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2015 President's Award for Intercampus Collaboration

Fitch, Johnson, Sable and WolfeMU School of Social Work faculty members Marjorie Sable, David Albright and Dale Fitch, as well as UMSL School of Social Work faculty members Sharon Johnson and Lois Pierce, have long collaborated in efforts that benefit students and enhance research and training. Beginning in 2009, they developed a joint study abroad program with the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. Students studying social work from MU, UMSL and UMKC — the three UM System campuses that have a School of Social Work — have participated in three study abroad tours to date.

In order to expand course offerings for students at MU and UMSL, the faculty engaged in a course sharing effort involving courses related to military social work and social policy. The 2013 course-sharing proposal was funded by the UM System and has led to the creation of two new courses: Military Culture, and Social Policy and Military Veterans.

“In my nearly 14 years as dean of the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, I have not witnessed a level of intercampus collaboration as noteworthy and significant as this one involving our respective social work units,” wrote nominator Stephen Jorgensen.

Collectively, they have developed numerous joint grant proposals including a collaborative, three-year $1.2 million training grant for behavioral health workforce education and training that was funded in 2014 by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

“Alone, neither school would have the faculty or student resources necessary to qualify for the funding. The faculties are working together to develop courses and other training materials to be taken by the approximately ten UMSL and 15 MU students who will receive scholarships each year,” wrote nominator Ronald Yasbin, dean of the UMSL College of Arts and Sciences, regarding the grant. Moving forward, the group has planned the development of a second coursesharing proposal to add two courses on behavioral health related to the grant with one taught at each campus.

AlbrightDavid L. Albright, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Missouri-Columbia

Dr. David L. Albright teaches military culture in the Masters of Social Work program and was a fellow with the Department of Veterans Affairs. His primary research areas are military culture, particularly its influence on veterans’ decision-making processes; and the development and validation of instruments for use in palliative and hospice care settings.

vitchDale K. Fitch, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Missouri-Columbia

Dr. Dale Fitch researches topics that include management of information systems in human service organizations, systems theory and decision-making. He teaches in the areas of macro practice, management in the human services, practice in community and social systems, and information system design.

johnsonSharon D. Johnson, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Director
University of Missouri-St. Louis

Dr. Sharon D. Johnson researches adolescent mental health, HIV-risk among women and African Americans, and adolescents of substance-using mothers and the role of their biological fathers. Before joining the UMSL faculty in 1999, she worked in the field as a case manager for adults with mild mental disabilities living independently.

PierceLois H. Pierce, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
University of Missouri-St. Louis

Dr. Lois H. Pierce is the director of the UMSL School of Social Work where she has published in the area of child welfare, having authoring articless on the role of race and gender in the sexual abuse of children, and examining factors that lead to return home after children have been placed in out-of home care. She teaches courses on social work practice and research and in the BSW and MSW programs.

SableMarjorie R. Sable, Dr.PH
Professor and Director
University of Missouri-Columbia

Dr. Marjorie Sable is the director of the MU School of Social Work where her interests focus on improving access to care among low-income and underserved populations, particularly with regard to reproductive health care issues, improved pregnancy outcomes and family planning. She currently serves as secretary to the National Association of Dean and Directors of Schools of Social Work.

Reviewed 2019-10-01