I would like to welcome all new and returning social work students to the Undergraduate Social Work major. I hope you are adjusting and feel confident about your fall semester classes as we want you to be successful as a social work student. I do have a small request if you have not done so already stop by my office and introduce yourself. As your department chairperson I love talking with matriculating social work students, feel free to stop by the office, call, or email me for some common times to chat. Our goal as faculty members is to answer any questions and educate students about the profession, the community, and to address any other professional guidance you feel you may need. Faculty members are here to serve you, so stop by the Undergraduate Social Work office and let us get to know you.

West Chester University Undergraduate Social Work Department has a long history and a great reputation in the community, the state, and the nation. Although the program is small I feel that the department's hands-on approach that is also the core of the department's teacher-scholar model assist in developing our majors to become social work leaders once they graduate.

Recently, I attended the Social Work Alumni Panel that was hosted by the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Thank you, Phi Alpha members all of you did a wonderful job developing a program that invited graduates from our program to come back and speak about their experiences. I could not help but feel joyous as I watched individuals talk about their journey as undergraduate social work students; as employees; as employers; as master degree students; as completed doctoral degree professionals. To know as the chairperson that the West Chester University Undergraduate Social Work Faculty had a small part in the panel's career development brought nothing but smiles, pride, and a re-commitment to continue our rigorous academic legacy.

The department will pursue an additional faculty member for the 2010/11 academic year. A tenure-track search will begin immediately headed by Dr. Richard Voss, Search Committee Chair. We hope to hire a faculty member that enjoys the roles of advising, mentoring, assisting in the curriculum design and delivery, while adding a needed expertise in innovations in technology and program delivery that will also enhance the creativity of the Undergraduate Social Work Departments curriculum. The search committee anticipates appointing a student to the committee and/or to participate equitably in the search process. Let Dr. Voss know if you are interested in serving on the search committee. We want all candidates to have an opportunity to meet and discuss their teaching philosophy with social work students before they are hired.

The department invites your feedback on any issues, concerns, or ideas that you have in regards to the Undergraduate Social Work Program. We encourage you to attend the student/faculty meetings that are held once a month at noon in Sykes 252. Students are free to voice theirs ideas at that meeting, however, if it is not possible for you to attend the meetings, feel free to email me directly at www.mjoyner@wcupa.edu I promise to get back to you with a response to your concerns.

In 2010, the annual BPD Conference that social work students attend will be held at the Hilton, Atlanta, March 17-21, 2010. If you are interested, see Social Work Club President, Katie Suchniak. In order to receive a free shared room you must participate in at least two social work programs. Join other West Chester students in Atlanta this spring for a wonderful opportunity to meet other students, attend a student conference, meet authors of your books, and talk with various graduate school representatives from across the United States. Please visit www.BPDonline.org to learn more about this exciting upcoming national conference.

Over the last month, in my capacity as a representative of the Undergraduate Social Work Department of West Chester University of PA I have attended numerous events. I hosted the fall, WCU Undergraduate Social Work Advisory Board Meeting which brings together a student representative, alumni, social work community leaders, field instructors and others to discuss how the social work program fits with the needs of the surrounding community. If you are interested in reviewing the minutes or attending an Undergraduate Social Work Advisory Board Meeting, please let me know.

In addition, I attended a meeting at the NASW headquarters in Washington, DC. I am proud to announce that I will serve as a convening national member of the upcoming 2010 Social Work Congress which will be held in late April in Washington. In preparation of the Social Work Congress, I want to talk with groups of social work students to ascertain how they envision social work in the next ten years.

I was appointed to Vision 2020, which is a national group of leaders that will convene at the Philadelphia Constitutional Center on October 21 and 22, 2010. A group of women leaders representing all states and the District of Columbia will engage and discuss the topic of "American Conversation about Women and Leadership". The American Conversation goal is to launch an action agenda that moves America towards equality by 2020, which is the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment. Please feel free to search, Vision 2020; a project of The Institute for Women's Health and Leadership and learn more about this upcoming event.

In the community one of my service commitments is serving as the Chairperson of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. On October 3rd, LBBC raised over one-half million dollars to assist the organization educate women who are diagnosed with breast cancer live a quality of life that they deserve. To learn more about the organization or access information for your clients, friends, or someone you know that was diagnosed with breast cancer visit www.LBBC.org

Finally, a capstone to my career is that I was elected to serve as the President of Council on Social Work Education, (CSWE) from July, 2010 to June 2013, serving this year as the President-elect. In my capacity as President-elect, I will involve some West Chester University students so that they are aware of social work education functions nationally and globally. I am honor to serve in this office and will represent social work and West Chester University's in the United States and globally. To learn more about this organization or learn about graduate schools and receive other information pertinent to social work education please visit the website www.CSWE.org

I know that other Undergraduate Social Work faculty members are also involved in numerous activities that expand our social work program beyond the walls of West Chester University providing unique opportunities for students, faculty, and our graduates.

Once again, enjoy your semester. Before you know it, we will be preparing for the winter break. My best advice to each of you is to study hard, and have fun as your social work journey is just beginning.

        Fondly Social Work Undergraduate Chairperson,

        Professor Mildred C Joyner