June 2024 Dean's Update Newsletter

The end of each school year gives us a chance to celebrate our current faculty and staff, and to welcome new additions to our School of Social Welfare community.

In this month’s newsletter, we introduce three new tenure-track assistant professors who are joining us this fall. We also celebrate the recipients of our 2023-2024 faculty and staff awards, honoring commitment to teaching, research and student support.

We’re particularly fortunate to have a community of experienced, talented and compassionate social work educators leading classes, research and programs at our School.

In the next few months, we will introduce more new faculty, including a new professor of practice and a multi-term lecturer. We’ll also share more about the research profiles of our new professors.

I hope you’ll join me in welcoming these new additions to the KU School of Social Welfare.

As always, share questions or concerns at any time at kusswdo@ku.edu. Your feedback and collaboration are extremely important to us.

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

Three new tenure-track faculty will join the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare as assistant professors this fall.

Kathryn Berringer, Logan Shinkai Knight and Ricka Mammah will start their roles in August 2024. The group brings a variety of research interests and teaching experiences to the school.

The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Rick Spano, who died on May 19 at age 79.

Spano retired from the School of Social Welfare with emeritus status in 2018, after 43 years of teaching KU social work students. He joined KU as an associate professor of social welfare in 1975. During nearly five decades of service to KU, Spano completed terms as director of the Bachelor of Social Work program and associate dean of academic programs in the School of Social Welfare.

It still feels weird for Kelly G. Loeb to talk about her grandmother in the past tense. Loeb, who received her Master of Social Work from KU in 2010, got more than just her name from the family’s matriarch. 

Her grandmother, who Loeb called "Grand," inspired her career in social work.

"She feels so present for me still," Loeb said.

For Laine Dilla, a KU Edwards Campus Master of Social Work (MSW) student, the choice to shift from teaching to social work felt natural.

Growing up with a mother who was a social worker, Dilla was often surrounded by adults in the field. Dilla taught eighth-grade language arts for most of her career, but after taking some time off to raise her children, she decided to transition from one helping profession to another.

Recipient: Dr. Nancy Jo Kepple, Associate Professor and MSW Program Director

For advancing scientific understanding and knowledge through scholarly pursuits and research endeavors. Read more about why Dr. Kepple is this year's Statland faculty award recipient.

Recipient: Dr. Renee White, Assistant Professor of Practice

For contributions to students and the teaching mission of the KU School of Social Welfare. Read more about why Dr. White is this year's Budig teaching award recipient.

Recipient: Michelle Levy, Research Project Director

For outstanding research and scholarship work of the School's research staff. Read more about why Levy is this year's Statland research staff award recipient.

Recipient: Nicole Gilmore, Adjunct Instructor

For contributions to the School's teaching mission by adjunct faculty. Read more about why Gilmore is this year's adjunct teaching award recipient.

Recipient: Joseph Bush, Professional Writing Consultant

For dedication to supporting students in the BSW program. Read more about why BSW students nominated and selected Joseph Bush for the Mignot award.

The School of Social Welfare is hiring a student support coordinator to promote student well-being, retention and success.

Responsibilities include collaborating with staff, community providers and campus partners to provide student support, and referring students to KU offices to access resources. Read the full job description.

Application review begins June 28. Anticipated start date is July 29.

The University of Kansas launched Ever Onward, a comprehensive fundraising campaign, in October. The KU School of Social Welfare's campaign priorities include:

By supporting our desire to offer more student scholarships, our alumni and friends can make a KU Social Welfare education affordable for more compassionate problem-solvers and grow the field.

Partnering with us to provide resources for exceptional faculty and capture the school’s intellectual legacy also will help us ensure our society can meet the challenges ahead.

Trauma-Informed Care with Underserved Rural Populations
Friday, August 2, 12-1:30 p.m. CT
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
3011 N. Michigan St., Pittsburg, KS 66762
Free
CEU: 2.5 

CCEC: Self-care Strategies in Election Season
Thursday, September 19, 12-1:30 p.m. CT
Zoom
Free
CEU: 1.5 ethics

Gender-Affirming Care: Research-Informed Strategies for Improving the Mental Health of Transgender Youth
Wednesday, November 13, 12-2 p.m. CT
Zoom
Free
CEU: 2 clinical diagnosis/treatment

Heather Brungardt, MSW 1991, was announced as the new president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida. Read more.

Kristin Vernon, MSW 2009, is the new director of the Youth Recovery Center at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. Read more.

Kristine McGuire, MSW 2010, was recognized as Social Worker of the Year at University of Colorado Hospital. McGuire also received a Field Supervisor of the Year award from the University of Denver.

Ashley Williamson, MSW 2017, was featured in a story by the KU Alumni Association for her work as co-executive director of The Giving Grove. Read the story.

Janelle M. Hilger, MSW 2012, passed away on May 6, 2024, at age 38. Read obituary.

Dr. Richard Spano, professor emeritus, passed away on May 19, 2024, at age 79. Read obituary.

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

The KU School of Social Welfare hosted MSW orientation for students in the Traditional plan of study at the KU Edwards Campus on June 7, welcoming future social workers. New students mingled with one another and listened to information sessions by Dean Michelle Carney, MSW Program Director Nancy Kepple, MSW advisors, and Social Welfare faculty and staff.

Photos from Traditional MSW orientation

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).

The University of Kansas is a public institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.