In Brief
Volume 3: Issue 4 - January 15, 2010
This publication is a monthly electronic newsletter for the alumni and friends of Smith College School for Social Work. This
publication is produced no more than once a month with intervals between publications being between four and six weeks. To
submit an item to be considered for a future issue of In Brief, please send it to sswalum@smith.edu Notices must pertain to the
School, its alumni, students, faculty and/or staff.
New SSW Director of Development and Alumni Affairs
David Brown has been hired as the new Director of Development and Alumni Affairs for Smith College School for Social Work.
David started in his new position on Dec. 7th, and brings extensive non-profit and for-profit fundraising and managerial experience
to SSW. He recently held the position of Development Coordinator at Look Memorial Park in Florence, Massachusetts, and prior to
that was Associate Director of Capital Gifts at the Northfield Mount Hermon School. He has a B.A. from Brown University and an
M.B.A from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. David will be connecting with each of you in
the coming weeks and months and we know that you will extend him a warm welcome.
Fall 2009 Anti-Racism Progress Report Available on SSW Web Site
As part of the School's efforts to monitor progress in achieving our goal of becoming an anti-racism institution, the School produces
a bi-annual report summarizing our efforts. The Fall 2009 report is available on our website at
http://www.smith.edu/ssw/css/about_progressreports.php
Please send any comments on feedback on the report to sswalum@smith.edu.
Seeking alumni participation for a thesis project on Anti-Racism at Smith College School for Social Work
SCSSW has graduated over 1500 M.S.W.s since 1994, when the anti-racism mission was adopted. Today, over a century later, we
continue to stand alone as the only school for social work with an explicit commitment to being an anti-racism institution.
If you graduated between 1994-2009 and identify as white, you may be eligible to participate in a research study that explores how
the anti-racism mission has been experienced over the years. Participants will have the chance to reflect on their Smith experience
and make recommendations. In addition to fulfilling the thesis requirement, this study hopes to contribute to the body of
knowledge on anti-racism pedagogy at the School and within social work education.
Participation is anonymous, confidential and involves an online survey, which should take 30-45 minutes to
complete. The survey will be open until February 15, 2010. You can go directly to the survey through the link
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/antiracismstudy. If you have any questions or would like more information, please
contact me at ccurtis@smith.eduor at (919) 389-8797.
Thank you,
Charlotte Curtis, M.S.W. Candidate, SCSSW
Day-Garrett Award Nominations
We are seeking nominations for the annual Day-Garrett Award. Your professional contacts and affiliations in the field make you an
ideal source of nominations for this prestigious Smith College School for Social Work award. If you would like to submit a
nomination for the committee’s consideration, please complete the on-line form available at:
http://www.smith.edu/ssw/alumni/sswaa_awards.php.
For questions or to email completed forms contact sswalumn@smith.edu. The deadline for nominations is February 15, 2010.
Nominate someone today! Please contact David Brown in the SSW Alumni Relations Office with your nomination
suggestions at 413-585-7964.
The Day-Garrett Award is presented annually to the one or more persons who have been outstanding contributors
to the social work profession and who have been significant members of the Smith College School for Social Work
educational community. The 2009 Day-Garrett Award was presented to: Caitlin Ryan, MSW ’82 and Shirley
Goldstein, MSS ‘53.
Honorary Alumni Award Nominations
In 1997, the alumni of Smith College School for Social Work established an award to honor those individuals associated with the
School who are not alumni. The purpose of this award is to recognize friends and colleagues who have rendered distinguished
service to the Alumni Association and/or the School, or who have otherwise attained distinction deserving of recognition by the
Smith College School for Social Work Alumni Association. Do you know someone who is deserving of this recognition? Submit your
nomination today! For more information about the award and to see a list of previous honorees, visit:
http://www.smith.edu/ssw/alumni/sswaa_awards.php; or go to
http://www.smith.edu/ssw/alumni/documents/HonoraryAlum-Nominationform.doc for a nomination form.
Remembering a Leader
It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Betty Jean Haasis Synar, M.S.S. '51 who passed away on August 1, 2009. Betty was
very committed to the school, most notably in her role as chair of the 1918 Fellowship Society. Betty was the inspiration for the
founding of the society which was created in 1974 "to provide for the recognition of those alumni and friends of the School who
demonstrate continued leadership and support through significant annual giving." Over the last 35 years, many SSW alumni have
had the opportunity to know Betty through her work with Smith College School for Social Work.
Smith College School for Social Work is Seeking Alumni Volunteers to Become Area Alumni Coordinators (AACs)
What is an AAC? Area Alumni Coordinators (AACs) are the key liaison between alumni, Regional Representatives, and the School.
AACs work under the leadership of the area’s Regional Representative and in conjunction with the Placement Area Coordinators
(PAC) to provide coordinated efforts to maintain communication and facilitate local activities. The primary role of the AAC is to
assess alumni needs and identify alumni volunteers to facilitate activities at the local level.
What does an AAC do? Using alumni lists provided by the Regional Representatives, AACs will
1) develop area alumni activities; 2) identify and match requests with an alumna/us who can best meet the needs of students in
field placements; and 3) assist in other volunteer opportunities as needed.
Other things an AAC may do. 1) Build an area alumni volunteer base for various activities (mentor, host events for alumni,
co-sponsor events with PACs, identify speakers for alumni events); and 2) recruit prospective students for the M.S.W. and Ph.D.
program.
This position is best suited for high-energy alumni who have the passion and time to build alumni support in their geographical
area.
Please contact your Regional Representative for more information:
Region I Representative – 2007-2010
[Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire]
Mike Langlois, M.S.W. ‘94
(617) 776-3409
mike@mmikelanglois.com
Region II Representative – 2008-2011
[New York, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania/Philadelphia]
Edward Eismann, Ph.D. ‘67
(516) 775-5289
edoc@optonline.net
Region III Representative – 2008-2011
[Washington, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia]
Chris Vaughan, Ph.D. ‘06
(202) 588-0581
cc.vaughan@mindspring.com
Region IV Representative – 2008-2011
[Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, Canada]
Elaine Koenigsberg, M.S.S. ‘59
(312) 640-0807
elainekmsw@sbcglobal.net
Region V Representative – 2009-2012
[California, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico]
Virginia Lopez-Bunnemeyer, M.S.W. ‘94
(619) 582-9882
Alumni Association Welcomes Two New Volunteers
Smith College School for Social Work Alumni Association is proud to announce both Monica Blauner M.S.W. '79
and Jamie Loveland M.S.W. '07 in their new volunteer positions as the first Alumni Area Coordinators (AACs). They
are both off to a successful start. Monica hosted a holiday party on December 5, 2009 for alumni in Los Angeles.
Jamie, the Houston area's AAC, is also hosting a party along with the Houston PAC, Hannah Golub M.S.W. '04 in
January 2010. Jamie is also working to develop a survey that will be distributed to area alumni to gather
information on the types of activities they would like for her to organize on behalf of alumni.
If any alumni are interested in volunteering as an Area Alumni Coordinator, please feel free to contact your Regional Representative
for more information.
SSW Alumni Board Nominations Officially Closed!
Dear Alumni:
On behalf of Smith College School for School for Social Work (SCSSW), Nominations Committee I announces the close of our
nominations. Stay tuned! Add your voice! Be on the lookout for election information. Please vote.
Thank you again,
Sincerely, Gay Lee M.S.W. ‘94
Loan Repayment Awards
The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program is now accepting applications for Loan Repayment Awards funded by
$200 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Applications will be accepted continuously until funds are expended or
September 30, 2010, whichever comes first. http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/apply.htm
Keep in Touch!
If you change your email address or your mailing address, please let us know so that we can keep you updated on news from the
School. Send changes to sswalum@smith.edu or fill out the online form:
http://www.smith.edu/ssw/alumni/address/update.php