JAMES BLACKBURN BEGINS TENURE AS DEAN OF HUNTER COLLEGE'S SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

Date: January 14, 2004
Contact: Deborah Sack (deborah.sack@hunter.cuny.edu)
Phone: (212) 772-4070

(New York, NY) - January 14, 2004 - Dr. James A. Blackburn, the former Dean of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin, has joined the Hunter College faculty as Dean of the Hunter College School of Social Work, effective January 2, 2004.

"James Blackburn's keen understanding of social work theory, practice and research combined with his proven leadership abilities and his boundless energy will invigorate and strengthen our School of Social Work," said Hunter President Jennifer J. Raab. "We are delighted to welcome him to the Hunter community."

"The students at the Hunter School of Social Work are some of the brightest and most dedicated social work professionals in the country. I'm looking forward to helping them prepare for the challenges that lie ahead," said Dean Blackburn.

Dr. Blackburn comes to Hunter from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee where he was active in promoting and generating multidisciplinary research both within the University and in cooperation with other institutions.

During his 12 years as dean, Dr. Blackburn worked with the state and federal governments and private donors to provide major funding opportunities for research and faculty positions in the areas of gerontology, child welfare, addiction and behavioral health. He spearheaded the efforts to bring in the largest gift ever received by the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.

Dr. Blackburn also has been active in the national social work arena. He has served on the Commission on Education Policy for the Council of Social Work Education and has been a member of the CSWE Board of Directors. He currently serves on CSWE's Commission on Accreditation and is a member of the Gerontological Society of America, the National Council on Family Relations, and a number of other professional organizations.

About Hunter's School of Social Work
Founded in 1958, the Hunter College School of Social Work is the first public graduate school of social work in New York City and one of the most selective programs in the United States. The school prepares students for responsible and creative practice in all fields of social work. It has a strong commitment to educating social workers to serve a diverse population in an urban environment, and recognizes a special responsibility toward serving the urban community in agency settings. Fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the school is a model for social work schools nationwide and is committed to maintaining its pioneering role in social work education.

About Hunter
With a highly diverse student population of more than 20,000, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system and the first choice among all CUNY applicants. Founded in 1870, the College offers more than 170 undergraduate and graduate programs. Hunter is noted for its professional schools in education, health sciences, nursing and social work, as well as its excellence in the liberal arts. Heralded as the "Crown Jewel of CUNY" by The Princeton Review, Hunter College has a distinguished reputation for nurturing talented minority scientists and meeting the challenge of providing high-quality science education in the 21st century. The College also oversees the Hunter College Campus Schools serving gifted and talented students, preschool through grade 12. For more information about Hunter College, please visit our Web site at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu.

Back to Top