Governance and Committees

Governance Document

This document outlines the School of Social Welfare's School Governing Body and the Standing Committees of the School:

Governance Document

Standing Committees

(See the Governance Document above for more information on each committee)

Committee Members for 2024-2025

Faculty Search

In consultation with the Dean and the Associate Deans, the Faculty Search Committee develops procedures relevant to screening and interviewing of candidates for all prospective faculty appointments including endowed professorships and non-tenure teaching positions of .5 FTE or more, including professors of the practice, and recommends appointments to the Dean. In recruiting faculty to teach in specific curriculum area groups (CAG), the committee will involve CAG members in the interview and selection process. The committee is responsible for becoming familiar with and following Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action guidelines and procedures.

  • Meredith Bagwell-Gray (co-chair)
  • Rebeca Sandoval (co-chair)
  • Jason Matejkowski
  • Claire Willey-Sthapit

Promotion, Retention & Tenure (PRT)

The committee advises faculty candidates of promotion, tenure, and sabbatical, Keeler Intra-University Professorship application guidelines, reviews their application materials, and makes a recommendation to the Dean and to the University Committee on Promotion and Tenure (UCPT). The committee conducts annual and third year reviews of pre-tenured faculty, advises them with regard to PRT standards, and gives a written report to the Dean and the faculty member with observations on faculty progress and suggestions about preparation for tenure application. The PRT committee develops the policies and procedures for tenure, post tenure review, promotion, Keeler Intrauniversity Professorships, and sabbaticals and brings them to the full faculty for approval.

  • Jody Brook (chair)
  • Juliana Carlson
  • Sarah Jen
  • Nancy Kepple
  • Edward Scanlon

Faculty Executive

The function of the committee is to provide oversight and appraisal of faculty governance and other issues that affect the welfare of the School. Activities include: review of committee function and structure; oversight of and adherence to school and university policies; consultation with the Dean, Associate Deans, and committee chairs about School policy issues, long range planning, and program development; fulfilling its duties as outlined in the school’s grievance procedures; and providing a steering or coordinating function for other faculty governance and School policy issues as they arise.

  • Nancy Kepple (co-chair)
  • Michael Riquino (co-chair)
  • Kathryn Berringer
  • Edward Scanlon
  • Tadeo Weiner Davis

Awards

The Awards Committee focuses on awards that have been established to honor past work and accomplishments, and that are not typically reliant on self-nominations.

  • Briana McGeough (co-chair)
  • Whitney Grube (co-chair)
  • Joseph Bush 
  • Joonmo Kang
  • Melinda Lewis 
  • Georgiana O'Connor

PhD Curriculum

The curriculum committee is responsible for the planning, development, and evaluation of the curriculum and educational policies, including policies and standards for academic performance and student advancement within the program.

  • Sarah Jen (chair)
  • e alexander
  • Meredith Bagwell-Gray
  • Whitney Grube
  • Nancy Kepple
  • Michael Riquino 

DSW

The purpose of the DSW Committee is to review major educational policy issues for the program, to develop and maintain the explicit curricula, and to provide an opportunity for the members to collectively discuss and improve teaching and pedagogical challenges. The committee attends to and makes recommendations to improve aspects of the implicit curriculum of the DSW program to ensure educational quality.

  • Edward Scanlon (chair)
  • Jody Brook 
  • Briana McGeough 
  • Lisa Street

BSW

The BSW Program Committee focuses on five core areas, as needed: curriculum policy decision making; development, review, and approval of syllabus guides; program maintenance; teaching and pedagogy improvement; and assessment and evaluation of program for internal and external purposes, i.e., KU’s undergraduate program requirements and CSWE’s reaffirmation requirements.  Additionally, the committee attends to and develops aspects of the implicit curriculum and makes recommendations.

  • Juliana Carlson (chair)
  • Meredith Bagwell-Gray
  • Roslyn Christopher
  • Kelly Jones
  • Joonmo Kang
  • Laura Ramirez

MSW

The purpose of the MSW Program Committee is to continuously evaluate and enhance the quality of the MSW program and curriculum. This includes routinely addressing the fit of the program with the school’s vision, mission, and guiding principles; assessment and evaluation of program for internal and external purposes, such as ensuring compliance with CSWE accreditation standards; and creating and maintaining a welcoming and supportive educational environment and experience for MSW students and instructors.

  • Nancy Kepple (chair)
  • Christina Boyd
  • Kortney Carr
  • Kelly Jones
  • Melinda Lewis
  • Michael Riquino
  • Tadeo Weiner Davis
  • Claire Willey-Sthapit