Pictured here are eight of the 12 field instructors appointed to adjunct faculty status
Twelve field supervisors/instructors affiliated with the School of Social Work were recognized for their dedication to and partnership with York University recently, when they were presented awards naming them adjunct faculty.
The ceremony was part of an agency fair held by the school on Nov. 20. The event brought together students and 25 agency partners, and later in the day featured breakout sessions.
Barbara Heron
This was the first time in the school’s history that long-standing field supervisors/instructors were appointed to the adjunct faculty rank.
“The School of Social Work is very appreciative of the wonderful work that all the field instructors do with our students in placement,” said School of Social Work Director Barbara Heron. “The field instructors share their wealth of knowledge, skills and experience with our students and help them to understand the realities and amazing possibilities of actually 'doing' social work. They are the models our students look up to in social work practice.”
Recipients of the appointment were:
- Geoff Ayton – social worker at Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
- Michelle Del Carmen – executive director of Centre for Dreams
- Gabbey Dessye – manager of Yorktown Shelter for Women
- Samantha Fernandes – manager of the HEAL program at Catholic Family Services of Peel Dufferin
- Veronica Javier – social worker at Scarborough General Hospital
- Kam Lau – manager of Community Services at Unison
- Donna Mason – social worker in the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Program at Lakeridge Health
- Srimanta Mohanty – CEO of Social Planning Council of Peel
- Lori Naylor – counsellor at Breakaway Addictions
- Lekan Olawoye – former executive director at For Youth Initiative
- Wangari Tharao – researcher at Women’s Health in Women’s Hands
- Franciso Vidal – director of Programs and Services at Centre for Spanish Speaking People
Students and agency partners at the agency fair
“This year, with the help of the provost and our dean, we are enormously proud to be able to award for the first time the status of adjunct faculty to field instructors who have worked with York’s School of Social Work students for at least three years,” said Heron. “This is a very well-deserved recognition from York University for the invaluable contribution of our long-standing field instructors to our students' social work education.”
In a given year, the Field Education Program at the School of Social Work places 250 to 260 students who are either in the BSW or MSW program. The school puts significant effort into finding placements that meet students’ learning needs and professional growth.