Two faculty members of the Florida State University College of Social Work — Claire Calohan and Pam Graham — have been named Social Work Educator of the Year by their respective units of the National Association of Social Workers, Florida Chapter.
Calohan, a research associate at Florida State’s Panama City Campus, received the distinction from the Emerald Coast Unit.
“Since joining the faculty at the Panama City Campus in 1999, it has been an honor to be a part of the development of social work students and to watch them as they move from students to professional social workers,” Calohan said.
Calohan has served as adviser to the Society of Student Social Workers for 13 years, chair of the Emerald Coast Unit of NASW and member of the state board of NASW. She also was named a Notable ’Nole for the Panama City Campus in 2004.
Graham, director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program and Professional Development for the college at Florida State’s main campus in Tallahassee, received the distinction from the Big Bend Unit.
“I am honored to be recognized by my social work peers as the Educator of the Year for the Big Bend chapter,” Graham said. “My work with Florida State students and College of Social Work alumni is such an integral part of my life and what motivates me to do my very best every day. I am so proud of all of our student’s accomplishments, and look forward to hearing from them when they graduate and go on to their professional careers.”
Graham was named the college’s Jeanene M. Janes Fellow in Child Welfare in fall 2011. She has been an advocate for issues related to child welfare in the Big Bend area for many years, including serving as the principal investigator on grants that focus on providing social work internship supervision, consultation and training to the child welfare workforce. She also has worked with the FSU Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement to institute its “Unconquered Scholars” program, which identifies FSU students who have ever been in foster or kinship care so additional academic support can be given to them.
“The unit awards given by the Florida chapter of the National Associate of Social Workers to Pam Graham and Claire Calohan are an affirmation of their extensive experience, skills and dedication,” said Nicholas Mazza, dean of the college and the Patricia V. Vance Professor of Social Work. “This speaks well for the College of Social Work’s commitment to being student-centered and engaged with the community.”
Mazza added that Social Work alumna Jennifer Spaulding-Given (M.S.W. ’01, Ph.D. ’11), a faculty member at the University of North Florida, received the same distinction from Florida’s Northeast Unit.
“This well-deserved honor for Jennifer is one indicator that our model of teaching and service bodes well for the future,” Mazza said. “It is truly a pleasure to see the college’s faculty and alumni recognized by the profession of social work.”
The National Association of Social Workers, Florida Chapter, is composed of 18 units located throughout the state. The members of each unit submit nominations for specific awards. Then an awards committee in each unit selects the award recipients.