RU WCHHS names Hodge director of School of Social Work
Diane Hodge
Professor of Social Work Diane M. Hodge has been named director of the School of Social Work in Radford University's Waldron College of Health and Human Services.
Hodge, interim director for the last year, has been at RU since 1996 and will oversee the 30-person school with graduate and undergraduate programs at both the Radford University campus and the Roanoke Higher Education Center.
"I am excited about the opportunity to work with a strong group of educators who are committed to educating and professionalizing our students," said Hodge, who earned her Ph.D. in social work from The Ohio State University and her M.S.W. from the University of Michigan.
The School of Social Work is currently in the process of re-accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education, the sole national accrediting agency for social work education recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
"Dr. Hodge brings a rich professional background and unique understanding of what makes Radford University special to this vital part of our college," said WCHHS Dean Kenneth Cox. "Here at RU, the school of social work has a strong tradition and Dr. Hodge is a great choice to build upon it."
Hodge said she is proud of the school's connection to the community and its alumni who serve the region as part of many organizations such as the Veteran's Administration, New River Valley Community Services and area departments of social services and local schools.
"It is a very in-demand field, a health and human service field. Sixty percent of mental health is done by social workers," Hodge said. "The profession requires people skills, that can be done in a range of settings - communities, hospitals, industries, schools and government. The complexity of peoples' lives and needs are increasing, so our students must develop more range and diversity of skills."
According to Hodge, the school focuses on community-based, family practice through agencies and organizations that support people in the community. With elective areas of emphasis in mental health and school social work, the school is developing another for military social work.