Don Mowry assumes department leadership - University of ...

Don Mowry assumes department
leadership: Receives Oliphant Award
Professor Mowry joined the social
work faculty in 1988, rose through
academic ranks, and most recently
served as Director of the Center for
Service-Learning with a 50 per cent appointment
in the Department of Social
Work. His service to the College of Education
and Human Sciences was recognized
with the Oliphant Spirit award this spring.
Dr. Mowry has been an enthusiastic
participant in developing and supporting
the vision and mission of the university,
college, and department. He is and has
been an active member of university
committees addressing topics such as
liberal education reform, diversity, and
strategic planning. He has been a part of
many innovations to develop high impact
experiences for students. He chaired
the First Year Experience Task Force and
served as Director of FYE for five years.
In addition to cross-disciplinary collaboration,
particularly in the area of civic
engagement and international education,
Dr. Mowry has an extensive record of collaboration
with community groups. He is
a board member of the Eau Claire Hmong
Mutual Assistance Association, a leader
in Clear Vision Eau Claire planning, has
served on various planning groups with
the School District, and worked through
the United Way to connect the university
to regional non-profits.
Dr. Mowry embodies the social work
professional’s commitment to work for
social justice and to be a lifelong learner.
He has been a volunteer social worker
for the local free health clinic, he has
served on several boards, and has promoted
community efforts to celebrate
diversity. He has also demonstrated
the profession’s commitment to global
education and service. As a volunteer,
he has traveled internationally, connecting
to poor and underserved populations.
Dr. Mowry has developed honors
courses and social work courses related
to global citizenship and human rights.
He received a fellowship to conduct
research with students in Costa Rica and
Nicaragua.
Many of the high impact practices at
UW-Eau Claire are the result of Dr. Mowry’s
pursuit of external grants to support
programs like AmeriCorps*VISTA,
Campus Compact, and Campus Kitchens.
He has also collaborated on the development
of the International Fellows program.
Across the university and in the
service region, Dr. Mowry is identified
with the service-learning program which
he guided and expanded. Community
leaders see Dr. Mowry as a contact point
for university collaboration.
Dr. Mowy has earned recognition for
his dedication to students, colleagues,
the university, profession, and community.
His spirit shines as an inspiration to
others. He is excited about the new opportunities
to serve colleagues, students,
alumni, and the university community as
chair of the social work program.
Winter
graduation
reception.
Spring 2006
SUMMER 2012
Dr. Galen retires
Dr. Vanda Galen
came to UW-
Eau Claire in 2009,
having taught for
23 years at Minnesota
State University
where she also
served as department
chair. Her academic
career began
Dr. Galen ready
in her home town
to pick coffee in
of Morehead, Ken-
Guatemala.
tucky at Morehead
State University. Her undergraduate
degree was from Morehead State where
she also obtained a master’s of education
degree. She completed her MSW at
Virginia Commonwealth and her doctorate
at the University of Minnesota.
“I have been privileged to be associated
with UW-Eau Claire and the Social
Work program for three full years.
I am proud to be identified with the
university and will continue to support
the college and social work program in
any possible way.
I am leaving a strong department
with new, diverse, and energetic faculty
and staff who are already making
significant contributions to the university
and the profession. Our students
continue to bring their enthusiasm
to our classes and our graduates are
sought after for employment in the
field. I have been fortunate to have
the guidance of Dr. Gloria Fennell, the
experience of Dr. Don Mowry, and the
senior wisdom of Emeritus, Dr. Nick
Smiar, to support my role as Chair. The
assistance of Department Associate,
Darlene Schorbahn, has been essential
for the successful administration of the
department. The leadership and the
support of the Dean’s office have been
invaluable to me.
Therefore, this decision is not an
easy one but I am ready for the next
phase of my life. My experiences at
UW-Eau Claire will only enrich that future.
Thank you for entrusting me with
the position as Chair and Professor at
UW-Eau Claire. “

Mountains and music —
Ten university students gain immersion experience in Appalachian culture, issues
By Taylor Kuether —Journalism major
Just days after completing their final
exams, 10 University of Wisconsin-
Eau Claire students boarded two
minivans for a long drive to Kentucky.
From May 22 through June 1, the students
toured Eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian
Mountains with Dr. Vanda Galen,
a social work professor at the university
and Kentucky native. Galen said she
created the immersion trip because she
wanted students to be aware of issues in
the Appalachian region.
“I thought Appalachia would be a rich
experience,” Galen said. “I hope (the
students gained) a respect for the culture
and the range of diversity and the issues,
which certainly aren’t simple.”
Such issues included mountain top
removal and strip mining, both current
causes for debate in Kentucky’s coal-
now, especially Eastern
Appalachian Kentucky,”
Taylor said, “Going
there and discussing
with the people how
they could potentially
see an outcome to their
environmental issues
interested me.”
Others were intrigued
by the trip for the authentic
bluegrass experience,
another emphasis
of the immersion.
“As a music education
major, coming to
Appalachia really appealed
to me,” Venske
said. “In Appalachia, the folk music tradition,
the old time music tradition, and
the bluegrass music tradition is really
strong.”
There was no shortage
of bluegrass music for the
students on the trip. Atlantabased
bluegrass musician
Sonny Houston, a native of
Eastern Kentucky, travelled
with the group for most of
the trip and played during
several evenings. The group
also attended the Gathering
In The Gap bluegrass music
festival in Big Stone Gap, Virginia,
and even enjoyed a few
Ten university students on the second Appalachian immersion
trip through the social work department pose in front of the
view from Pine Mountain in Whitesburg, Ky. on May 28. The 10day
trip, led by Dr. Vanda Galen, explored Appalachian environmental
issues as well as music and culture in Eastern Kentucky.
trip next year. The experience was supported
through the BluGold Commitment.
Jordan Martin with Folk Arts worker, Randy
Wilson, at Hindman Settlement School.
songs by banjo player Lee
Appalachian Immersion students with Dr. Loyal Jones. Sexton at his home.
Still others were interested
fields. In addition to a meeting with the in the trip simply for a change of pace.
Kentucky Coal Association and a tour
“I really wanted to experience a differ-
of Portal 31, an old mine in Lynch, Ky., ent culture and a different type of envi-
students met with several activists, writronment than I’m used to,” said Ashley
ers, miners, and Appalachian natives Schleppenbach, a senior. “Appalachia is
DONATIONS
Support Scholarships and
Student Development
Donations to the Social Work Advancement
Fund and to special
throughout the trip to gain perspective such a unique place and I was really ex- memorial scholarships assist stu-
on the issues.
cited for that.”
dents with their social work educa-
Nathaniel Taylor, a sophomore, said For senior Shane Curren, what made tion. (The average debt for graduat-
he went on the trip because the environ- the experience unique were the people. ing students is nearly $20,000). Your
mental issues interested him.
“Specifically as a social worker, I really contributions to the Social Work
“There are many environmental is- looked forward to meeting these people Advancement fund are more critical
sues currently going on in Kentucky right and hearing about their culture,” Curren in these challenging economic times.
said.
Your continued support is increasing-
Kelsey Snyder, a senior, agreed: “The ly needed and greatly valued. Thank
best part of the trip was being invited into you for your contributions.
people’s homes and hearing them speak If you would like to donate,
to us and tell us about their history, their
family, their community,” Snyder said.
please send your donation to:
“Even if you went to go visit Kentucky
UW-Eau Claire Foundation, Inc.
by yourself, you would never gain the
214 Schofield Hall
knowledge that you would gain on this
105 Garfield Avenue
trip because you get to talk to people,
you get to gain both sides of the story,”
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
Appalachian Immersion students in Cumberland,
Kentucky, at a monument to eastern
European immigrants to the coalfields.
Shleppenbach said, “There’s some really
valuable life experiences that you will
have forever after going on this trip.”
Galen said she hopes to continue the
To donate online go to:
www.uwec.edu.fndn/giving.htm

FACULTY MEMBERS WERE ACTIVE
IN RESEARCH AND SERVICE
Vanda Galen, MSW, MA, PhD
Publication:
Galen, V. & Alexander, D.
(2012) Rural settlements:
Rural social work at the
forks of Troublesome Creek.
in L. Ginsberg (Ed.) Social
Work in Rural Communities-
5th edition (pp.161-182).
Alexandria, VA: CSWE.
Presentation:
Galen, V. & Olson-McBride
(2011) Domestic Immersion:
Defining and understanding
‘home’. 36th Annual Institute
of Rural Social Work and Human
Services. July 15, 2011, Natchitoches, LA.
Vanda
Galen
Professor,
Department of
Social Work
Rural Settlements:
Rural Social Work at
the Forks of
Troublesome Creek
Social Work in Rural
Communities, 2011
This chapter expands the literature on rural social work to celebrate
the contributions of Progressive era women who founded rural
settlement programs in remote regions in the United States. The work
of unsung foremothers of rural social work is examined. Katherine
Pettit and May Stone, women from the Bluegrass section of Kentucky
who founded Settlement Programs in Appalachia, are discussed as
exemplars of the rural settlement movement. Hindman Settlement
School, founded by both these women in 1902, and Pine Mountain
Settlement School, founded by Pettit in 1913, still exist to serve the
mountain region and to preserve and promote the heritage of the
mountain area. The women made lifelong careers at their institutions
and brought many other women into rural social work. The founders
and their institutions helped to build identity, community, and pride
in the Appalachian area. These factors should continue to inform all
rural social work.
Galen, V. (2011). Foremothers of Social Work in Appalachia. June, 6, 2011. Appalachian
Seminar, Family Folk Week, Hindman Settlement School, Hindman, KY.
Domestic Immersion
Appalachia, May 24-June 4, 2011; May 22- June 1, 2012
International Fellows
Guatemala, January 1 –January 21, 2012
Collaborative Research
“A Sense of Place; Appalachian Eastern Kentucky” with Alyssa Knoll
“International Volunteering as Transformative Learning”with Jessi McIntosh and
Victoria Hay
Donald Mowry, MSW, PhD
Accepted for publication
Hilton, T. E., & Mowry, D. D. (2012). Teaching Information Systems Ethics through
Service-Learning. In Brian A. Nejmeh (Ed.), Service-Learning in the Computer and
Information Sciences: Practical Applications in Engineering Education (pp. 243-258).
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Faculty/Student Collaborative Research
Transformative Learning, Study Abroad, & Global Service-Learning in Costa Rica/
Nicaragua: Student Alumni perspectives. With student researchers Shauna Stoeger, Tia
Oestreich, & Kinsey Thompson.
International Fellows
a) Transformative Learning, Study Abroad, & Global Service-Learning in Costa Rica/
Nicaragua: Program partners, community leaders, and host family perspectives. With
student researchers Samantha Pettit, Tehya Rice, & Kinsey Thompson.
b) Summer Cultural Immersion Abroad: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Practicum in Tetovo, Macedonia. With faculty partner Kate Reynolds and students Amy
Bachinski , Caitlin Ignasiak, & Logan McCarville.
Presentations
Strengthening Local Democracy Through Civic Engagement: Active Citizenship in
Eau Claire, Wisconsin with Thomas McCarthy, Eau Claire County Administrator & Mike
Huggins, City Manager of Eau Claire. American Democracy Project Annual Meeting,
June 2-4, 2011, Orlando Florida.
Environmental Civic Agency: The Pedal and Paddle Pollution Tour Project. Presenters:
Ruth Cronje; Dr. Paula Kleintjes-Neff (Biology; UWEC); Dr. Garry Running (Geography
and Anthropology, UWEC), Dr. Don Mowry (Social Work, UWEC). Wisconsin
Association for Environmental Education, November 5, 2011.
High Impact Practices in an International Setting: The International Fellows Program
at UW-Eau Claire. With Dr. Karen Havholm, Dr. Karl Markgraf, and Colleen Marchwick.
UW System Global Education Conference: Internationalization Across the Disciplines.
October 13-14, 2011. The Madison Concourse Hotel, Madison, Wisconsin
Otrude Moyo, MSW, PhD
Submitted a grant proposal titled: “Ubuntu as a Philosophy of Life: Exploring its
Relevance to Southern African Immigrants in the United States,” National Endowment
(Faculty members continued on next page)
Mary Nienow
joins staff
Mary Nienow, BSW, UW-EC, 1997,
has accepted the position of
Field Director for 2012-2013. Mary
most recently was Executive Director
of Child Care WORKS in Minnesota.
From 2007-2010, she served as a
researcher for the Minnesota state
Senate, tracking and analyzing the
nearly 1000 bills that came before the
Health and Human Services Budget
and Policy Committees. She served
as constituent liaison on health and
human service issues for 46 Senators
and their legislative staff. Mary was
also the co-founder and co-director
of Grasstops, a lobbying group
for non-profit organizations.
Ms. Nienow completed her MSW,
summa cum laude, from the University
of Minnesota and is enrolled in
the doctoral program in social work
at the U of MN.
Department of Social Work
DIRECTORY
www.uwec.edu/sw/index.htm
Donald Mowry, Professor
dmowry@uwec.edu; 715-836-2270
Darlene Schorbahn, Academic
Department Associate
schorbdm@uwec.edu; 715-836-4435
Otrude Moyo, Associate Professor
moyoon@uwec.edu; 715-836-5828
Mary Nienow, Clinical Instructor and
Director of Internship
nienowmc@uwec.edu; 715-836-3718
Leah Olson-McBride, Assistant Professor
olsonmcl@uwec.edu; 715-836-5404
Thomas Petta, Adjunct Lecturer
pettata@uwec.edu; 715-836-2270
Lisa Quinn-Lee, Assistant Professor
quinnllm@uwec.edu; 715-836-5405
Rick Ryberg, Adjunct Lecturer
rybergra@uwec.edu; 715-836-2614
Jack Wagenknecht, Clinical Instructor
wagenkj@uwec.edu; 715-836-5365
Jeffrey Wright, Clinical Instructor
wrightjd@uwec.edu; 715-836-3580
Gloria Fennell, Co-Director, Part Time
MSW Program, Eau Claire location
fennelgl@uwec.edu; 715-836-5101

(Faculty members continued)
for the Humanities (NEH).
2. Awarded the Student-Faculty International Fellows Program
for Research, Service, and Creative Activity - proposal titled:
«Exploring the Significance of the African Worldview of Ubuntu
in Social Welfare Provisioning in Fort Beaufort, South Africa».
Research to be conducted in July 2012 with two undergraduate
students Lauren Caldie & Kent Penigar.
3. Completed a book chapter contribution - Moyo, O.N. (in
press). Exploring Dimensions of Racialization in Higher Education:
Experiences of an African Born Scholar in Teaching and
Learning in the United States. African-Born Educators and Students
in Transitional America: Reprocessing Race, Language and
Ability. New York: Peter Lang Publishers.
Leah Olson-McBride, MSW, PhD
Publications:
Olson-McBride, L. and Page, T. (2012). Song to Self: Promoting
a Therapeutic Dialogue with High Risk Youths Through
Poetry and Popular Music, Journal of Social Work with Groups,
35, 2, 124-137.
Presentations:
Olson-McBride, L. and Quinn-Lee, L.—“Transformative Learning
via Domestic Intercultural Immersion” at 29th Annual Baccalaureate
Program Directors Conference in Portland, OR
Galen, V. and Olson-McBride, L.— “Domestic Immersion:
Defining and Understanding ‘Home’” at the 36th Annual Rural
Social Work Institute in Natchitoches, LA
Student Research Presentations:
UWEC Student Research Day:
Honey Moua with faculty mentor Leah Olson-McBride: “An
Exploration of Factors Contributing to Resiliency Among South
African Child and Youth Care Workers”
Kristen Rector with faculty mentor Leah Olson-McBride: “Assessment
of Eau Claire County Mental Health Court”
Kinsey Thompson with faculty mentor Leah Olson-McBride:
“Examining the Impact of Early Exposure to Undergraduate
Research on Academically At-Risk Students”
Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research:
Alethia Moua and Honey Moua with faculty mentors, Ka Vang
and Leah Olson-McBride: “A Vision for the Future of Eau Claire’s
Hmong Community: A Community-University Collaboration” at
the Capitol Rotunda
Funded Projects:
Faculty mentor for an ORSP-funded Summer Research Experience
for Undergraduates project focused on determining factors
that impact an individual’s progress through the Eau Claire
County Mental Health Court program
Faculty mentor for ORSP-funded Faculty-Student Collaboration
focused on examining the impact of early exposure to undergraduate
research on academically at-risk students
International Fellows funding for research in South Africa (5
students) on resiliency among South African Child and Youth
Care Workers
Lisa Quinn-Lee, MSW, PhD
Presentations:
Olson-McBride, L. and Quinn-Lee, L. “Transformative Learning
via Domestic Intercultural Immersion” at 29 th Annual Baccalaureate
Program Directors Conference in Portland, OR (March 2012)
Quinn-Lee, L. “School Social Work and Grieving Children” at
the Evelyn Duvall Family Studies Conference at University of
South Florida-Sarasota (February 2011)
Quinn-Lee, L. “School Social Work and Grieving Children in
the Twin Cities” at Minnesota Social Service Association Annual
Conference in Minneapolis, MN (March 2011)
Funded Projects:
Faculty mentor for an ORSP Summer Research Experience for
Undergraduates Grant (Summer 2011), ORSP Faculty-Student
Collaboration Grant (Fall 2011/Spring 2012), and ORSP Diversity
Mentoring Grant (Spring 2012) focusing on research titled
”Death Anxiety and Burnout Among Hospice Social Workers
in Wisconsin and Minnesota” (students Joan Laundy and April
Unterberger)
Ka Vang, BSW, MA, ABD
Coordinated and supervised the “Undergraduate Hmong Immigrant
Student Experiences in Fresno, CA” immersion.
Jack Wagenknecht, MSW
Field Supervisor Workshop, Madison, “Students with Unique
Needs”
Jeff Wright, MSW
Lac du Flambeau immersion
South Africa internship coordination
RESEARCH DAY
Faculty members Galen, Mowry, Olson-McBride, and Quinn-Lee
collaborated with students Honey Moua, Kristen Rector, Kinsey
Thompson, Victoria Hay, Jessi McIntosh, Samantha Pettit, Tia
Oestreich, Alyssa Knoll, Joan Laundy and April Unterberger on
research projects ranging from explorations of a Sense of Place
to Death Anxiety and Burnout Among Hospice Workers. Kelsey
Switters and Alethia Moua presented research related to their minors.
Students Paul Williams and Mary Wolf were part of organizing
the Civil Rights Tour and surveying the impact of that program.
Their research was given the top award on Research Day.
Senior Alyssa Knoll research “A Sense of Place.”
PROVOST HONORS
A project designed by Dr. Olson-McBride was recognized for
inclusion in the Provost Honors Day. This faculty-student
collaboration focused on the impact of early exposure to
undergraduate research on academically at-risk students.
Alyssa Knoll’s collaboration with Dr. Galen on “A Sense of
Place” and Victoria Hay and Jessi McIntosh’s research with
Dr. Galen on “Transformative Learning and International
Volunteers” were also recognized for Provost Honors.

Evening of Excellence
Scholarship award winners, Phi Alpha inductees, and Policy Scholars were recognized at the annual Evening
of excellence program in April. This evening is devoted to departmental honorees and is hosted by
Phi Alpha and the Association of Student Social Workers.
Scholarship recipients in social work.

SOCIAL WORK IN THE NEWS
The Social Work program was frequently in the news this year. Please follow these links for expanded stories:
Students participated in a cultural immersion at Lac du Flambeau
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/04/0417LDF.htm
The South African internship was highlighted:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/01/0125SouthAfrica.htm
Social work students conducted research as International Fellows in Guatemala:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/02/0224Guatemala.htm
The Appalachian Immersion inspired students:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/01/0119Immersion.htm
Dr. Mowry’s leadership recognized nationally:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/03/0315CommunityService.htm
Ka Vang developed a domestic immersion experience in Fresno, California:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/03/0309Fresno.htm
Social work students present their research in the Capitol Rotunda:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/03/0302Rotunda2012.htm
Dr. Mowry’s class serves as impetus for development of a homeless shelter.
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/03/0302Sojourner.htm
Social Work students receive service-learning awards:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/04/0426ServiceLearningAwards.htm
Dr. Olson-McBride helped visiting fifth graders practice active-listening skills:
http://www2.uwec.edu/News/releases/12/04/0425FifthGradeTour.htm
Social work students conduct research in South Africa:
http://www.uwec.edu/newsreleases/11/aug/0801SouthAfricaResearch.htm
Collage
of the
ASSW
picnic
Jessi McIntosh learning traditional weaving
at the Women’s Center in San Lucas Toliman,
Guatemala.