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| Carol J. Williams, Editor |
by Carol J. Williams
caroljwilliams@worldnet.att.net
732.249-6070
A Tribute to BPD President
Anita Curry-Jackson
Dr. Anita Curry-Jackson assumed the Presidency of BPD at a time when the organization faced many new opportunities and challenges.
The Council on Social Work Education, itself undergoing a major reorganization, offered BPD the opportunity to co-locate its
operation at CSWE's national office. Under Dr. Curry-Jackson's leadership, this opportunity became a reality, and Kristine
Moreno, MSW, our first full time staff member, is now on the BPD payroll. She is actively working for the organization at
its new national office at CSWE's headquarters. She can be contacted at: Kristine Moreno, MSW, BPD Program Coordinator,
Council on Social Work Education, 1725 Duke Street, Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22314, Direct 703-519-2045, Fax 703-683-8099,
email: KMoreno@cswe.org
Another milestone that has occurred in the past year is the first NASW Congress, attended by leaders of each of the major
social work and social work educational organizations. BPD was prominently represented at the Congress, and was one of three
major sponsors for this event.
A third milestone for the past year was the selection of the first Jim Wahlberg scholar, Thomas Singleton. Mr. Singleton
has received a scholarship from the University of Michigan valued at $50,000, and the University of Michigan has committed
to an annual scholarship for the recipient of this award.
A major issue, raised by the previous BPD President, Spencer Zeiger, was that of membership status. BPD has grown substantially
since its inception, with an increase in both the number of full members and the number of associate members. To address
this issue, Dr. Curry-Jackson convened a study group to survey BPD members and later appointed Mary Ann Suppes and Paul Dovyak
as co-chairpersons of the study group.
The survey conducted by the study group indicated two things: (1) "any changes in the BPD charter should continue
to ensure that a majority of the Board positions would be filled by program directors" (BPD Study Group Report, 2004)
and (2) "all members (full associate, and emeritus) should be eligible to vote on all elected positions" (BPD Study
Group Report, 2004).
While addressing each of these complex issues, Dr. Curry-Jackson simultaneously found time to reorganize the Publications
Committee of BPD so that it now includes representatives of each of BPD's major publications. BPD Update, as you have seen,
has a new look, and is now being published at Lyceum Press. Dave Follmer from Lyceum is a wonderful new colleague, who has
aided in this transition and offered many very helpful suggestions to me as Update's new Editor.
To quote Dr. Curry-Jackson: "BPD is on the road to change. And, change is good!" I believe that all of us
applaud Dr. Curry-Jackson for her skillful leadership during this time of change. As she approaches the completion of her
term as President, I know that all of us want to thank her for her successful efforts to move our organization forward.
Ed.
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