Greetings from the Chair!

As the spring semester comes to a close, the campus is once again ready to burst forth in bloom. The Sisters of the Holy Cross surely found a beautiful setting for this campus.  Our seniors are nearing graduation, and it is always a joyous occasion to recognize them at our hooding ceremony and honors convocation and to be with them at commencement. Our juniors are looking at the seniors wondering how they will survive their senior year, but somehow they manage to not only survive but also thrive!  Our faculty has had a busy semester.  Our spring luncheon has become a major event for us each year.  We are so grateful to our field instructors and community health and social service organizations for their support of our program.  We are engaged in planning for next year already. Dr. Kominkiewicz will be leading us through our reaffirmation for CSWE, Professor Sanchez is developing our initiative in Social Work with Spanish-speaking populations, and I have proposed an Interdisciplinary Program of Study in Aging.  In addition, I am the evaluator for a 1.3 million dollar national grant awarded to REAL Services, Inc. and the Community Foundation of St. Joseph Co.  $780000 came from the Weinberg Foundation and the Community Foundation provided the matching funds.  It will focus on the provision of an innovative neighborhood caregiver training program with additional funding available for respite care, home modifications, and case management.  The project will be done in a very low income neighborhood on the west side of South Bend.  In order to work on the Aging Studies minor and the grant, I am leaving the Chair position one year before my appointment was finished.  I am grateful to the Department for supporting me in developing the interdisciplinary aging studies minor and working on the grant.  Dr. Kominkiewicz will be assuming responsibilities as Chair as well as Program Director for the coming year.  It has been a pleasure to serve the College as Chair of this wonderful Department!

Throughout our site, look for:

Saint Mary's Social Work Majors...

Making a Difference!

My heart yearns to give myself to others.  I cannot help but recall a few of the most beautiful lessons I have learned from the faith that I have grown up with.  When I think about treating others the way I would like to be treated I think about the times when I ask, I believe it will be given unto me, when I seek I know soon I will find, and when I knock I know the door will be open unto me. The way I want to treat others is by helping be the one to answer the questions asked, try and seek what others are longing to find, and being the person on the other side of the door when they knock.  I want to offer myself to others in ways that many people would like to do but simply do not take the time, take the risks, or accept the challenge to do.  Being a social worker is what I feel I am called to do, what I am called to love, and what I am called to die trying to do.  God tells us, “do not worry about your life,” and so I shall not worry about my life, but I will worry, defend, protect, and provide for the lives of others in whichever way I am able.

Anne Therese Stroude '09