Photo of Dean Wong and Dean Bull at API event.
Dear SSW Community and Colleagues,
Welcome to the New Year and the start of a new term. While the Fall term seemed to pass in an instant, it was a season marked by continued positive engagement, with many of us participating in conferences and other enriching activities that help to move our field forward.
One of my most meaningful experiences last term was attending the PSU Pacific Islander Studies Culture Showcase. Witnessing the student performances and cultural displays was a powerful reminder of why we do this work: to foster a deep sense of belonging, and to celebrate the diverse identities that enrich our campus.
Moments like these, along with our recent SSW holiday gathering, remind me that our strength lies in our relationships. Having the space to share a meal and engage in deeper conversation with those of you who were able to attend was a welcome grounding before the start of this busy term.
To ensure our school remains responsive and strategically sound, I am pleased to share that the newly constituted Dean’s Advisory Council held its inaugural meeting last month. This group of community leaders, SSW alumni, and experienced practitioners is already providing the kind of helpful external feedback we need to ensure our work remains responsive to the emerging challenges of the profession.
Photo of Dean Wong with her Advisory Council members.
I also want to speak directly to the ongoing PIVOT process. I recognize that these intersecting academic and administrative processes can feel confusing or create a sense of uncertainty. The SSW leadership team continues to be actively and rigorously engaged in this work. We are focused on developing sound data that truly reflects the impact of our School over the last several years. We will continue to share updates as they arrive, and my door remains open to your questions and concerns.
We are entering 2026 at a time when local and national events may continue to challenge and disturb us. It is natural to feel the weight of these headlines. In such times, our social work values are not just theory—they are our most reliable compass. We continue to take care of each other, to protect the most vulnerable, and to safeguard our educational spaces as sanctuaries for growth and critical thought. We demand accountability from our public institutions and apply pressure when and where we have the ability to influence change. We model non-violence as the only sustainable path toward human dignity. And, importantly, we also offer grace, to ourselves and to one another when the world feels increasingly depleted of it.
The challenges we face are real, but so is our progress. Small acts of community-building create the resilience we will need for the long haul. One opportunity for this kind of community-building that I am particularly looking forward to is Social Work Month in March. We are planning a series of activities to showcase the essential nature of our profession, and how it is needed perhaps now more than ever. Please watch for updates as the calendar fills in; I hope to see you there.
Thank you as always for your dedication to our work.
Sincerely,
Evaon Wong