School of Social Work News

MSW/MPH student Brandon Bond was recognized as a 2022 George Orley Student Mental Health Advocate. Bond is a mental health advocate on a global scale. His diverse education background and international experience ignites his passion for helping organizations and policy makers take a humanitarian, equitable and culturally-inclusive approach to mental healthcare. The George Orley Student Mental Health Advocate Award recognizes outstanding student leadership in the area of campus mental health.

Dear Michigan Social Work Community,

March is social work month and this year’s theme is The Time is Right for Social Work.

The time has always been right for social work. For decades, social workers have been providing essential services, support for individuals, families and communities, and advocating for policies that create a better society. But today — as we face the ramifications of the pandemic, systemic racism, economic inequality and uncertainty, and climate crisis — the time is especially right for social work.

Social workers have been at the forefront of these challenges, and our Michigan Social Work community has led the field in developing new innovations in practice, research and education.

Social workers are empathetic problem solvers who make a difference in the world, every day. Social work month gives us the chance to recognize our hard work, dedication and achievements, while inspiring us to take on the toughest challenges in creating a society where everyone can live life to their fullest potential.

Sincerely,

Joseph Himle
Interim Dean and Howard V. Brabson Professor of Social Work

Charles Williams' editorial, “The Real Lesson That We Learned from the Juwan Howard Incident: A Black Man Still Has No Rights That Require Respect” is included in the latest issue of Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. “Watching Coach Howard try to negotiate anger the best way he could when walking down the handshake line, makes me flashback to every single moment in my life when I got to my car, or made it to my office or left the conflict and literally thanked God that I got away without having an emotional to physical blackout,” wrote Williams.

On February 17, 2022, the U-M Regents appointed Kathryn Elizabeth (Beth) Angell as the School of Social Work's next dean. She will begin her appointment on July 1.

Angell is an experienced administrator and is currently the dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Social Work. She previously served in a number of leadership roles at Rutgers University. During her tenure, VCU has seen record student enrollment, launched a fully online MSW program, and navigated the many challenges in teaching and serving students during the pandemic. She has also supported numerous efforts across the school related to social and racial justice. As a researcher, she focuses on service delivery for adults with serious mental illness, and the intersection of mental illness with legal and justice system involvement.

MSW/MPH student Brandon Bond is one of just two students named to the U-M Presidential search committee. Throughout his time at U-M, Bond has served in various leadership roles to advocate for student interests including the VP of Student Life Advisory Board, Dean of Students Advisory Board, Office of Enrollment Management Advisory Board, Advancing Public Safety at U-M Task Force, and President of the Public Health Student Assembly. He is dedicated to ensuring that the diversity of student needs is reflected in the selection of the next U-M President.

"Considering that this is such a huge undertaking, which will impact the future of the University of Michigan and our overall community, my hope is that our community will become and remain active in the search process!  A few of ways our community can contribute and advocate are to 1) nominate a potential Presidential candidate through the executive search firm portal, 2) attend a virtual listening session to provide input on their expectations for the new president and perspectives about the ideal candidate profile, and 3) stay informed on the process by staying up to date via the Regents website."

Bond received his undergraduate degree from U-M with a double major in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) and International Studies, and a minor in CASC — the School’s Community Action and Social Change undergraduate minor. In a 2020 interview in Ongoing, Bond said

ENGAGE: Detroit Strategist Sonia Harb argues in Crain's Detroit Business editorial that the proposals Governor Whitmer outlined in the 2022 State of the State address can provide equity and stability for Michigan workers.

“As the governor emphasized multiple times, there needs to be a multi-pronged approach to solving a particular problem. We can't solve child care problems by only subsidizing the cost of care—we need to also support the provider network and care providers. Her systems approach to problem-solving shows she understands the complex problems facing our state and its residents, and what is needed to solve them,” writes Harb.

Linda Chatters co-edited Volume 41 of the Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics: Black Older Adults in the Era of Black Lives Matter. Katrina Ellis, James Ellis, and Robert Joseph Taylor contributed book chapters. The book represents an important moment in the development and maturation of research and scholarship on Black older adults that builds on the many contributions of prior generations of eminent African American gerontologists.

PhD student Charles Williams II was featured on the CBS Evening News in a story on voting rights. “They aren’t securing the vote, they are suppressing the vote,” said Williams in regards to a petition backed by republicans to tighten voter ID requirements in the state of Michigan. Williams is leading local efforts to protect voting rights. “The fight must continue, and I think many people on the ground understand and are very clear that they will not stop until justice comes.”