Dean's Corner | September 2026 Issue: Remaining Steadfast During a Period of Transition
Dear CSSW Community,
Last Monday, I had the privilege of welcoming our incoming class at orientation as Interim Dean of Columbia School of Social Work. It was a great way to begin my tenure, for it quickly put into perspective for me our collective “why”. I reminded them of the huge undertaking they have said yes to and how the best way to prepare is to remain open and curious. I shared how I came to social work as a sociologist and demographer over 25 years ago. Sociology gave me conceptual and theoretical frameworks for understanding population-level challenges. Social work studies similar issues and also bridges research and practice to solve the real-world challenges facing individuals and communities, and it advocates for organizational and policy changes that make society more equitable. I made this move because I wanted to work alongside people committed to ensuring that the knowledge and skillset that is learned within higher education is actually co-created with the communities we are supporting, and implemented in a timely fashion. I found a home here.
Twenty-five years later and I remain in awe of the commitment and talent of our students, faculty, and staff. In that time the school has also weathered real challenges. Our students have pushed us to reject complacency in the face of enduring inequities and shifting global, national, and local realities. COVID forced us to change how we work. The political and funding landscape has shifted. Technological change is transforming society. Each of these has affected our perspective, and some have changed the direction of our work entirely. What I am most proud of is that we are a school that runs toward challenges rather than away from them, the truest embodiment of the profession of social work. The inclination to lean into the tough questions, including the ones we ask of ourselves, is what sharpens our tools to make a difference in the world. At our best, it reminds us of our strength and that any community worth being part of is one that has learned that critique, and conflict are some of the ingredients for community.
As Interim Dean, I have one priority: keep our school steadfast through the transition and build on our strengths. This means continuing to improve how we work and exchange information, strengthening our new, innovative curricular offerings, deepening our community partnerships, and exploring ways to diversify our funding. I also want us to double down on our mission as a school and the scholarship that we produce, which is more important than ever in our current climate.
I want to close my first message with deep gratitude to Melissa Begg for her exceptional leadership over the past seven years. She navigated one challenge after another, global and local, with unwavering grace and resilience, always centering human relationships and honoring the dignity and worth of every person. In doing so, she helped build a community we can all be proud of. Her standard of service is one I will reach for.
Looking forward to what we will accomplish together,
Julien