Transitions — An opportunity for reflection

As many of you know, I am employed at a large academic medical center in Arkansas. 2021 has been a year of transition for my department. Earlier this year, a beloved employee who was the heart and soul of our department decided to retire. In honor of her years of dedicated service, I hosted a retirement luncheon for her at my home. The event was replete with good food, good fellowship, and a time to reflect on the accomplishments of our colleague. It was truly an enjoyable event and a wonderful way to wish her well as she made the transition into her retirement. We were also able to welcome the new employee who was hired to fill her position.

2021 will also be a time of personal transition for me. In November, with my term as ASWB Board president ending and Roxroy Reid’s term beginning, I will transition to past president in my final year in the office of president. A transition provides an opportunity for reflection and evaluation. As I reflect upon my time as president, I am impressed by the number of noteworthy things that have occurred in the last two years of ASWB’s history.

On April 30, 2020, then-CEO Mary Jo Monahan retired. On May 1, Dwight Hymans transitioned from his role of chief operating officer to the role of CEO. Earlier that year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ASWB, CSWE, and NASW began the collaborative work of producing the Social Work Responds bulletin to demonstrate how the regulatory, education, and practice perspectives intersect on issues affecting the social work profession. This collaboration to address a national crisis has not occurred before and is worthy of recognition.

In the summer of 2020, after years of foresight, planning, and a few delays along the way, a vision became reality when ASWB moved into its new headquarters. In August 2020, the ASWB Board of Directors voted to move forward with the process of offering a French language version of the exam for our Canadian members. In September 2020, our Board of Directors officially adopted our anti-racism statement, which clearly articulates ASWB’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As I reflect on the last two years, I’m proud of the work of our ASWB Board of Directors, volunteers, and staff. It is important that we not lose sight of the significant things ASWB has accomplished during such a challenging time!

In November 2020 ASWB held its first-ever online annual meeting, followed by its first online education meeting in April 2021. Between those two meetings, ASWB learned that it was named the lead organization to work with the Council of State Governments on an interstate compact for social work. Compacts offer another way to achieve practice mobility, especially for jurisdictions that lack endorsement provisions. The work is under way, and NASW, CSWE, and the Clinical Social Work Association are also participating.

And now, as we move toward Dwight’s planned retirement date of May 1, 2022, our Board of Directors is actively engaged in the process of identifying ASWB’s next CEO.

Serving as president of the ASWB Board during the pandemic has been a unique experience. Over the past two years, most of my work as ASWB president has been behind the scenes or in a small square on a Zoom screen. I have missed the interaction and camaraderie that our in-person meetings provided. COVID-19 has certainly affected the way we connect and communicate with one another. If we are honest, I’m sure we have all experienced some frustration and disappointment over the many ways the coronavirus has disrupted so many aspects of our lives. However, despite the challenges COVID-19 presented, the work of ASWB has continued and much has been accomplished.

As I reflect on the last two years, I’m proud of the work of our ASWB Board of Directors, volunteers, and staff. It is important that we not lose sight of the significant things ASWB has accomplished during such a challenging time!