In 1925, the globe appeared significantly different. Nevertheless, one thing has remained unchanged: The Brown School at Washington University has dedicated a century to tackling society’s most urgent issues, securing its reputation as one of the preeminent social work institutions in the nation.

“The magnitude of our influence cannot be underestimated,” asserts Dorian Traube, the Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School and a faculty member. “For 100 years, our alumni have left a lasting imprint on communities globally. What the Brown School accomplishes, the broader field of social work generally tends to replicate.”

Since its inception, the Brown School has spearheaded initiatives to combat poverty, reform education, promote social equity, address child abuse, enhance mental health services, and improve health-care accessibility. In recent years, U.S. News & World Report has consistently placed the Brown School among the foremost social work education programs in the United States.

“What has upheld the Brown School’s esteemed position at the pinnacle of the rankings — and what continues to sustain it — is the presence of our exceptional faculty and outstanding students, fostering a reciprocal relationship,” Traube explains. “Students are drawn to the Brown School because they aspire to learn from pioneers. They wish to engage with individuals who are effecting remarkable, innovative transformations. And faculty are attracted here because they desire to teach in a setting with the brightest minds.”

Humble origins, ambitious vision

The narrative of the Brown School began well prior to its formal establishment, tracing its origins back to 1860 with the St. Louis Provident Association’s objective to meet social needs through “corrective charity.” By 1903, this initiative transformed into the St. Louis School of Philanthropy, becoming the fourth social work institution in the United States. Over the subsequent twenty years, the program encountered fluctuating institutional connections, financial hurdles, and shifting societal priorities before officially establishing its permanent home at WashU in 1925.

The initial stages were modest: WashU’s “Training Course for Social Workers” commenced in the autumn of 1925, initially as a component of Arts & Sciences. Tuition fees were $25 annually or $5 per course for part-time learners. The program concentrated exclusively on academic courses, offering 11 classes. By 1927, it was located within the School of Commerce and Finance, which would later be known as the School of Business and Public Administration, featuring three primary areas of focus: general casework, medical social work, and recreational social work. The first bachelor’s degree was conferred in 1926, followed by the inaugural master’s degree in 1927.

Transformative contribution

In 1928, the course of social work at WashU was altered by a transformative donation from Betty Hood Bofinger Brown, widow of George Warren Brown, the founder of Brown Shoe. She endowed the program with more than $500,000. The contribution came with a stipulation: that the Department of Social Work bear her husband’s name. This financial support enabled the program to broaden its curriculum to 15 courses, allowing it to meet the growing national demand for social workers after the onset of the Great Depression in October 1929.

The effects of Bofinger Brown’s philanthropy intensified following her death in 1934, as she left a substantial bequest to the George Warren Brown Department of Social Work, making significant growth possible and facilitating the department’s transition into an independent school. Her will outlined a few conditions: the university had to commence construction of a new building for the department within a year; her bequest had to be used solely as an endowment for the department, not for the university at large; and a room was required to be designated for social gatherings.

In 1937, Brown Hall was inaugurated as the first building in the United States created specifically for social work education. In 1945, the George Warren Brown Department of Social Work dissociated from the School of Business, thus forming the George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Tuition amounted to $240 per year during the 1945-46 academic year.

Shattering barriers, driving change

The Brown School’s dedication to social justice reached a significant milestone in 1948 when it became the first institution at WashU to enroll Black students, following a vigorous campaign led by then-Dean Benjamin Youngdahl. By the fall of 1949, eight Black graduate students had enrolled, marking a crucial moment in the school’s timeline. They were Clastine Alexander, Leona Evans, Ruth C. Greene, Lily Holland, Mary McClain, Clara Allen Matory, Labrtha Reddick, and Fredda Witherspoon.

Ruth Green Richardson, who received her MSW in 1950, recounts her experience: “I was among the first Black students at Washington University, and I still felt embraced,” she shares. “Perhaps it was due to being in graduate school or because this was a field dedicated to social work.”

The school also made LGBTQ+ history in 2014 when Brown School student Lilly Leyh and alumna Sadie Pierce, MSW ’14, became the first same-sex couple legally wed in Missouri. Anna Goldfarb Shabsin, a teaching professor at the Brown School, officiated the ceremony beneath the iconic Brookings Hall archway.

Pioneering for the future

Throughout its existence, the Brown School has served as a center for innovation. In 1967, it collaborated with Saint Louis University to provide the first course in international social work. In 1969, the doctor of social work program was converted into a PhD program.

In 1970, it launched the country’s inaugural joint-degree program combining law and social work. By 1975, the Brown School had conferred its 2,000th master of social work (MSW) degree. During this period, the school also introduced a part-time option along with the innovative 3-2 Program, allowing adequately qualified undergraduates to enter the MSW program after their junior year.

September

The year 1971 marked the largest inaugural class in the institution’s history, comprising 150 MSW scholars, of which 30 identified as Black. Additionally, students were delighted to benefit from an air-conditioned Brown Lounge and Library, along with a new video recording center.

The 1980s witnessed swift expansion, including the conferral of its 100th doctorate, an increase in publications authored by faculty, and the inception of a fresh computing facility for social work, located next to the library.

By the 1990s, the institution had developed significant research hubs, including the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies and the Center for Mental Health Services Research (CMHSR), recognized as the first research center financed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) within a social work school. The Center for Social Development, led by Michael Sherraden, the George Warren Brown Distinguished University Professor, was inaugurated in 1994. Over three decades later, Sherraden remains at the forefront of the CSD, championing pioneering efforts in asset development and financial inclusion.

During this period, the institution faced a demand for increased space. A contribution from philanthropist Alvin S. Goldfarb, a WashU graduate, whose deceased spouse Jeanette Rudman Goldfarb attained her MSW in 1936, facilitated the vital construction of Goldfarb Hall, which was inaugurated in May 1998. This new building doubled the institution’s spatial capacity and enhanced its computing faculty and technological systems. Expansion efforts continued in 2015 with Hillman Hall, made possible through the generous support of Tom Hillman and his wife, Jennifer Miller Hillman. This modern facility further established the school as a frontrunner in education, research, and community involvement, signifying a new chapter of advancement and creativity.

Legacy of leadership

In 2009, the Brown School broadened its offerings with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, and in 2015, it initiated the Master of Social Policy (MSP) dual-degree option, which has since evolved into a separate program. These ventures embody the institution’s commitment to equipping students for the intricacies of contemporary policy development.

“Our journey has been one of determination and perseverance, overcoming obstacles to build a community of leaders who make a profound impact locally and globally.”

Dean Dorian Traube

Presently, under the leadership of Dean Dorian Traube, the Brown School is propelling its ambitious Driving Equity 2030 Strategic Initiative, which emphasizes accessibility, affordability, and equity within education. A fundamental aspect of this plan includes the aim of offering a debt-free MSW degree.

“What I can assure a student will experience at the Brown School is an innovative education from some of the most talented and knowledgeable individuals in the discipline,” Traube remarks. “The Brown School stands out as an extraordinary institution with a remarkable history. Our journey has been one of determination and perseverance, overcoming obstacles to forge a community of leaders who create significant impacts locally and globally.”

As the Brown School commemorates a century of transformative endeavors, it encourages you to explore its interactive timeline, challenge your knowledge with a celebratory quiz, and participate in honoring a hundred years of change.

The post A century of impact appeared first on The Source.