Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work invites the public to attend its 40th celebration Sept. 27 in the School of Social Work Building located on the university’s campus.
The celebration commemorates 40 years of the Bachelor of Social Work program’s accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. The school will hold an open house with guest speakers, student success stories, and food and refreshments.
Dr. Scott Gordon, SFA president, and Dr. Steve Bullard, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will help kick off the celebration at 11 a.m., followed by remarks from Dr. Brian Murphy, dean of the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and Dr. Freddie Avant, director and associate dean of the School of Social Work.
Following their welcome, Dr. Michael Daley, director of the school from 1987 to 2002, will speak. Under Daley’s direction, the East Texas unit of the National Association of Social Workers formed, the Master of Social Work program was created, program numbers increased and the Social Work Building was constructed.
The Distinguished Alumni Symposium will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 203. Dr. Sam Copeland, director of the Bachelor of Social Work program, and Emmerentie Oliphant, director of the Master of Social Work program, will introduce alumni who have unique accomplishments.
The celebration will end with a birthday cake and legacy campaign launch at 1:30 p.m. in Room 201. Attendees also will have the opportunity to sign a birthday card for the school.
Since 1979, SFA has produced valuable social workers who influence their communities in a variety of ways. With partnerships across Texas, including Lone Star College and Tyler Junior College, SFA social workers are engaged in service activities at the local, state, national and internationals levels.
For more information, contact Copeland at scopeland@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-5105.
