Brown School

Edward F. Lawlor, dean of the School of Social Work and the William E. Gordon Professor, recently announced the appointment, effective Jan. 1.

In an effort to foster and encourage productive and proactive dialogue about race within the School of Social Work at Washington University and the St. Louis region, the Society of Black Student Social Workers (SBSSW) will host “Celebrate King Holiday 2006: When Does a Dream Become Reality?” Jan. 16 from 1-4 p.m. in room 100 of Brown Hall. This event is free and open to the public. The celebration will begin with a keynote address by Kristal Brent Zook, Ph.D., an award-winning investigative journalist and author. She will reflect on the past and current status of Black America to determine if there has been real progress in race relations.

John Landsverk, Ph.D., has been named senior scholar at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Edward F. Lawlor, Ph.D., dean of the School of Social Work and the William E. Gordon Professor, recently announced Landsverk’s appointment, effective Jan. 1.

The recent $2.5 million grant will support the creation of a permanent endowment for the center directed by Michael W. Sherraden.

WUSM researchers have developed a diagnostic tool for identifying pathological gambling disorder.More than 80 percent of the U.S. population gambles at some time in their lives. It might be the lottery, bingo or poker. Most never need treatment for problem gambling, but others lose control and lose their houses or cars and damage family relationships as a result of compulsive gambling. Little is known about why people gamble and how to predict who is likely to become a pathological gambler, but Washington University researchers have developed a diagnostic tool for identifying pathological gambling disorder, and they’re beginning to learn who is at risk.

At the Center for Social Development (CSD) in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Michael Sherraden, Ph.D., and his faculty colleagues, staff, and graduate students are dedicating themselves to addressing the root causes of poverty and finding solutions. To this end, CSD has found a partner in the Ford Foundation, a philanthropic organization whose goals include asset building to create better societies.

“Teach for America and the School of Social Work share a common passion for pioneering social change,” Dean Edward F. Lawlor says.

Teach For America (TFA) is partnering with the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis to offer its corps members and alumni added incentives when applying to the Master of Social Work Program. Janice Wells-White, assistant director of admissions at the School of Social Work, says that it is the school’s goal to recruit strong analytical leaders committed to making a difference. “We are confident that Teach For America corps members and alumni possess the characteristics we seek and our new admissions incentives reflect our commitment to attract Teach For America’s best and brightest.”

Preventing Type 2 diabetes among African-American womenWhile culturally traditional foods are a big part of the African-American heritage, they also are a significant factor in the type 2 diabetes epidemic among African-American women. And while the prevalance of type 2 diabetes is associated with higher rates of obesity, diabetes nutrition education programs have been relatively unsuccessful in attracting and retaining African-American women. However a new study shows that there is a way to reach members of this population and make a positive impact on their dietary behavior.

Before joining the University, she was senior vice president of the health-care practice at Fleishman-Hillard in St. Louis.