Dean's Corner - January Issue

January 17, 2025

Dear CSSW Community, 

I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the last few weeks with family, friends, and loved ones, taking well-deserved time to relax and restore over winter break. It is especially essential that social work professionals and students take the time to reset and prepare for the work ahead. I am looking forward to seeing you all again around campus. 

For those who are currently in Los Angeles and/or have loved ones within the area, your winter break has been interrupted by the horrible devastation of the Los Angeles County wildfires. Please find below, the ways in which we at CSSW can support you as you navigate this difficult time.  

This month we will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day to honor a renowned, astute, and compassionate leader who modeled service and the pursuit of social and racial justice in his everyday life. Like Dr. King, social workers, too, are called on to embrace the value of service. It is in this spirit that we have compiled a list of volunteer opportunities that you can join on MLK Day weekend. You can find a list of those opportunities below. 

We find ourselves at the start of a new calendar year. While our nation may arrive at this moment with seemingly significant differences of opinion, there is no question that thoughtful, evidence-based policy will be crucial for the nation’s future. Here at CSSW, we have the know-how and foundational research to contribute meaningfully to these conversations, and that is why we will be launching a policy hub on our website in the coming weeks. This hub will feature CSSW professors, their research, and their expertise—and will serve as a resource for policymakers, the news media, and our entire community within the School, across the University, and throughout the profession. Social workers commit themselves to promoting the importance of human relationships and the dignity and respect of each person; our policy hub will provide key resources to do just that. 

May this month be one of resilience, benevolence, and service for the greater good. 

In community,

Melissa 

If the wildfires have made the beginning of the spring term challenging, we encourage you to reach out for support:

  • For practicum-related concerns, please contact Associate Dean Warren Graham at [email protected]
  • For academic concerns, please contact the Office of Advising at [email protected].
  • For any issues at all, please feel free to reach out to Senior Associate Dean, Moira Curtain, at [email protected]

Additionally, Columbia University offers several support services that you are encouraged to access: