Columbia needs a social worker to lead The School of Social Work

Social worker for Dean

Dean should be from social work background

Maybe a wider search would be helpful. This is just flat out wrong.

I struggle to understand how a non social worker will be able to guide future social workers according to the code of ethics. It’s a slap in the face to all who have had to go through the curriculum as well as applications and state exams. How will someone who did not experience this, be able to understand the needs of social workers ?

Social workers are the best leaders for the profession of social work! Social workers are defined by their training not how they think

Although the current woman appointed to Dean appears to be a highly qualified individual, it does seem to diminish our professional title when you head the future social workers education by a non-social work degreeded person. We fight hard daily to distinguish our profession and this seems to give the impression that anyone can be a social worker without being educated as such.

A School of Social Work needs to be led by a Ph.D. Social Worker! What is wrong with you people? If you need ideas for candidates, I’m happy to help.

As a social work educator, it is disturbing to hear that the leadership position of one of our premier schools of social work has been assigned to a non social worker. So much of our professional identity emerges from the shared values and experiences we have in our practice. It is not possible to fully understand and embody this identity without having had these experiences. The students and faculty of Columbia University will live with this decision in subtle but important ways. I am deeply disappointed and believe this choice will diminish the reputation and quality of my alma mater.

How is this even a question?

This decision, to appoint a non-Social Worker as Dean of Columbia School of Social Work indicates a lack of investment in and respect for the discipline of Social Work. As one of the premier schools of Social Work, Columbia leads the way in the field. This is a failure of leadership and is unconscionable. Only a Professionally educated Social Worker is qualified for this profession.

As a Columbia School of Social Work Alumnus, I find it very disheartening and dismissive of our profession that a non-Social Work Dean has been appointed. It is very surprising that of all our national Social Work scholars, the Columbia administration should dismiss the need for a social work scholar and educator to lead the graduate school. I wonder if Columbia's administration would have so freely appointed a non-medical scholar and educator for the School of Medicine Antonia Cordero DSW I wonder if the same decision would have been made for the School of Medicine to appoint a non- medical professional and scholar

The Dean needs to be a social worker. An experienced social worker has the capacity for deep appreciation for system challenges, and the skills necessary to navigate the ethical dilemmas that occur chronically. That wisdom is essential for leadership at a School for Social Work.

There are many qualified Professional Social Workers for a position responsible overseeing the education of Social Workers such as this. I strongly believe, regardless of the non social workers qualifications, priority should always be given to qualified Professional Social Workers for positions of this nature.

This position should be held by someone with an education and degree in social work!

This is an incredibly disappointing decision and devalues the education of social work students attending this university.

What a surprise! So many of us have worked diligently to ensure that Social Work gets the status and recognition as a legitimate and distinct profession. To have a school of social work led by a non-social worker is anathema to that recognition.

I find it offensive not to hire a Social worker to be the Dean.

Columbia is one of the premier schools of Social Work. What are they saying about there faith in their own education?

If we do not elevate our profession and affirm it with our own professional standards we will lose the identity that is specific to our work

It is extremely disappointing and disheartening to see. You must receive a social work education to become a social worker, as you would any other degree, so the dean of the school should be held to the same standard.