Committing Anew

MARIANNE R.M. YOSHIOKA, M.S.W., PH.D.

We are distinct. We are matchless. We are changing the world.

In a joyous celebration we graduated our 100th class this August and in September began our 101st academic year. Over these past few years as we prepared for our Centennial Celebration, I have had a wonderful opportunity not only to learn more about our School’s rich and important history but to connect with so many of you. We have thrived for 100 years with this special program because of our community, our curriculum and our impact. We are distinct. We are matchless. We are changing the world.

Everyone who has attended SSW understands what we mean when we talk about a powerful and exceptional community. Sometimes folks from other schools can seem disbelieving when I talk about the depth of relationships between students and alumni; if I mention a fun, quirky and sometimes a little weird (and I mean that in a good way) tradition called skits; the sweetness of baccalaureate; the often raucous thesis breakfast (where students now celebrate other academic and research achievements); and the powerful Senior Send Off for students of color. These traditions could only grow and be sustained in a community of colleagues and friends where you are known and seen.

In the creation of the short film that was produced about SSW (coming soon to an alumni event near you), I had the chance to look at course bulletins from our early days. What struck me was

that the attention to student learning, the request for significant depth within course syllabi and our commitment to teaching has been part of this School from 1918 forward. It is still true today. In 2018 we are making adjustments to the program to ensure that it is manageable for current students who increasingly hold jobs and have families. This is being done without sacrificing the rigor for which we are known.

One of the best parts of my job is hearing about the careers of our alumni, your interesting and significant work and commitments. It is truly a measure of the success of a school. It is a fascinating study to see what smart people with excellent clinical training and a commitment to anti-racism will do with their careers—lead significant clinical institutions, create important clinical practices, generate knowledge and interventions to be used by other clinicians, domestically and internationally. So many of you work with other Smithies.

I am so proud to be a part of this amazing School’s journey. As we start our next century, we commit anew to clinical social work education and research with an anti-racism lens. We commit anew to continuously strive toward greater racial and gender justice within our School, programs and in the world. We commit anew to care for and support our rare and important community. ◆