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!

BSW alumna Christine Peddle

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

COVID-19

COVID-19 latest information from Memorial can be found here.

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

Chew on This!

Social work students serve up food for thought during national campaign 

 

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.