New York—On June 3, the students, faculty, staff and alumni from the Touro College Graduate School of Social Work gathered with community leaders and guests at the Lander College for Women to celebrate the reaffirmation of the school’s national accreditation for the next eight years, ending in February 2023. The school received a perfect score from the Council on Social Work Education, the profession’s exclusive accreditation authority.
The festive occasion was marked by congratulatory remarks from Touro President & CEO Dr. Alan Kadish and a host of other well-wishers, following a warm welcome from Founding Dean Dr. Steven Huberman, reminding the guests that “the essence of Touro means no person should be alone.” The Dean invoked memories of numerous alumni who have been through the school’s doors since its founding in 2006 and their many contributions in helping others.
“Touro means being a surrogate family to those who do not have a family,” he continued, acknowledging the faculty’s significant support of its students and influence on the school’s success. “Tonight is about you and your accomplishments.”
The audience was treated to a short video narrated by Dr. Huberman in which he told how he was abandoned by his father at age one, raised by his mother, who was disabled, and helped along by a guidance counselor-social worker. “I never would have made it [without her]” he said. “One person can make a difference. I, and every member of the faculty, have to embody the values of trying to make a difference in one person’s life.”
Dr. Kadish read excerpts from the accreditation site visit report that noted the school’s strengths—which the President termed “remarkable”—including Dean Huberman’s leadership, the dedication of the faculty and the diversity of the school. He discussed a passage from the Talmud, Ethics of the Fathers, about the interconnectedness of leaves, roots, healthy trees and storms, concluding that Touro has created a school with strong roots that will “allow us as professionals and individuals to survive the storms of life. We’ve made a school and a community that are built to last.”
Concluded Dr. Kadish: “I have every bit of confidence that…we will continue to make extraordinarily valuable contributions to the community that will lead to trees that will suffuse society, and do a tremendous amount of good for those who are unempowered, underprivileged and who need our help.”
Other speakers offering congratulatory remarks included Rabbi Doniel Lander; David Mandel, Chair of the school’s Professional Advisory Committee; Dr. Frank Baskind, Past President of the Council on Social Work Education and Dr. Nadja Graff, Vice President of Touro’s Division of Graduate Studies.
Dr. Graff read aloud a signed proclamation from New York State Senator Terrence P. Murphy, honoring the school for its “highest rating in social work education” and its “perfect score” in its review.
The Graduate School of Social Work held its first commencement in 2008. Today the School has 320 graduate students at its locations in midtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and 425 alumni. It has over 100 clinical partners in Greater New York and New Jersey and has achieved excellence in its four specializations: severe and persistent mental illness, serving military veterans and their families, aging and Jewish social services.
In concluding remarks, Dean Huberman told the audience that the purpose of the Touro College Graduate School of Social Work was to create “good trouble makers”—activists who want to create a more just society—and called on those assembled to be change agents for social justice.
