Golam Mathbor, Ph.D., interim dean and professor in the School of Social Work, presented at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 72nd Annual Conference in Atlanta.

Mathbor chaired and participated in two sessions during the conference, which centered on the theme "Rooted in Resilience: Honoring the Past, Grounding the Present." During the event, he was also appointed as one of four leaders for CSWE's 75th diamond anniversary campaign in 2027.

"I am deeply honored to have presented at CSWE's Annual Conference and to have been appointed as one of the leaders of its 75th anniversary campaign. The conference provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the historical experiences that have shaped social work and the importance of resilience in our profession. As we approach this historic milestone, I look forward to contributing to CSWE's continued efforts to advance social work education and inspire future generations of social workers," Mathbor said.

In his first presentation, "Resilience in Honoring the Past, Grounding the Present: A North American and Caribbean Perspective," Mathbor examined how resilience in North American and Caribbean communities is shaped by histories of colonization, enslavement, discrimination, migration, displacement, and resistance. He presented with Itunu O. Ilesanmi, Ph.D., (University of North Iowa), Julie Drolet, Ph.D., (University of Calgary), and Carole Carpot, MSW, (Canadian Association for Social Work Education).

He also presented "Honoring the Legacies of Eleanor Roosevelt and Katherine Kendall in a Challenging Global Context," with Lynne Healy, Ph.D., (University of Connecticut), Ramanathan Chathapuram, Ph.D., (Illinois State University), Leticia Villareal Sosa, Ph.D., (University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley), Illesanmi, Cudore L. Snell, DSW, (Howard University), and Andre Stevenson, Ph.D., (National Association of Social Workers). The session explored Roosevelt's and Kendall's contributions to human rights and sustainable social development, emphasizing the importance of decolonizing knowledge, and encouraging social workers to challenge colonial assumptions in policy and practice.

Mathbor's appointment builds on a long record of service to CSWE. He is a former member of the CSWE Board of Directors and former chair of its Global Education Commission, and he was twice selected by the National Nominating Committee for consideration as chair of the board. He currently chairs the Advisory Board of CSWE's Katherine Kendall Institute for Global Social Work Education.

CSWE's mission is to advance excellence and innovation in social work education by providing leadership and scholarship, ensure quality in teaching and learning, and support critical thinking, empathy, and advocacy.