Centers, Projects & Institutes

Centers of Learning by Leading

The educational experience of students at the School is further enhanced by our specialized institutes and centers, which address a range of contemporary issues and professional challenges. In addition to its primary work, each of the centers and institutes contributes to the School's learning opportunities by hosting conferences, workshops and other educational programs throughout the year.

Center for International Social Work Studies

The Center was established to promote and support student and faculty interest in international social work through initiatives such as international curriculum development, faculty exchanges, international field placements for students, and cross-national research. This center facilitates the School's partnerships with the University of the West Indies, Jamaica and Yerevan State University, Armenia and develops other international relationships.

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Project

The mission of the Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Project is to help prepare social workers to competently serve the Latino/a community and to advocate and promote changes that safeguard and enhance the quality of life of Latino/a individuals, families and communities locally, regionally and nationally.

Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work

The Institute has two goals. The first is to increase the number of social workers who pursue careers in politics, and in doing so to further develop Political Social Work Practice as a specialization of the field. The second is to explore ways social workers can contribute to the political empowerment of clients through voter registration, mobilization and education.

Institute for Violence Prevention and Reduction (IVPR)

The Institute was founded by the school to systematically address the forces contributing to violence by bringing together key groups to collaborate on solutions. The mission of the IVPR is to serve as a catalyst and support for collaboration among diverse groups who seek relevant information on violence reduction; work with policy makers to develop more effective approaches and policies for violence reduction; share and disseminate information that will help to promote understanding of violence and its causes; study violence reduction initiatives through research, training and program evaluation; and identify and design effective violence reduction initiatives.