School of Social Work dedicates new program site

By Terry Anderson
School of Social Work

Amid sunbeams streaming through atrium skylights, swaying palm fronds, and tuxedo-jacketed waiters passing tempting hors d'oeuvres, students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work officially dedicated the new Alexandria home of the School's Northern Virginia Master's of Social Work program.

VCU has offered an MSW program in Northern Virginia since 1979. The Sept. 9 dedication marked the first time that the program has had its own location, departing from years of renting space in Fairfax and Falls Church. The northern Virginia program now enrolls over 200 MSW students annually.

In his remarks to those assembled, Dean Frank R. Baskind, Ph.D., highlighted the expertise and dedication of the School's faculty as the key factors that have enabled the Northern Virginia program to thrive for over 20 years.

Baskind also emphasized the value of the strong partnership between the School and the university in keeping a dynamic off-campus program in operation. Expressing his appreciation to the many people who worked together to make the School's new home a reality, Baskind gave special recognition to transition leaders Shirley A. Bryant, Ph.D., Director of the Northern Virginia program, and Roderick J. McDavis, Ph.D, VCU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., reminded those present that VCU traces its origins to two institutions: a school of social work and public health, which in 1917 became the first academic program of what would later become VCU, and a medical college established in 1838.

Trani echoed Baskind's thoughts about the School - university partnership, noting that with the forthcoming 2005 opening of the new Northern Virginia Division of the VCU School of Medicine, social work and health care education and outreach will once again be working in proximity for the benefit of students, clients, patients and the community at-large.

In closing, Trani applauded the School's talented students, the scholarly productivity of the faculty, and the commitment of administrative leaders in establishing and nurturing a fitting Northern Virginia home for one of the nation's oldest and best graduate schools of social work.