PDSA at Columbia School of Social Work

of the School’s Curriculum Committee, and one member of the Diversity Committee serves on the Faculty Search Committee to promote effective cross-committee communication and ensure that diversity figures prominently in decision-making regarding curricular issues and the recruitment of new faculty. The Diversity Committee welcomes student participation. Three seats are set aside for two MS students and a PhD student. One of the functions of the Diversity Committee is to ensure that there are specific educational and training resources for faculty and students on diversity issues, in particular those that intersect with issues of power, privilege, social difference, and identity. The Professional Development and Self Awareness (PDSA) Program was created precisely to provide this assurance. Housed under the office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the PDSA Program receives an annual allocation of financial and administrative resources. The work of the PDSA has grown out of the tireless and dedicated work of so many who have come before. Over the decades, students, faculty, alumni, and administrators have given their passion, drive, time, and great consideration and support to the ongoing work of creating inclusive learning spaces. PDSA recognizes, acknowledges, and honors their work. Vision

The Professional Development and Self-Awareness Program (PDSA) stems from the vision of a community where all CSSW students, faculty, and administrators feel safe, supported, and accountable within their individual experiences with privilege, power and oppression. PDSA programs seek to develop mechanisms by which systems of oppression that operate within CSSW are publicly recognized and openly confronted. Mission

PDSA promotes an inclusive environment that fosters the development of self-awareness and accountability. PDSA aims to build an environment that acknowledges and challenges injustices and their many forms, while simultaneously promoting dialogue surrounding personal experience and accountability. PDSA recognizes that forms of oppression often lead to the pain and silencing of many students, faculty and administrators. PDSA understands that there are many students, faculty and administrators that consistently work to achieve these goals, and supports these existing efforts by providing grants, administrative resources, and spaces for significant discussions and actions to occur. PDSA supports CSSW in upholding the connection between social work and social justice. The Organization of the PDSA

PDSA Steering Committee

The training agenda for the PDSA is developed, monitored, and evaluated by a Steering Committee comprised of faculty, administrators (Field Education Department, Advising Department, and Student Services Department) , students, and alumni. It is headed by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Tenured and non tenured faculty are appointed to the Steering Committee through alphabetical rotation. Two graduating student members are hired through a competitive application and interview process. The student positions are paid, 12 month positions. The Steering Committee meets twice a year: April and November. At the April meeting, the members of the Steering Committee identify the top areas for training that the PDSA will target in the upcoming academic year based on a review of data collected through the year. The Steering Committee reconvenes in November to assess progress and adjust the training agenda as necessary. PDSA Implementation Team

A smaller subset of the Steering Committee comprises the Implementation Team. The members include the Associate Dean’s Office and the two student representatives. The Implementation Team meets weekly to create, partner, and organize the training opportunities and events that will fulfill PDSA’s training mandate for the year. This often requires that two to three significant events (e.g., student panels, outside presenters, faculty development seminars, dialogue events) are concurrently being planned and/or provided. To do this important work of the PDSA, the Implementation Team draws upon the extensive and powerful resources available in the CSSW community. Specifically, short-term and paid positions are created into which CSSW students, alumni, or instructors are hired. This allows us (a) to increase the number of community members who are involved in the shaping, creation, and delivery of these training opportunities; (b) to ensure that the focus and content of the trainings are relevant and inclusive of multiple perspectives; and (c) to demonstrate our respect for the work by providing meaningful payment. Student Advisory Board

The CSSW Student Union partners with the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to place student representatives on all School curricular committees and the PDSA Student Advisory Board as well. The CSSW Student Union is responsible for recruiting approximately 10-12 students for the Advisory Board each year. The Advisory Board was created to ensure that there is a clear and strong student voice within PDSA’s work and to hold the Steering Committee accountable to it work. The Advisory Board generates ideas for new trainings based on their knowledge of student experiences in the classroom and at field placements and its members typically take leadership roles on many of the training opportunities and events. The Advisory Board is convened once per month by the two student representatives to the Steering Committee. The 2013-2014 Academic Year: Members

Faculty Diversity Committee

Neeraj Kaushal, co-chair
Leo Cabassa, co-chair
Heidi Allen, Assistant Professor
Dana Alonzo, Associate Professor
Raymond Firmalino, Student
Charlotte Gossett Navarro, Student
Karma Lowe, Director, Student Services and Financial Aid
Ada Mui, Professor
Jeanette Takamura, Dean
Ovita Williams, Assistant Dean/Director Field Education
Marianne Yoshioka, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

PDSA Steering Committee

Pam Asen, Student
Leo Cabassa, Assistant Professor, Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee
Moira Curtain, Director, Office of Advsing
Ron Feldman, Professor
Karma Lowe, Director, Student Services and Financial Aid
Jennifer March, Director Alumni Relations
Ashley Stewart, Student
Jessica Troiano, Associate Director, PhD program
Ovita Williams, Assistant Dean/Director Field Education
Marianne Yoshioka, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Implementation Team

Pam Asen, Student
Ashley Stewart, Student
Meagan Patrick, Assistant to the Office of the Associate Dean
Marianne Yoshioka, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs