Department History

Social Workers are change agents-- we make change happen. The early history of the Department is one of frequent change. The Department of Social Work at Western Connecticut State University began in 1974 as a program within the Social Science Department in the School of Arts and Sciences, called the Social Welfare Program.  Phyllis Singerman was the first Program Director.  In 1975, Professor Beatrice Nemzer was hired and in 1976 she became Chair when Dr. Singerman retired to Florida. Professors Nemzer and Anna Morton were then the fulltime faculty. 

Social Work became its own department in the School of Professional Studies under the deanship of Fred O’Neil for a short time in the late 1970s.  Jerry Fox joined the Department briefly when Anna Morton returned to private practice.  In 1980, Professor Patricia W. Ivry was hired.  In 1981, the Department was told that the proper papers had never been filed at the State Dept. of Higher Education for department status, so it become part of the Social Sciences Department again, as a social work major. From 1981-1994, Social Work was part of Social Sciences, but maintained autonomy in most areas, including having its own director and budget.  In 1994 the University approved the program’s becoming a Department again, in the School of Professional Studies, with Deans Dr. Walter Bernstein and in 2001 Dr. Lynne Clark.

In 1984 the Department received its initial national accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education with the expert consultation services of the late Dr. Ronald Federico.  The Department has maintained continuous accreditation since then with reaffirmations in 1989 and 1997, and is preparing for its next review in 2004.

Professor Nemzer retired in 1990 and Patti Ivry took over as Chair, hiring Dr. David Iaccona-Harris for one year, and then Professor Marjorie Steinberg. Additional full time faculty now include Dr. Phyllis Ross, who joined the faculty in 1994,  Dr. Robert Veneziano, in 2000, and Dr. Kit Hinga in 2006. Other faculty in the Department included Roz Kopfstein, Edgar Colon, Robert Page, Thomas Kidder and Beverly Kidder. Adjunct faculty over the years who have taught from one to several courses are: Terry Blackmer, Lisa Buck, Donna Campbell, Bruce Freidman, Tom Foster, Connie Huntington, Cathy Lipper, Bill Mack, Joan Pollack, Linda Puoplo, Jake Romo, Cheryl Roundtree, Dolores Vidal Roy, Pam Samaha, Holly Schardan, Shirley Schop, Dick Steinberg, Joe Sullivan, Dennis Torres, Donald Tutson, Stan Watkins and Arlette Werner.

Since its inception the Department has had only two secretaries, Kristine “Mikki” Jacobellis, and Molly Berger.  Their expert services have provided the underpinnings to smooth functioning and added to student supports; they have enhanced the program’s community relations.

In 1974 Professor Nemzer created an annual Social Work Symposium and brought Congressman William Ratchford to campus to discuss Aging in America.  The Symposium has been held every spring since then and included luminaries in the field such as the late Dr. Richard Cloward, Dr. Nancy Humphries, Dr. Janice Wood Wetzel, Prof. Lorrie Gardella, Prof. Graciella Castex, Dr. George Applebee, The Hull-House Revival group (music reflecting the history of social welfare).

The faculty has been very involved in University life, collectively serving in almost every elected capacity within the governance structure, serving in various appointed positions at the pleasure of the administration, and advocating for change toward greater excellence within the University community. 

Over the years the curriculum has evolved too. Branching out from the traditional BSW curriculum, WCSU’s program has added a year-long Community Organizing Project.  Topics have included: in 1990 advocating for a child care center on campus (which became a reality within a few years); community education on AIDS bringing the AIDS Memorial quilt to campus; hosting fairs to reduce violence and promote cultural understanding, and introducing legislation in Hartford toward those goals; building a websites to educate others about hate crimes, and conducting data based research which lead to subsequent initiatives.

A Senior Integrative Seminar has been added as well. This capstone course uses a case study format and requires students to integrate their professional values, knowledge and skills in the final semester of the senior year.  A Cultural Diversity course is offered yearly. The required research course was brought into the Department in 1997 and electives in AIDS and Child Welfare have been added. Additionally, the Department is participating in the Freshman Cluster course concept begun in 2000, pairing Intro. to Social Work with American Studies and American History.  Elective courses in the Department over the years have included: Aging; Sex Drugs and Violence; AIDS: A Social Work Perspective (an intensive one week offering); and Child Welfare.  The Department is part of an interdisciplinary team developing a graduate level Certificate program in Gerontology, projected to begin in 2003.

The Department has strengthened its community bonds over the years. In 1983 a conference on childcare was held at the University.  Every fourth year since, the department hosts the CSU-BSW student conference at Western.  The Department has helped to create the Coalition United to Stop Gun Violence and participates in the Alliance for Justice’s First Monday program. Voter Registration has been a focus for recurring social action.  The Executive Forum, a capacity building initiative in the non-profit sector, has become an integral part of the Department and University, with generous support from the Fairfield County Community Foundation, the United Way of Northern Fairfield County and the WCSU Foundation.

Additionally, the community has supported the Department with financial contributions, providing agency training for student practica, serving on our Community Advisory Committee and on ad hoc committees for special projects, and attending events sponsored by the Department.

The Department has been recognized by receiving the national Influencing State Policy Award in 2000 and 2001.  The faculty are recognized as experts, being invited speakers at national conferences and meetings, making presentations and facilitating sessions at national and regional conferences.  They serve on editorial review boards, national, state, regional and local commissions, boards, and committees; they publish in professional journals.  Innovative teaching techniques and curriculum ideas have also been highlighted nationally and within the University.  Faculty have all been trained in “Writing-to-Learn” and have incorporated these techniques into the curriculum.   

From the beginning, the Department has had a student-run Social Work Club, and majors are visible on campus through their projects and leadership roles. A Community Advisory Committee was begun in 1981.  The Phi Alpha Honor Society began in 1991, recognizing scholarship in coursework and applied practice. Awards to Outstanding Seniors began in 1978 and an Outstanding Junior Award was added in 1979.  Upon her retirement, these awards were named for Professor Nemzer.  The Alice Fales Service Award began in 1998 when Ms. Fales graduated.  The Department also offers three scholarships, each named in memory of a late student/graduate in the Department; Scott Andrews, Laura Duffy and Craig Lundwall.  It is the generosity of graduates and friends that supports all these awards.

As noted earlier, the 1970’s were marked by Department growth and flexibility with many turns to getting started, changed, located and re-done.  These confused beginnings were typical of those years in social work education.  Once stabilized, the Department was successful in its quest for accreditation.  The decade of the 80’s was marked by the Reagan years in national politics which de-emphasized human/social services. As a result fewer students majored in Social Work and the Department struggled to keep social work issues on the agenda. During this period the University administration continued to support the program.  The 1990’s brought another change, with Social Work again a valued service career.  The number of majors increased, as did the opportunities for extending the Department’s influence on campus and in the region. This continues into the new millennium.

The original mission of the Department was to “create a cadre of qualified well trained professional entry level social workers to serve the region.”  That mission continues to be fulfilled. With several hundred graduates, many of whom are practicing social workers in the CT area, we have indeed provided well-qualified professionals to serve the region.  Many have returned to the program by serving as field instructors and/or supervisors for current students.  Others have connected in the community through interagency collaborations, advocacy actions, or by engaging in peer supervision and informal supports. We thrill at the stories we hear of our graduates meeting professionally, discovering the WCSU Department of Social Work connection.  May it continue!

Patricia W. Ivry, MSW
Beatrice K. Nemzer, MSW

June 2002