Dean's Corner | May 2026 Issue: Social Work guides to a new season of hope and inspiration

Dear CSSW Community,

It is the end of another academic year. We concluded with a beautiful commencement ceremony on May 21st that highlighted the amazing work of our graduates. Class of ‘26, YOU DID IT! Congratulations on this tremendous accomplishment. We look forward to all you will achieve as social work professionals. 

Graduation season is a great reminder of our infinite possibilities ahead, and both the anxiety and excitement they can evoke. In the memorable words of Christopher Reeve: Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.

During moments of profound societal change, social workers have long served as steady and principled leaders. And we are living through such a time right now. Technology is changing the way we learn, communicate, and understand the world. Rhetoric that promotes hatred is receiving more airtime. And despite the perceived increasing connectivity across our world, many feel more divided and lonelier than ever.  

As the ability to listen to other perspectives feels all but lost, how can we move forward productively? The answer lies in the tenets of the social work profession; how it is reflected in the social work code of ethics; how social workers navigate complex situations; and how the future leaders of this profession engage. Our answer lies in community building. Heritage months are one way we are encouraged to focus on community.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Mental Health America (MHA) declared this year’s theme to be “Have more good days, together.” This aligns perfectly with the work we have done this year, together, in building community – by focusing on the dignity and worth of every person. This theme is challenging us to center the things we have control over as we try to navigate all that is beyond our control. 

May is also the month when we celebrate Jewish American Heritage. This observance invites us to learn, listen, and deepen our appreciation for the histories that make our communities stronger. Among Jewish American reformers who have changed our history is Lillian Wald, the human rights activist and social worker who founded the Henry Street Settlement (and moved in locally as a neighbor). In her penetrating words: Reform can be accomplished only when attitudes change.

Since 1978, the U.S. has celebrated Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Heritage Month in May to uplift the important role that members of these communities play in our unfolding history. Being continually pushed to the margins often leads to extraordinary grit and resilience. I will never forget a phrase shared with me by our 2024 graduation speaker, Dr. Halaevalu F.O. Vakalahi (the President of CSWE), from the tradition of her island home of Tonga: Stand firm and the waves will break. Those wise words continue to inspire me. 

As social workers you have made the choice to put these values into practice for the betterment of our society – you are setting an example of what it could look like for how we choose to interact with one another. 

Connecting with those who are like us is easy; establishing relationships with those who are different takes much greater effort, focus, and courage. The core principle of the dignity of every person requires us to recognize our shared humanity, faults and all. Without this recognition, the divisions between us can only grow. With it, there is a path forward to bridging differences and achieving new levels of understanding and compassion.

We have all observed the tendency to hoard compassion for one group or another, based on our perceived commonalities. It has been much rarer to observe those in our midst who can hold multiple truths at once, who recognize that "both/and" supersedes "either/or" thinking. 

It is enormously difficult to see humanity in the face of the inhumane, or when witnessing cruelty and callous indifference. Social workers and aspiring social workers are challenged to remember that our opponent in a disagreement is, above all else, human and worthy of dignity. It is critically important to remember this as we go forward. 

I will close with a beautiful quote from our commencement speaker, Professor Loretta Ross from Smith College. She has written an incredible book called “Calling In,” reminding us that we are all in relationship with one another. During her graduation remarks, she quoted her own mother, who gave her these wise words: Don’t let success get to your head, and don’t let failure get to your heart.

I can’t think of better advice for our graduates and our community. We all stumble. The important thing is to rise up again – sometimes on our own, and often with the help of others. I know as social workers, you are always there for others. In the words of the poet, “May you always do for others, and let others do for you.” That is the essence of social work, and the heart of our shared humanity. 

I am so proud to have served as your dean for the past seven years. I look forward to remaining in touch as I return to the faculty and follow all your amazing successes in the future.

In community,
Melissa