Fall 2008 - School of Social Work at the University of Georgia

• S o c i a l W o r k • f a l l 2 0 0 6
the coordinator of the Training Committee of the Transylvania
County Democratic Party, the first such effort to provide training
for political organization and advocacy in this organization’s
history. I am also the Secretary for my Democratic Party
precinct and have worked in many ways to revitalize the Party
here. I have worked, over the last five-and-a-half years to create
the first ever non-partisan Voter Guide for the county, as the
Chair of the Voter Guide Project for the American Association
of University Women. I wrote a grant that was funded by the
State AAUW for our project and our branch received state and
national awards for this work. I marched in Washington in 2004
with over 100,000 others to preserve a woman’s right to choose
and oppose government enforced pregnancy and have stood
with my friends and many people far more courageous and
tenacious than I in vigils outside our courthouse in opposition
to the war in Iraq. I have also been a volunteer for the Arts
Council. Also I quilt and sew. I read—I belong to a book club.
I swim regularly. I garden a little and spend many more hours
at the computer keeping up with “my people” via email and
pursuing causes and information on the internet. I thoroughly
enjoy attending the rich musical offerings here at the Brevard
Music Center in the summer and Brevard College in the winter;
and I continue the pleasures of cooking for friends and having
lots of company as well as travel to visit with my daughter and
friends. As my husband often said, “Life sure ain’t a bore,” and
I know how very fortunate I am to be able to enjoy a life that
engages me so thoroughly with important causes, interesting
experiences, and sustaining friendships.
Moments of achievement at the SSW: The absolute best
moment has to have been my retirement party—a joyous
occasion made so very special because it was initiated and
organized by alumni and field instructors. To my knowledge the
only time that had happened in the history of the school, and it
was quite an amazing experience! The best achievement would
have to be the establishment of a solid, on-going part-time
program that made graduate social work education accessible
to working folks. And, certainly, being selected as the recipient
of the National Lifetime Achievement Award by NASW was
a stunning moment in my career, made especially so because
the nomination had been initiated by a former student, Denise
Kornegay, of whom I was, and still am, in such awe.
Biggest challenge to the profession today: Sufficient
influence on social policy to be able to have any positive effect
on life chances for people.
Other thoughts: Just a big thank you to all the former students
and field instructors who may read this for so enriching my life
during my years at UGA-SSW.
Richard (Dick) Anderson
Years of Service: 1974–1994, 20 years
Current Activities: Since retirement from the School, I have
jumped into several community development activities. I
worked with the School’s DFCS Training Project until 2004.
I have served as a board member and president of the Athens
Area Kiwanis Club. My wife, Martha, and I became charter
members of Learning in Retirement in Athens. During my
two terms as president, LIR became Learning in Retirement,
Inc., a not-for-profit membership organization. In the early
1990’s until 2004, I served two terms as a board member of
the Athens Community Council on Aging. Prior to my board
membership, I was a Long Term Care Ombudsman Volunteer
for ACCA. I have also continued to write and have had
several publications, both in the field of School Social Work
interests and “with humorous tongue in cheek”, I have edited
and published in three pamphlet volumes, internet jokes and
stories.
Traveling is something my wife and I truly enjoy. We have
been to Wales, Ireland, The Rhine River Valley, Western Canada,
various cruises and river adventures. Martha and I have spent a
lot of time at Elderhostels and this summer expect to attend an
Elderhostel in Ottawa, Ontario.
Moments of achievement at the SSW: Changing the
V.T.M.E.D. program to the MSW program, therefore raising the
standards of the School.
Biggest challenge to the profession today: To regain
prominence in the social welfare arena, moving from clinical
technician to policy, practice and research based.
Other thoughts: It was a great time to be in the field of social
work.
Dean Bonnie Yegidis
Years of service: 1995–2004,
9 years
Current Activities: My
current position is as Provost
and Vice President for
Academic Affairs at Florida
Gulf Coast University in Ft.
Myers, Florida. Florida Gulf
Coast is the newest of the 10
state universities in Florida,
having been established in
1997. The university enrolls
approximately 7500 students
across five colleges. There is a
Division of Social Work that
offers the MSW and BSW
programs. My areas of responsibility include the academic
colleges, planning, assessment and institutional research,
the library and instructional technology, research and civic
engagement, as well as student affairs. It is a challenging
and dynamic environment, and I am enjoying the work
tremendously.
Moments of achievement at the SSW: Perhaps my most
special moment at Georgia was when we successfully funded
the Parham Professorship. This was accomplished by the hard
work of our faculty and alums and our many friends around the
state of Georgia. Jim Parham was a beloved faculty member and
national leader in child welfare policy and mental health and
funding this professorship, I believe, was a peak moment in the
history of the school.