Former School of Social Work dean receives CSWE Lifetime Achievement Award

BUFFALO, N.Y. –The Council on Social Work Education – the nation’s most respected social work education organization – has honored University at Buffalo School of Social Work Dean Emeritus Lawrence Shulman with its Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award.

Shulman, who was dean from 1998-2003, is recognized for his dedication to excellence in scholarship and research, pedagogy and curriculum development, and organizational leadership by the CSWE.

“Dr. Shulman’s work has shaped social work education around the world for decades,” says Nancy J. Smyth, dean of UB’s School of Social Work. “We are thrilled that the impact of his many contributions is being recognized with this prestigious award from the Council on Social Work Education.”

Shulman and two other recipients of the CSWE’s professional recognition awards will be honored at the opening ceremony and awards presentation of the organization’s annual program meeting Oct. 23 in Tampa, Florida.

“This will make this year’s annual meeting an especially exciting one for him and us,” says Smyth.

Schulman remains active in the school, involved in writing papers and doing grant research. The UB School of Social Work recently received a one-year extension, lasting to 2016, of its $87,000 School Violence Prevention program, which Schulman directs. The program is in its third year of providing services to at-risk students and families at the inner-city Lydia T. Wright School for Excellence. A full-time counselor, two UB social work students and a part-time field instructor provide individual and group counseling, mediation, bullying prevention and family interventions.

Schulman’s recent and current publications and presentations include:

• A study on mutual aid support group work for persons with AIDS in early substance abuse recovery, in “Case Studies in Social Work Practice.”
• “Unleashing the Healing Power of the Group: The Mutual Aid Process,” in “Handbook of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy” from Sage Press.
• Participation in the New York State NASW Conference’s opening Plenary Panel on Social Work and the Affordable Care Act.  Workshop on Integrating Art and Science When Using Evidence-based Practices.