native Americans, a nonprofit that provides services and aid to Native communities in nine states. He is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

Eve McGee, MSW 2003, is founder and CEO of McGee KC Consulting in Kansas City, which specializes in grant writing and grant management for social service nonprofits.

Tricia Prohaska Dillingham, BSW 2006, is a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner at CareArc in Emporia.

Jessica Kejr, MSW 2010, is a nutrition access specialist at the Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.

Elizabeth Westbrook, BSW 2010, LCSW, is the founder and owner of a west Houston therapy practice dedicated to Christian trauma and sexuality care. Their work focuses on helping clients who have experienced trauma of many kinds, with an emphasis on religious and sexual trauma.

Susannah Kangas Rolf, MSW 2012, is a mental health therapist with Lyra Health.

Joshua S. Gillihan-Young, BSW 2018, was selected for the Oak Street Health (OSH) Behavioral Health Specialist Fellowship program. For the fellowship, Young will work in clinics in Kansas City, Kansas and Topeka, providing clinical care for older adults.

Stacy Scheetz, MSW 2020, is a social worker at AmberMed Clinic in Hoxie and also provides behavioral health services at area schools.

Whether you just received a promotion, started a new position or project, or moved across the country, the School of Social Welfare wants to stay updated on your life adventures. Update your contact information and share your alumni news.

Kenneth Michael Owen, MSW 1959, passed away on Jan. 3, 2026, at age 90. Read obituary.

Fred Richard Brandow, MSW 1991, passed away on Dec. 28, 2025, at age 74. Read obituary.

Joyce Lynn Kyle, MSW 1991, passed away on Dec. 30, 2025, at age 79. Read obituary.

In February, Assistant Professor Joonmo Kang gave a presentation on the climate, social and environmental impact of AI data centers. Social Welfare students, faculty and staff joined Kang for the discussion, which included a Q&A and pizza.

View photos from the presentation

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