Dean Beth Angell Reappointed to Lead U‑M School of Social Work Until 2032

The School of Social Work is thrilled to announce the reappointment of Dean Beth Angell by the Board of Regents for a second five-year term, effective July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2032.

Angell began her first term as dean on July 1, 2022. Under her leadership, the School has developed and implemented the new strategic vision, “Building Tomorrow Together.” The visioning process brought together various members of the Michigan Social Work community — faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners — who worked collaboratively to chart our future and channel our collective talents and energy. The vision builds on the School’s long history as a leader in social work education and focuses on four pillars — education, research, culture and action — to carry that legacy forward and expand the reach and impact of a social work education.

One key accomplishment under the education pillar is the creation of three new degree programs. We will launch a new undergraduate degree in Community Action and Social Change (CASC) in the fall of 2027. We welcomed our first cohort of Master of Arts in Social Impact Leadership (MSIL) students in Fall 2026. The new PhD in Social Work and Social Welfare, launched in 2025, continues to grow. These programs work in tandem with our exemplary MSW program and the groundbreaking Joint PhD in Social Work and Social Science, and provide our students with new ways to integrate social work teachings, methodologies and frameworks as they design their individual career paths. Across all programs, the School prioritizes academic success and student wellness across the student life cycle.

We serve the public good through research and action. During Angell’s first term, research expenditures tripled and two new professorships were funded. The School’s community engagement efforts extend beyond our local communities, putting social work research and innovations into action across the state and around the globe. One particularly notable accomplishment is the spearheading of Michigan’s Title IV-E program, a statewide consortium to build an excellent child welfare workforce, as well as other workforce programs funded through the state of Michigan. Together, these programs provide over a million dollars in financial aid stipends for MSW students who commit to work as social work practitioners in Michigan after graduation.

Notably, the U-M School of Social Work has been ranked as the #1 school of social work in the nation since 2012.

Dean Angell received her BA from the University of North Carolina, and her MS in social work and PhD in social welfare from the University of Wisconsin. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania before serving on the faculty at the University of Chicago and Rutgers University. She was appointed dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work in 2018.

She is the Phillip Fellin Collegiate Professor of Social Work. Her research and teaching focus on services for adults with serious mental illness and the intersection of mental illness with legal and justice system involvement. She is a fellow and vice president-elect of the Society for Social Work and Research, the premier organization for the advancement of social work research.