Welcome From the Dean
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the School of Social Administration (SSA) at Temple University. I want to share with you some of the history of SSA, current events and plans for the future.
In 1969, a group of visionaries started a new school of social work that had as its focus social change and social transformation. They were pioneers in the true sense of the word, staking claim to new models of social work practice and sharing a vision of a more just society. As Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." (Courtesy of The Institute for Intercultural Studies, Inc., New York.) This quote fits the founders of SSA and we hope to continue that tradition into the future.
Since its founding in 1969, SSA has survived and thrived. The School was one of the first in the nation to offer a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. We have more than 7000 alumnae/i. SSA alums are everywhere, in far flung corners of the world and in all aspects of social work from child welfare to aging, from agency executives to community organizers to clinical social workers. SSA has made its mark on social work practice in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Huntingdon and beyond. We even have a new exchange program for undergraduates with a University in Germany!
Our faculty is on the forefront of new developments in social work research, practice and education. Their interests are as diverse as our students´ interests and as diverse as the needs of the community. They study and teach in areas such as homelessness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, fatherhood, child sexual abuse, health and youth and community violence. Through the Center for Social Policy and Community Development, SSA is preparing the workforce for the future.
Field practice is an integral component of social work education. Temple SSA has field placements too numerous to mention. Our Office of Field Education continues to develop new sites for student learning and provides ongoing monitoring and support to students and agencies.
The future looks promising for SSA as it does for Temple University. Change is everywhere. A new President, Dr. Ann Hart, has arrived and we look forward to the mark she will make as our leader. New dorms, new and redesigned classrooms, and of course new students and faculty are creating excitement in North Philadelphia.
Temple and SSA are on the move. Our diverse students and faculty, our rich learning environments in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and beyond, our unique mission, and our history make Temple SSA a stimulating place to study social work.
Linda M. Mauro, D.S.W.
Interim Dean
