Legendary Beginnings: Frances Jewell McVey
In 1938, as the nation emerged from the Great Depression, the University of Kentucky (UK) Board of Trustees established its first Department of Social Work, led by Frances Jewell McVey, a former Dean of Women and English professor with a long-held dream of bringing social work education to UK.
McVey graduated from Sayre College and attended Baldwin School in Pennsylvania before receiving her BA from Vassar College in 1913. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1918 and began teaching at UK as an English professor from 1915 to 1921. Appointed Dean of Women in 1921, her leadership culminated in the founding of the Department of Social Work, chaired by Dr. Vivian Palmer, formerly of Macalester College and the University of Chicago. Just four months later, the department’s programs were accredited by the American Association of Schools of Social Work.
Expansion and Growth: Making a Name for Itself
In 1969, the department evolved into the College of Social Professions and, in 1980, it was renamed the College of Social Work. This period marked significant growth and expansion under successive deans. Professor Ronda Connaway, appointed in 1974, initiated the off-campus master’s in social work program in Hazard, Kentucky, catering to full-time employees seeking part-time student status. This initiative expanded under S. Zafar Hasan, the third dean of the college.
Those early programs exemplified the college’s commitment to accessibility and community-focused education in the Commonwealth and beyond, a commitment that continues today with the college’s flexible online degree offerings and workforce-focused partnerships.
Kay S. Hoffman, previously the director of the Social Work Program at Radford University in Virginia, became the fifth dean of the College of Social Work in 1998. Under Dean Hoffman, the college expanded its research and intellectual inquiry components with the creation of the Training Resource Center (TRC), promoting the well-being of families, children, and communities through research, training, and service development. The TRC serves more than 50,000 individuals annually and is a nationally recognized leader in child welfare research and training.
Centers & Labs: Expanding Beyond the Conventional
Now, CoSW is home to several unique centers and labs in addition to the TRC, housed at the Coldstream Research Campus. This apparatus provides researchers, practitioners, academicians, and students with opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research and programs. The organizational structure fosters multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts to advance the college’s mission. Notable centers and labs include the Suicide Prevention Lab, Sport Social Work Lab, Self-Care Lab, Military Behavioral Health Lab, and the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Children and Families lab.
Programs like Adoption Support for Kentucky (ASK), the Citizen Review Panels (CRP), the Kentucky Kinship Resource Center (KKRC), among others, demonstrate the college’s ongoing commitment to innovative, community-focused initiatives. Through partnership with the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services, these programs address the needs of foster, adoptive, relative, and fictive-kin caregivers, and support state child protective services systems through volunteer panels that review policies and make recommendations for improvement.
Many of programs and initiatives from CoSW’s centers & labs are nationally recognized, state certified and award-winning.
Recent Developments and Future Directions
Under the leadership of the current dean, Justin “Jay” Miller, the college continues to expand exponentially. At his time of appointment, Dean Miller was the youngest dean in the Nation. His innovation and leadership continue to expand and support the college’s mission.
In 2024, the College of Social Work launched new Criminal Justice programs, diversifying its academic offerings with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (BACJ), a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ), and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ).
Recently, CoSW became the new home of the Child Wellbeing Research Institute, expanding its impact through the Child Wellbeing Research Network (CWRN).
In February 2024, the online MSW program was among the first in the nation to be certified for quality, marking a significant milestone for the college.
Continuing the Legacy
Throughout its history, the UK College of Social Work has remained steadfast in its mission: through rigorous research, excellence in instruction, and steadfast service, the CoSW works to improve the human condition. Always, in all ways.
As it looks to the future, the college is committed to addressing contemporary social issues through innovative education, research, and community engagement. This dedication ensures a lasting, positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities in Kentucky and beyond.
Moving forward, the College of Social Work will continue to honor the legacy of pioneers like Frances Jewell McVey while adapting to the changing landscape of social work and expanding its reach and influence. By fostering a supportive and dynamic learning environment, the college aims to empower future generations of social workers and criminal justice professionals to create positive change and uphold the values that have guided the college since its inception.
