A Dean’s Day

The power of our educational programs is best demonstrated through the extraordinary work of our alumni. So, we took a new approach in this edition of InDepth. We’re very excited to share some snapshots with you into the lives of our distinguished alumni. We are so proud to share the important ways they are making a difference through education, advocacy and private practice.

Following the theme of the issue, A Day in the Life, I wanted to share my update through the lens of a typical day’s work as dean of our School.

I like to start my day with reading, spending time with my partner, exercising, walking the dogs, eating breakfast and doing a first round of emails. I find spending a little extra time doing this every morning sets my day up in the best way possible. It’s much easier to control how my day begins than it is to control what time my work day will end! Whenever possible, I block off a few hours in my day to write and create materials for upcoming meetings and deadlines.

The reality is, my day is filled with meetings with colleagues at the School and around the country. I chair a number of doctoral student dissertation committees (which I love) and I serve on the board of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work and I co ­lead the Leadership Academy for Deans and Directors and several non profit organizations as a part of my community service.

Throughout the day, I also make an effort to connect with staff, faculty and other colleagues at the college or around the country, exchanging information or sharing conversation. I believe that the work day should also have some fun, so taking time to connect is important. I try to end my day with a final round of emails, hopefully closing my laptop by 8 p.m.

In many ways, my job is like that of a conductor of a magnificent orchestra. I make sure everyone knows what music we are playing today and what we will be playing in the future whether that’s one month or one year ahead. I set the tone for how this School will operate, how we will move forward in line with our Core Principles, improving and refining our stellar educational programs and enabling faculty and doctoral students to engage in the generation of social work knowledge. I am deeply committed to aligning all parts of our School with our principles and our mission. I take our Community Agreement very seriously and aim to live up to it everyday.

Now, I am busy getting ready for our 106th summer. I’m looking forward to the Deepening Clinical Practice conference. Not only is it a great opportunity for learning (and earning CEs!) but a great chance to spend a day in community. I am so proud of our faculty, students and staff who are designing thoughtful, intentional events for the summer that embody our Core Principles and demonstrate care and respect for this special community.

Though busy, I am lucky to have colleagues and students who fill my days with energy and creativity. The enthusiasm to build a loving, accountable community is energizing. ◆