School of Social Work The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Contact 2016 Social work role in trauma education, research and practice grows Message from Jack Richman couples and families to interact successfully and the role support services play in helping with their ecological environment. families succeed. Serving in this post has meant a great Further, he is active in many professional deal to me because together, we have ac- organizations, including as a Fellow in the complished so much. When I was named to National Council on Family Relations; he has this position in 2002, my key goals were to also served as the organization’s president. He acquire top-tier faculty members, promote is a Fellow in the Society for Social Work and more high-quality research and multiply the Research and recently was identified as one school’s endowment to attract the best MSW of 40 “high impact” social work scholars in and Ph.D. students. Together, we have accom- a study published in the journal Research on plished all of that – propelling our school to Social Work Practice. one of the Top-5 public schools of social work Over the years, he has been recognized in the country. for his teaching and mentorship, including as I am also proud to announce that our new a six-time recipient of the “Dean’s Recogni- leader will be someone with strong ties to our tion of Teaching Excellence Award.” School. The University Board of Trustees has I remain confident that Gary will take our approved the appointment of Gary Bowen, School to new heights, helping us to further MSW ’76, Ph.D., to the position of dean, build on its strengths, while serving the Uni- effective Sept. 1. Gary has been a part of our versity, the state and the world. I look forward UNC School of Social Work family since 1985 to continuing to be a part of those efforts by Jack M. Richman and holds the Kenan Distinguished Profes- resuming my teaching, research and service sorship. I have had the privilege of working activities and continuing to mentor students s we prepare to welcome another closely with him on several very successful and junior faculty members. outstanding pool of new students into externally funded research projects and as a Finally, I want to thank the faculty, staff, our classrooms this year, I can’t help co-PI and colleague for more than 30 years. members of my administration, the School’s Abut think about the exciting future of our I am confident he has the vision and skills to amazing Board of Advisors, led by Louise profession and the role that we play in serving elevate the school to the next level in terms of Coggins, and our Alumni Council, led by our communities, educating new social work- social work education and scholarship. Ebon Freeman-James for their continuous ers and pursuing innovative solutions that As many of you know, Gary co-directs the and steadfast dedication and support of both improve the overall well-being of individuals, School Success Profile project, an assessment me, personally, and the School. families, and organizations. tool used to design support services for mid- At the same time, I am also struck by the dle and high school students. The tool helps many changes happening across our country to determine the strength of connections and how tragic events, especially those students have with neighbors, their school, involving gun violence, impact children, their family and peer groups and determines families, and communities. Now more than services and support needed to increase the ever, we need social workers to help with both probability of the students’ success at school. healing and with finding effective evidence- The assessment tool has been used with more based solutions. In fact, as this latest issue of than 100,000 students in nearly 1,500 schools Contact shows, our field has an ever-expand- around the nation and has been translated ing need for practitioners who can skillfully into five languages for use in other countries. respond to and treat the complex grief that Over the course of his career, Gary has those impacted by trauma often face. also worked extensively with all branches I’m proud of the work my colleagues are of the U.S. military across a range of mental doing to prepare students for these challenges health and social services issues. He con- and look forward to working alongside them sults regularly with military policymakers, more in the coming years. As many of you researchers and practitioners. His work know by now, after 14 years as your dean, includes a 1999 landmark study on commu- I have decided to step down and return to nity life in the U.S. Air Force, which exam- the classroom. In fact, by the printing of this ined how formal and informal support plays edition of our magazine, I will have resumed a role in achieving work and family balance. the role of full professor in the School. I look He was co-editor of a book published in 2015 Dean Gary L. Bowen forward to continuing my research agenda, that focused on how military families across which focuses primarily on developing ef- a range of countries deal with war, balanc- fective interventions that enable individuals, ing mission demands with family demands 2 Contact | UNC School of Social Work Contact contents Dean Cover Story Jack Richman Social work role in trauma education, research and practice grows • 4 Associate Dean for Advancement Jackie Leach Pierce School News Editor Can yoga help those experiencing depression, anxiety or PTSD? • 7 Michelle Rogers School receives $1 million gift to support students, faculty and innovation • 8 Researchers receive $3.4 million grant to study inappropriate and excessive use of antipsychotic Writers medications • 10 Michelle Rogers Chowa planning interdisciplinary global research center • 12 Susan White School faculty to examine the impact of community programs in India • 13 School’s new Consortium offers training on statistical research methods • 14 Graphic Design Federal grant enables School to provide Mental Health First Aid training at UNC • 15 Rich Stewart School to partner with state to train probation officers to better understand mental illness • 16 School launching Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Clinic • 17 Photography MSW and doctoral scholarships and awards • 20 Tom Fuldner O’Brien named Outstanding Doctoral Student • 21 iStockPhoto School holds 95th annual commencement • 22 Fotolia Faculty spotlight • 24 Michelle Rogers Eight garner School of Social Work faculty and staff awards • 29 Susan White Carlton-LaNey honored by alumni • 29 Strom-Gottfried receives NASW award • 29 School of Social Work Three faculty members named Wallace Kuralt Early Career Professors • 30 The University of North Carolina at Clinical Lecture Series offers valuable continuing education opportunities • 40 Chapel Hill Student finds more fulfilling work on road to dual degree • 41 CB# 3550, 325 Pittsboro St. Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Alumni and Development Updates (919) 962-1225 ssw.unc.edu Why giving matters • 9 Four honored with 2016 Distinguished Alumni Awards • 18 No state funds were used to print or Thank you for your support • 21 mail this magazine. Honor Roll of Giving • 32 Alumni update • 36 Reeves family’s support helps recruit top doctoral students • 42 Meet our new Associate Dean for Advancement • 42 Printed with soy ink Alumni president’s letter • 43 on recycled paper I NG 9 AT 6 B R Y E E A L R E S C 1920 2016 ssw.unc.edu/connect U N K C R S O C W HO AL OL OF SOCI Contact | UNC School of Social Work 3 Social work role in trauma education, research and practice grows By Susan White istorically, social work has always involved work with there is an intersection between trauma and some of the social people who have experienced various forms of trauma. problems we are called in to address as a professional social Early on, the profession focused largely on issues of worker. We can’t treat those things until we actually get to some Hchronic abuse and neglect, sexual assault or domestic violence. of the roots of the problem.” Over the years, as more military service members returned The knowledgebase around trauma has grown tremendously home from war, social work programs strengthened their cur- over the last 20 years due to the Adverse Childhood Experi- riculums and training to give practitioners, nonprofit agencies ences (ACE) study, one of the largest scientific research studies and others the needed tools to assist individuals with combat- of its kind involving more than 17,000 mostly middle-income related trauma. Americans. Conducted by the Centers for Disease Control Flash forward to today and social workers are now among a and Kaiser Permanente, the study examined the relationship growing group of emergency responders often called in to help between traumas that occur before the age of 18 and the long- communities cope with widespread term impact on adult physical and mental health. tragic events, including hurricanes, According to the study, exposure in childhood to physical tornadoes, flooding and other natural abuse; emotional abuse; sexual abuse; an alcohol and/or drug disasters, not to mention the once abuser in the household; an incarcerated household member; unthinkable—mass shootings and physical or emotional neglect; or a family member who is men- terrorism. tally ill, institutionalized or suicidal can increase the risk for With each new challenge, social various physical, mental and behavioral problems later in life. workers have embraced their evolving These problems may include teen pregnancy, alcoholism and roles, said Lisa Zerden, a clinical asso- drug abuse, depression, heart and liver disease, sexually trans- ciate professor and associate dean for mitted diseases, intimate partner violence, suicide attempts and Lisa Zerden, Ph.D.