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You Are Here: Home > Academics > The Springfield College School of Social Work > The Social Work Leader: Spring 2010

The Social Work Leader: Spring 2010

Dear Colleagues, Faculty, Alumni, and Friends:

I am very pleased to share the spring 2010 issue of our biannual newsletter The Social Work Leader with you in celebration of the 125th anniversary of Springfield College. I am sure you will be impressed with the rich history of social work education at this incredible College, and will be energized about our future as the School of Social Work celebrates a landmark year and enrollment of more than 300 graduate students.

The concept of researching the historical development of social work education at Springfield College began several years ago with the late Dr. Albert Alissi ’52. Many of you are familiar with Dr. Alissi’s leadership in group work, but you may not have been aware that he completed his undergraduate studies at Springfield College. Dr. Alissi, who later in his career taught a course in social work education at the Springfield College School of Social Work, was always interested in the history of social work education at Springfield College, particularly because of his group work expertise and the College’s long tradition of community leadership. Dr. Alissi began to research the development of social work at Springfield College several years ago.

Last year, Assistant Professor John Habif ’71 continued to research the history of social work education at Springfield College. Professor Habif’s interest was sparked in part by having completed his undergraduate work here, majoring in community leadership. We have learned about other social workers and social work educators who have completed undergraduate work at Springfield College prior to the establishment of the School of Social Work and this has continued to spur our interest in the history of social work education at Springfield College. The mission of the School of Social Work, to prepare individuals to promote a commitment to meeting the universally human needs that will engender mutually beneficial interactions between individuals and societal systems at all levels, based on the principles of economic and social justice, dignity, and human rights, flows naturally from Springfield College’s long-standing mission of educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to humanity.

I am deeply grateful to Professor Habif for continuing this important work, which contributes to our understanding of the history of social work education at Springfield College and the roots of the School of Social Work. I wish to extend my appreciation to College Archivist Jeffrey Monseau, who supported the research. My thanks go as well to graduate associate Jessica Anglin ’10, who provided research assistance to the project during the summer of 2009.

Best wishes to all for a productive spring semester, and thank you for your continued interest in the work of our outstanding faculty, staff, and students. We look forward to working with you in the years ahead with hope and eager anticipation!



Francine J. Vecchiolla, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Dean and Professor of Social Work