Many of the most prominent administrators, practitioners, educators, policy planners, and leaders in the social work profession are alumni/ae of Columbia’s School of Social Work. They participate actively in the affairs of the School and provide invaluable assistance to students and fellow graduates.

  “I will be forever grateful for the professional training I received at the Columbia University School of Social Work,” said Josephine Nieves (‘63), executive director of the National Association of Social Workers. “It built on my earlier grass roots experience in settlement houses and community organizations in New York City and Loraine, Ohio, and gave me entrée into a profession that has rewarded me with a career filled with deep joy and fulfillment.”

  The Alumni Association serves as a channel of communication between the School and the more than 10,500 alumni/ae in the United States and throughout the world, and helps the School to maintain its leadership position in social work education and to strengthen its educational programs. It also seeks to meet the needs of graduates through professional programs and conferences, reunions, and regional chapters. An Alumni Newsletter keeps alumni/ae around the world informed with news of their colleagues, on developments at the School, and on material of interest to the profession.

  Alumni/ae and friends contribute generously to the School through the Annual Fund, planned gifts, the Commemorative Fund, various scholarship and events funds, and bequests. According to Stephanie Straffi, assistant dean and director of development and alumni relations, “the School has strengthened its position in a variety of aspects, and financially, in particular, its endowment has more than quintupled in the last 12 years, rising from $8 million in 1986 to $40 million in 1998.”

  The Alumni website can be found at www.columbia.edu/cu/ssw/alumni/.