A Welcome from the Dean

Dean Edwina Uehara

A point of pride: The role of social services is about to become even more important as we learn the outcome of the state’s budget for the coming biennium. All types of families will continue to grapple with their health care options, employment issues, child-development questions and countless other stress factors.

I’d like to share with you a point of pride regarding the impact our alumni have in the Puget Sound-area community during these difficult economic times.

School of Social Work graduates either founded or direct many of the agencies that serve thousands of people in our region—including El Centro de la Raza, the Atlantic Street Center, Tree House and the Asian Counseling and Referral Services. Their contribution is invaluable in helping individuals and families from diverse backgrounds navigate these economic headwinds with limited state support.

Scholarship Breakfast: I hope you will attend our 2nd Annual Scholarship Breakfast—Passion, Purpose and Change—on Tuesday, March 15 at the Don James Center. I’m looking forward to hearing the perspective of our keynote speaker, former Starbucks executive Howard Behar, on the role of personal leadership and social awareness in our private and public lives. Building trust, facing challenges, listening for the truth, taking responsibility and daring to dream big are key themes Howard will highlight in his presentation.
 
2010 School of Social Work Annual Report:  Lastly, I hope you’ve been able to read the School’s inaugural annual report, which acknowledges the generosity of our many donors and highlights the School’s groundbreaking research and public-engagement work. I’d like to thank everybody who made it a priority to make a gift of any size to the School’s students and programs in 2010. Your giving helps our students pursue a social work education, which prepares them to be the community leaders, counselors, researchers and educators who will one day change the world.

Warmest regards,

Eddie Uehara
Ballmer Endowed Dean in Social Work