The event spotlighted UT Social Work’s legacy of leadership in practice, policy, research and education, as well as the ways that it impacts lives through health and behavioral health, global engagement, and the arts and humanities.
State of the School
Dean Allan Cole opened the day with a State of the School address to faculty, staff, students, alumni, advisory board members and community leaders. Present among the audience members were UT President Jim Davis, as well as numerous deans and university-wide leaders.
Dean Cole’s speech highlighted the innovative practices and accomplishments of UT Social Work’s faculty and staff, underscoring why the School continues to rank among the nation’s top social work education programs.
“Our vision remains anchored in rigorous science and social science — in evidence-based practice and critical inquiry. And yet it’s also tethered to the humanities and the arts,” said Dean Cole, encouraging attendees to share the School’s stories and support its mission.
Students were a central focus of the address, as Dean Cole noted record enrollment at UT Social Work alongside UT Austin’s all-time highs in applications and student performance. He emphasized that the School of Social Work is a leader in graduation rates among colleges and schools at UT Austin and is increasing its four-year graduation rate while also serving the highest proportion of first-generation students on the Forty Acres.
“You are why we are here,” Dean Cole told the students. “Our students are smart, yes, but they are compelling, visionary, and refreshingly practical.”
Celebrating Innovation Through Partnerships
Additional highlights from UT Social Work partnerships included presentations by Dell Medical School’s Dr. Greg Wallingford on the human side of patient care, and an interactive musical experience with Dr. Kelley Glover, postdoctoral fellow at the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, on drumming and somatic healing.
Award-winning NPR executive producer Rebecca McInroy also moderated a live recording of KUT’s popular “Two Guys on Your Head” podcast and show with hosts Drs. Art Markman and Bob Duke discussing the intersections of mental health, psychology and social work. Dean Cole and Dr. Octavio Martinez served as guests for the recording.
Spotlight on Student-Led Solutions
The symposium concluded with a student pitch competition hosted by the Moritz Center for Societal Impact, which supports community-driven projects that advance behavioral and mental health through the arts and humanities.
Four teams from across five colleges and schools on the Forty Acres competed for two prizes of $5,000 each to support community-based projects that advanced mental and behavioral health efforts through the arts and humanities. A suprise gift ultimately funded all four projects.
Art as Advocacy
The day concluded with the opening of the “Into Light — Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories,” an art exhibition that drew a crowd of family members and individuals who have lost loved ones to substance misuse. The exhibit works to remove the stigma of addiction through portraiture and personal stories.
Looking Ahead
In celebrating 75 years of leadership in social work, UT Social Work remains focused on preparing practitioners and scholars to lead in addiction, aging, disability, housing, child and family wellbeing, health and behavioral health, medical humanities, social policy, and support for veterans and military families. Our work continues to shape responsive systems, strengthen communities, and expand opportunities for connection, care and wellbeing — across Texas and beyond.
