The Commission for Diversity and Social & Economic Justice (CDSEJ) promotes inclusion, equity, social and economic justice, and the integration of knowledge of how the multiple aspects of human diversity intersect–within social work education.
The CDSEJ performs this function through establishing and advancing collaborative partnerships with all CSWE diversity and social justice-related commissions and affiliated groups, including external intra-professional and multidisciplinary partnerships. The CDSEJ works directly with all organizational units of CSWE on endeavors related to diversity and social and economic justice, and serves in an advisory capacity to the Center for Diversity and Social and Economic Justice.
Concerning itself with the impacts of oppression, power, and privilege, the CDSEJ initiates and supports efforts to expand the presence of historically oppressed and under-represented populations among students, faculty, and staff in social work education programs.
CDSEJ Councils
Awards & Funds
Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund and Lecture Series
The Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund was developed to continue the legacy of equity and social justice in social work through building knowledge and furthering the well-being of individuals and their communities. These were the goals to which Scott devoted his life's work.
Community Partnership Action Award
The Community Partnership Action (CPA) award honors the contributions of schools and departments of social work and social work students (PhD, DSW, MSW, or BSW) in advancing community partnership action.
Affiliated Groups
Engaging with our stakeholders is essential in completing the Center for Diversity’s mission. The knowledge and skills these groups possess are utilized in meaningful ways to promote relationship building and collaborative action. In addition to supporting the Center, these groups continually work on projects that advance their own charges.
- Asian and Pacific Islander Social Work Educators Association
- Association of Latino Social Work Educators
- Black Social Work Educators Association
- Indigenous & Tribal Social Work Education Association
- Korean American Social Work Educators Association
- South Asian Social Work Educators Association
Leadership & Members
Melissa Singh, EdD, LCSW
Teaching Professor, Practicum Education at the University of Southern California
Chair
Terrell Brown, PhD, LMSW, LGSW
Associate Dean and Professor at Baltimore City Community College
Co-Chair
A. Suzanne Boyd, PhD, MSW, ACSW, FNAP
Associate Professor & ECMH Coordinator at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Carlos E. Santos, PhD
Associate Professor of Social Welfare at the University of California Los Angeles
Darren Whitfield, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor at the University of Maryland
Ebony Perez, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs at North Carolina State University
KaRon Spriggs-Bethea, DSW LCSW
Professor, Herzing University
Kendra M. Flores-Carter, DSW
Associate Professor and Co-Director of CBU Center for Community Engagement and Social Innovation at California Baptist University
Krystal P. Finch, DSW, LCSW
Department Chair and Assistant Professor at Southern Connecticut State University
Neely Mahapatra, PhD, MSSW
Associate Professor at the University of Wyoming
Pamela Begay, PhD, LCSW
Associate Professor of Practice at Washington University in St. Louis
Peter Szto, PhD, MSW, MAR, MA
Professor, Department of Social Work at Azusa Pacific University
Quienton Nichols, PhD, MSW, BSW
Associate Dean at Fayetteville State University
Sister Angela Kim, PhD, LCSW-C
Professor, Marywood University
Stephen Rassi, PhD, MA, LMSW
Lecturer, Eastern Michigan University
Yarneccia Dyson, PhD, MSW
Dean, Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston
Youseung Kim, PhD
Associate Professor at Clark Atlanta University
Korean American Social Work Educators Association
The mission of this association is to promote the excellence and contributions of social work education, practice, and research to the Korean American community in the United States.
Purpose
- To help provide guidance and support for career development, promotion, and productivity of its membership.
- To share and exchange information or opportunities for research and other academic activities among its membership.
- To make social work contributions to the Korean American community by means of academic resources and leadership.
- To foster cooperation and collaboration with the social work educator's organization in Korea.
- To enhance academic exchange with other associations of Korean scholars or professionals in North America.
- To promote individual, family, and community well-being, and social, economic, and environmental justice by engaging in local and international collaborations.
- To promote fellowship among its membership.
Board of Directors
- Suk-hee Kim, PhD, President (Elected, Term 2023-2025), Northern Kentucky University
- Anderson Sungmin Yoon, DSW, Vice President, Sungkyunkwan University
- Insoo Chung, PhD, Vice President, Norfolk State University
- Sukyung Yoon, PhD, Secretary, University of North Texas
- Eunhye (Grace) Kim, PhD, Treasurer, Augusta University
- Haein Son, PhD Student, Doctoral Student Representative, City University of New York
- Mingun Lee, PhD, Faculty Advisor, Ohio University
Scholarly Activities
Since 1994 the association has co-sponsored with CSWE a total of six Joint Korea-U.S. Symposia on Social Work Education:
- University of California, Berkeley (February 1994)
- Sungsil University, Seoul, Korea (February 1995)
- Washington, DC (February 1996)
- The Fourth Joint Symposium in US
- New York, NY (February 2000)
- Seoul, Korea (June 2001)
- Seoul, Korea (January 2009)
Collaborations and Forums
Collaboration with Social Work Practitioners
The KASWEA facilitated the establishment of the New York Korean American Social Workers Association. In February 2000, the two jointly sponsored the community forum on various issues for Korean immigrant communities in New York. Similar community forums also took place in Nashville, and Houston.
Workshops and Focus Meetings with Doctoral Students
Several workshops and Q&A sessions were conducted by Korean American senior faculty members for doctoral students who needed guidance for academic success, dissertation management, and career advancement. Dr. Ailee Moon of UCLA, the 7th president, made concerted efforts during her term in promoting the mentorship links between Korean American faculty and students in advanced degree programs.
Other Forums and Presentations
In 2008 the International Multicultural Community Collaboration Leadership Forum in 2008 for the Korean Social Work Educators and Professionals in the U.S. and Korea was coordinated and moderated by Dr. Kui-Hee Song (9th president) in Philadelphia, PA. The forum was “Multicultural Community Leadership Collaboration among Social Work Scholars and Professionals in Korea and the U.S.: Multicultural Policy, Practice, and Research in Global Context."
In 2009 at CSWE’s annual conference in San Antonio, TX, Dr. Kui-Hee Song (9th president) coordinated and facilitated a forum celebrating the 100 Years of Korean Immigration in the U.S., and Dr. Daniel Booduck Lee’s Retirement.
In 2011 at CSWE’s annual conference in Atlanta, GA, Dr. Kui-Hee Song and Soonhee Roh presented a partnership session on "The Social Work Approach to Spirituality in Helping with Korean Americans."