January 31, 2023

New Leadership Role for Dr. Cogburn

Dear CSSW Community,

I am delighted to announce that effective immediately, Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn will assume the role of Special Advisor to the Dean.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of sharing the news that Dr. Cogburn is now a tenured member of our faculty, in recognition of her outstanding contributions as a scholar, teacher, and mentor. As noted in that earlier message, Dr. Cogburn’s radically innovative and transdisciplinary work on conceptualizing and measuring racism, and strategies to reduce racism, contribute significantly to our school’s research, teaching, and service missions, and to the betterment of our broader society.

As Special Advisor, she will work with colleagues in the dean’s office and beyond on many cross-cutting issues that affect our School, including improving the experience of students of color (especially our Black students), further increasing the diversity of our MSW cohort, engaging and energizing alums, and fundraising for scholarships and innovative programs. Her creative power and dedication to equity make her an outstanding leader and partner in these efforts. Colleagues in several offices, including the Offices of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Enrollment Management; and Communications Strategy, Development, and Alumni Affairs are excited to be working together with her to further our efforts as a School.

Please join me in once again congratulating Dr. Cogburn on receiving tenure, and in thanking her for assuming a critically important new role for our School. I look forward to her leadership as we continue to advance our school’s research, teaching, and service missions.

In community,

Melissa