Social Work Alumni Society - About
About
The College of Social Work Alumni Society at The Ohio State University was chartered in 1972 and works to connect Social Work alumni with each other, current students, college/university leadership and community members.
The society offers a variety of opportunities, including annual events, to engage with and contribute to these communities and build friendships among Social Work alumni and friends. The society plays an important role in promoting and supporting the goals and mission of both The Ohio State University and the College of Social Work.
Our members continue to engage with the university and college by mentoring and supporting current students, building professional and personal connections with their peers and advocating for university-related issues in personal and government circles.
All alumni of the College of Social Work automatically become members of the society immediately upon graduating from Ohio State. There are no dues, fees or secret handshakes required for membership.
Committees
The Scholarship Committee shall be composed of the officers and the committee chair. The chair may appoint other members, as deemed necessary. The Scholarship committee shall oversee and administer all scholarships awarded by the Society; including but not limited to, setting applicant requirements, processes and deadlines. Any such actions shall be subject to ratification by the Society at the regular meeting following such actions.
Scholarship Committee Members
- Chair — Allison Zuhosky, MSW ’09
The Student and College Engagement Committee shall be composed of the officers and the committee chair. The chair may appoint other members, as deemed necessary. The Student and College Engagement committee shall oversee and administer all programming, events, and interactions with the student body of the college; including but not limited to, oversight of mentoring opportunities, tabling at college events, planning student welcome-back events, networking opportunities among students and alumni, and increasing awareness of the Society among the student body.
The Outreach and Engagement Committee shall be composed of the officers and the committee chair. The chair may appoint other members, as deemed necessary. The Outreach and Engagement committee shall oversee and administer all service initiatives and support the Homecoming Tailgate, in addition to but not limited to, increasing the Society awareness and engagement among alumni, oversight of the Society newsletter, continuing education efforts, and programming or events to build networking opportunities among alumni.
The Social Engagement Committee shall be composed of the officers and the committee chair. The chair may appoint other members, as deemed necessary. The Social Engagement committee shall oversee and administer all programming, events, and interactions on behalf of the Society that fosters a culture of care and inclusivity; including but not limited to, oversight of diversity programming, participation in the annual PRIDE parade, among other programming and initiatives, at the discretion of the committee and Executive Committee, that promotes and increases cultural and social competency among the College’s alumni, students, faculty, and staff.
The chair and co-chair of all committees shall be an Executive Committee member. There are no term limits for chairs or co-chairs. All members of the Society, regardless of Executive Committee standing, shall be eligible to serve on any committee or ad-hoc committee. Committee chairs, at their discretion, may select members of the Society to serve on their respective committees or ad-hoc committee.
The governing body of the Society and the direction of its activities shall be vested in the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for instituting activities, programs, and events that fulfill the mission and priorities of the Society, the College, the University, and the Association. The Executive Committee shall serve as the voice of the College alumni with the Association, the College, University leadership and the broader community.
To be eligible for membership on the Executive Committee, an applicant shall be an active member of the Association. All members of the Society, regardless of Executive Committee standing, are eligible to serve on any committee or ad-hoc committee. Committee chairs, at their discretion, may select members of the Society to serve on their respective committees or ad-hoc committee
Board meetings are normally held bi-monthly in a hybrid format. Board meetings can be attended in-person or via conference calling. The Board holds an annual retreat each September.
The composition of the Executive Committee shall include 21 members consisting of Officers (President, Vice President; Secretary; and Treasurer), At-Large Representatives (6), Geographical Representatives (3), Recent Alumni Representative (1), Immediate Past President, the Dean of the College, College Faculty Liaison (1), One Student Representative Liaisons for each degree awarded by the College (BSSW, MSW, PhD), and the Alumni Relations Officers for the College.
Officers:
President — Tamica Thornton, MSW — 2025
Vice President — Amanda Rosenblatt, MSW — 2025
Immediate Past President (Ex-officio, Voting) — Tasha Childs, MSW ‘19 — 2025
Committee:
At-Large (Voting) — Shivani Edwards, MSW— 2025
At-Large (Voting) — Erin Nieset, MSW — 2025
At-Large (Voting) — Amanda Reagan, MSW — 2025
At-Large (Voting) — Troy Hunter, MSW — 2025
At-Large (Voting) — Kristina Knight, MSW — 2025
At-Large (Voting) — De’Aja Hines, MSW — 2025
At-Large (Voting) — Dr. Oliver Davis Jr. – 2026
At-Large (Voting) — Cameron Justice – 2026
At-Large (Voting) — Shaumane Paulk – 2026
At-Large (Voting) — John Christensen – 2026
At-Large (Voting) — Monique Phifer – 2026
At-Large (Voting) — Erin Harris – 2026
At-Large (Voting) — Maresa Campell – 2026
Geographical Representative: Ohio (Voting) — Allison Zuhosky, MSW ’09 — 2025
Recent Alumni Representative (Ex-officio, Voting) – John Christensen
Immediate Past President — Tasha Childs, MSW ‘19 — 2025
BSSW Student Representative (Ex-officio, Voting) — Kethan Mokadam — 2025
CSW Faculty Liaison (Ex-officio, Voting) — Dr. Scottye Cash — 2025
CSW Alumni Relations Officer (Ex-officio, Non-voting) — Sara Shoup
Dean of the College of Social Work or designee (Ex-officio, Non-voting) — Dr. David Jenkins
President/CEO of OSUAA or designee (Ex-officio, Non-voting) — Julie Haley
The College of Social Work
The Ohio State University College of Social Work consists of students and faculty who build stronger communities, celebrate difference, and promote social and economic justice. The College readily collaborates with the social work community to improve and resolve an extensive array of contemporary social problems — making it an integral and valuable resource to the State of Ohio and the nation. Through its Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW), Master’s of Social Work (MSW), and PhD degree programs, the College enables students to experience and explore the knowledge, values, and skills required for professional social work practice and research.
The College of Social Work, through excellence in teaching, research and service, prepares leaders who enhance individual and community well-being, celebrate difference and promote social and economic justice for vulnerable populations. The College fosters social change through collaboration with individuals, families, communities and other change agents to build strengths and resolve complex individual and social problems. As an internationally recognized College, we build and apply knowledge that positively impacts Ohio, the nation and the world.
Social Work has a long and rich tradition at The Ohio State University, starting with our very first social work course offered in 1875. We conveyed our first Bachelor of Social Service in 1916, our first Masters degree in 1923, and our first doctorate in 1934. First accredited in 1919, the College of Social Work is the oldest continuously accredited public social work program in the country. We received our latest re-accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education in 2018.
Following the 1927 establishment of the School of Social Administration, our name changed to the School of Social Work in 1960. Eight years later we joined the College of Administrative Science, and in 1976, we were granted independent College status. Today we are located in Stillman Hall, a building constructed as a Works Progress Administration project and dedicated in 1937 as the School of Social Administration. In that same year, Harry L. Hopkins, then Administrator of the Federal Works Progress Administration under President Roosevelt, made the presentation of the building to Ohio State Trustees.
Stillman Hall also remains home to a WPA Federal Arts Project in which 10 life-sized murals depict scenes from the history and development of social welfare. Ohio-native artist Emerson C. Burkhart completed the murals in 1939.
The College of Social Work at The Ohio State University is led by Dean David Jenkins.
Campus Address:
Stillman Hall
1947 N. College Road
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: 614-292-6288