Our mission is to interrogate racism and other systems of oppression standing in the way of social equity and justice, to foster social work education, practice and research, strengthen and expand the opportunities, resources, and capabilities of all persons to achieve their full potential and well-being.
Create an inclusive learning and work environment that promotes diversity and excellence in research, teaching, and the training of social work professionals.
Partner with community service providers, advocates, and professionals across all disciplines. To promote effective practices, programs, and policies that center and protect the dignity of individuals and their human rights.
Uphold ethical standards of competence, service and integrity as applied locally, nationally, and globally.
News
Dean's Corner | March Issue: Welcome spring, renewal, and the chance to begin again
With March comes the anticipation of spring – a season of renewal, new birth, and planting new seeds. The month of March also marks the time we acknowledge and celebrate some of the communities most often pushed to the margins, including: Women’s History Month, Development and Disabilities Awareness Month, and International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Dean's Corner | February Issue: We are one community
As Acting President Claire Shipman shared last night in a video with our campus community, the Columbia student who was detained yesterday by the Department of Homeland Security has been released. While a relief, this does not diminish the range of emotions that many of us are still feeling. I want to state again that we are one community, committed to taking care of each other.
A New Season
I've been giving a lot of thought to the seasons of deanship. I have concluded that my time as dean of the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) should come to a close. I have notified the University of my plans to step down as dean on August 31, 2026, when I will rejoin the faculty at CSSW.
