Introduction
This timeline depicts the U-M School of Social Work’s history, from its origins as an undergraduate program, to its current position as one of the world’s most prominent schools of social work. The timeline will continue to expand to reflect the contributions of the School of Social Work community and our shared commitment to advancing social and economic justice in a rapidly changing and diverse world. This timeline is a brief overview and should not be considered a comprehensive history of the school.
1921
Meeting the social service needs of the people was U-M’s predominant goal for developing a formal curriculum in social work in 1921. The required courses included rhetoric, mathematics, history, foreign language, botany, zoology or geology, English, economics, political science, psychology, sociology, psychiatry and public health.
1935
The Center for Graduate Study in Detroit included educational programs for study in public administration and social service. U-M was given free use of a building at 40 East Ferry Street by owner Tracy McGregor, a prominent Detroiter who ran a mission for homeless men.
1946
The School of Social Work became an independent unit. The curriculum included courses in social casework, group work, community organization, public welfare, research and statistics, administration and field work.
The Rackham Building, at 60 Farnsworth in Detroit, housed the school during the 40s.
1951
The school began operating in Ann Arbor in September 1951 in an old frame house at 320 East Washington, where the Modern Languages Building now stands. The house held faculty offices and a small meeting room. According to Professor Emerita Katherine Reebel, "The house was eventually torn down, but we used to affectionately call it the little gray house in the West. Others dubbed the house, less affectionately, as ‘the shack.’"
Fedele F. Fauri 1951
Fedele F. Fauri was appointed the first dean of the School. Fauri was a pioneer in the field of social legislation and public welfare. Much of the current social welfare legislation at both the state and federal levels is the product of his activities, first as director of the Michigan Department of Social Services, and then through his years in Washington, D.C., where he held numerous leadership positions.
1952
The Link: Alumni Organization Institute of Social Work was an alumni newsletter that included curriculum information and a section dedicated to alumni updates. A selection from the February 1952 issue: “We are proud to report we have 135 members in the Alumni Organization.”
1957
The School created the Joint Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program, the first of its kind in the country, combining the study of social work with another social science discipline. This innovative PhD program has launched hundreds of deans, directors and other leaders of the profession.
The School moved from 320 East Washington to the Frieze Building, a former high school at 105 South State Street (today the North Quadrangle Residential and Academic Complex).
1960
Dean Fauri served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Public Welfare of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and was President of the American Public Welfare Association.
1961
President John F. Kennedy appointed Professor Wilbur J. Cohen as Assistant Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. Cohen helps secure the passage of many New Frontier and Great Society programs and is an architect of the United States Social Security Act. Cohen later returned to Washington as Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare under President Johnson.
Today, graduates continue to go to Washington, as well as state capitols, county seats and city councils all across the country.
1962
According to the Social Work Graduate, an alumni publication, “Two-thirds of full-time students are receiving financial aid. In 1961-1962 the total amount was over $300,000.” This would equal $2.5 million in 2018. The School’s financial aid for 2018-2019 was more than $9 million — a 260% increase from 1962.
1967
The University of Michigan confronted the social and political crises of the 1960s. Professor Henry J. Meyer was among the sponsors of a university-wide “Teach-In on America in Crisis: The War, Ghetto Uprising and Third World Revolution” in October. MSW students Russell Garris and Ronald Archambault presented on, “The Role of Community Organizing in the Urban Ghetto.”
1968
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated in Memphis. A memorial is held at Hill Auditorium, and the School of Social Work sponsors a silent “March of Mourning” through Ann Arbor.
1970
A grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health allowed the School to consolidate its summer institutes and extension courses into a new Continuing Education Program.
1971
At the urging of MSW student Jim Toy, University of Michigan became the first school in the U.S. to open an office — the Human Sexuality Office (Spectrum Center) — dedicated to the support of gay and lesbian students. Toy, who also co-founded the Gay Liberation Front in Ann Arbor and Detroit, received an honorary doctorate from U-M in 2021.
Phillip Fellin 1971
Phillip Fellin was dean from 1971-1981. He collaborated with the Schools of Public Health, Law and Medicine resulting in the development of new interdisciplinary programs to fulfill the School’s mission of training students for service at all levels of society.
1975
The School ranked second in the U.S. for the number of enrolled minority students, one of just eight schools nationwide with representation by all major minority groups.
1978
The Leon and Josephine Winkelman Memorial Lecture Series was established by Stanley, John, Frederick and Henry Winkelman as a memorial to their parents. It was the first named lecture series at the School and is held annually. The series provides a forum for the presentation of new and emerging knowledge from the social sciences and the helping professions in the field of gerontology.
Harold R. Johnson 1981
Harold R. Johnson was the first African-American dean at U-M from 1981-1993. During his tenure as dean, the School became the number one ranked school of social work in the country. He gained the approval of the regents to construct a new building for the School, representing its value to the university. Johnson believed that racial equity is the single most important issue facing society and that the university reflected the imperfections of society-at-large. Johnson spearheaded a campus-wide initiative to improve the quality of life for and with residents of Detroit.
1985
The Fedele F. and Iris M. Fauri Memorial Lecture in Child Welfare was established as a forum for discussing ideas to enhance the well-being of young people.
Paula Allen-Meares 1993
Paula Allen-Meares was dean from 1993-2008. Allen-Meares created the business plan and fundraising campaign for the new, state-of-the-art School of Social Work Building.
As dean, she advanced excellence in research and education. Under her leadership, the School was awarded a five-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to help establish the Social Work Research Development Center on Poverty, Risk and Mental Health — one of only three social work mental health research centers in the U.S.
1995
Construction of the new School of Social Work building began in August 1995 and was completed in 1998.
2002
The School of Social Work acquired a collection of more than 50 works of art by prominent artists. The collection reflects the School’s mission to improve the well-being of the economically and socially disadvantaged and other vulnerable populations. The centerpiece of the original collection is Sam Gilliam’s "The Right View,” a four-piece installation commissioned for the School’s lower level atrium.
2005
MSW students formed the Disaster Response Group after Hurricane Katrina to help with the rebuilding of New Orleans and raise awareness of social injustices in federal and state relief efforts revealed in the aftermath of the storm.
2007
Vivian A. and James L. Curtis established the Curtis Center for Health Equity Research and Training. Vivian, MSW ‘48, and James, a 1946 graduate of the U-M Medical School, met in 1948, when they both were working at Wayne County General Hospital.
2008
The university-wide Michigan Difference campaign concluded. The School of Social Work raised more than $19 million — $2.5 million over the goal.
Laura Lein 2009
Laura Lein was dean from 2009 - 2016. During her tenure, the School launched a number of new programs including the undergraduate social work minor (CASC), the Program Evaluation Group and an African American-centered social work leadership program. She also launched seven learning communities, which included students and faculty, and drew on interdisciplinary approaches to pedagogy and research on current social work topics.
2010
The Community Action and Social Change Undergraduate Minor (CASC) launched. Students develop knowledge, skills and experiences in community action and social change. CASC has become the second largest minor at the University of Michigan.
2011
The School partnered with the Peace Corps to offer the Master’s International program.
The School commissioned a musical work for the 90th anniversary. The cantata “Reach Out, Raise Hope, Change Society“ was commissioned for the School by Joan Fisch, MSW ‘67, and her husband Allan, and performed by the U-M Chamber Choir on November 18, 2011.
2016
The University of Michigan launched, “Many Voices, Our Michigan,” its first-ever strategic plan for diversity, equity and inclusion. The School of Social Work was part of this university-wide movement to create this DEI initiative.
Lynn Videka 2016
Lynn Videka was dean from 2016 - 2021. Under her leadership, the School launched a forward-thinking five-year strategic plan, to lead social work into the next generation. Results included the hiring of 31 new faculty members, a redesigned MSW program featuring eight curricular pathways, and new online and part-time MSW programs to improve educational access for working students.. MSW enrollment reached an all-time high of 783 students as of 2021. The School’s alumni numbered 16,000+ across the globe.
2018
At the conclusion of the university-wide Victors for Michigan Campaign, the School of Social Work raised more than $24.5 million dollars — $8 million over the goal.
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting stay-at-home orders changed how we lived. In a matter of days, the University of Michigan went completely online, with faculty, students and staff employing technology to teach, research, learn and connect. Field placements developed virtual and alternate methods to connect with clients. The Michigan Social Work community was on the front lines — serving in hospitals, at agencies and in communities.
The brutal killing of George Floyd — the latest in a long line of deaths that reflect the racism embedded in our society — shook the nation and reinforced the importance of the School’s commitment to anti-racism. Many in our community took to the streets to protest, organize and educate. Students led a successful effort by lobbying the Council on Social Work Education to revise competencies around racial justice.
2021
The School launched the online part-time MSW program, providing balance for studies, work, family and other commitments.
The School celebrated its Centennial with a series of events and initiatives focusing on the themes of social justice; our past, present and future; and social work and the arts. The ongoing pandemic meant many events were celebrated online, bringing the community together from around the globe, and creating connection and joy in the midst of hardship and loss.
New Plaque
This timeline is a brief overview and should not be considered a comprehensive history of the School. Throughout Michigan Social Work’s history, many people have supported the mission and values of the School. We thank generations of alumni, faculty, students and staff for their contributions and dedication to advancing the social work profession. Add your historical moment to the Michigan Social Work Centennial Timeline project: QR code from Maks