Features
2024
November
New Award for Social Work Students
The Diane Mintz Memorial Award in Social Work, a new award for social work students at Memorial University, was officially announced at the Grenfell Campus launch of Unboxing the History of Social Work Practice and Education in NL on Nov. 15.
September
Fall Field Placements
Our fall field placements are underway!
January
20 Questions with Kim Kelly
After a long and award-winning career at Memorial University, Kim Kelly, RSW, retired from the School of Social Work in early January, 2024. As we prepared to bid adieu (or so long for now!), Kim sat down for a 20 questions-themed chat.
2023
August
Highlighting our alumni
Check out our Where are they Now series to see where some of your former classmates ended up.
A family affair: Inter-generational social work stories
There are many families that include generations of social workers who have graduated from Memorial, with motivating stories to share of inspiring the next generation. We'll be sharing their stories here and if you'd like to share yours, contact us at socialworkalumni@mun.ca.
2022
June
Social Work Alumna Awarded Prestigious Scholarship
Congratulations Christine Peddle on being awarded the Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s from SSHRC!
Driven by love
Spring BSW grad Heather Lynch: From taxi driving to a social work degree
April
Congratulations Dr. Adjei!
2022 Most Inspiring Immigrants in Atlantic Canada
January
Meet our Bachelor of Social Work, Nunavut cohort
The Bachelor of Social Work, Nunavut Cohort is well under way, having started in September in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Meet the first cohort of students in this ground-breaking new program.
2021
October
Leadership News
School announces new interim dean, interim associate dean, and associate dean
August
Congratulations Dr. Mullings!
Dr. Delores Mullings has been appointed as Memorial's first vice-provost, equity, diversity, and inclusion
May
Creativity and flexibility
Learning from horses and incarcerated people. Working alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Competitive power lifting. Learning from Indigenous communities. Providing community outreach.
BSW graduate Madison Pretty gained invaluable knowledge from these varied experiences just prior to and during her bachelor of social work degree program.
March
Dr. Shelly Birnie-Lefcovitch honored with CASW Distinguished Service Award
Congratulations to Dr. Birnie-Lefcovitch on being awarded the 2021 Canadian Association of Social Workers Distinguished Service Award for Newfoundland and Labrador!
Happy Social Work Month!
The School of Social Work values the incredible social workers who bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and dedication to our school, reminding us that Social Work is Essential!
2020
November
Bachelor of Social Work student supports Connections for Seniors
Bachelor of social work student Merissa Thorne (Class of 2021) joined Connections for Seniors for a part-time position as a support worker. The position became particularly timely as a result of the events of 2020.
Finding Inspiration
Master of social work graduate turns struggles into learning
June
From BSW to MBA-SEE
A chance encounter during a part-time placement led Memorial student Alyssa King from a BSW to the new MBA-SEE.
March
February
Exchange 2020 Conference
Building student and community research capacity
2019
December
Social work students play, create art and visit Netherlands' "coffee shops"
Two bachelor of social work students explored the “Dutch creative” approach to social work at the HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
October
Inspired by Labrador
Recent MSW grad's research focuses on adoptions of Indigenous children and youth across Canada
Chew on This!
Social work students take part in national campaign aimed at erradicating poverty, food insecurity and homelessness.
Social work PhD candidate presents at International Federation of Social Work Conference in Vienna, Austria
Social work PhD candidate Marva Ferguson presented “I Have to Go Back Home”: The complexities of caregiving from afar.
September
Dr. Dennis Kimberley designated professor emeritus
Honour to be bestowed during upcoming fall convocation
June
Altered course
Congratulations to master of social work student Edwin Riggs who persevered after a life-altering accident, to earn his degree during Memorial's spring convocation.
April
Heading to HAN
Bachelor of social work students studying in the Netherlands
From hairdressing to social work
Master of social work student finds remarkable parallels
February
Aging well, aging healthy and aging happy
How can we best support older people in aging well? Dr. Paul Issahaku went right to the source to try to find out.
Visiting Aboriginal Elders
Pilot project of the School of Social Work and the Aboriginal Resource Office contributing to the Indigenization of Memorial
January
New opportunities in Labrador for bachelor of social work students
Field team travels to Labrador to lay ground-work for new initiative
2018
December
Cinnamon buns and scholarship
Master of social work student wins "best public communication" for entry in Bake Your Thesis competition
November
Lest We Forget: A Personal Journey
Field Education Coordinator Cheryl Mallard visits great uncle's WWII grave while attending conference in Oxford
August
Where are They Now?
We're highlighting our alumni, as part of our celebrations of 50 years of professional social work education in the province. Have a look to see where your classmates ended up!
Profiled so far:
Karen (Stead) Alexander
Troy Hollett
Kerri Collins
Larry Peckford
Ros (Thistle) Pratt
Sharron (Kelly) Callahan
Social work alumnus Ken Reid is N.L. dog whisperer
Switching from child protection to dog training
Helping visible minority immigrant parents
Assistant professor co-facilitates forum for immigrant parents
June
Extraordinary service!
Congratulations to Prof. Janice Parsons and Ms. Donna O’Driscoll for 30 years’ service
May
'My degree has been my healing'
Years spent in child protection system motivates new graduate to become social worker, improve families’ experiences
April
Annual bursary to assist foster children
Third-year Bachelor of Social Work student wins Storwell Bursary
2017
December
The season of giving
School of Social Work donates scholarly documents to Centre for Newfoundland Studies
October
April
Fogo Island fellows
Two social work professors will take up residence on Fogo Island this year for month-long research retreats.
2016
November
Chew on This!
Social work students serve up food for thought during national campaign
October
Dr. Ken Barter named professor emeritus
On October 20, 2016, during the fall convocation ceremony, Dr. Ken Barter was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the School of Social Work.
2015
December
Take the opportunity: Learn and teach online
Dr. Donna Hardy Cox, dean of Memorial's School of Social Work, is a big supporter of online learning and the opportunities it provides to both students and professors. Watch video testimonial.