I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Mary Cavanaugh as the Dean of the Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work. Dr. Cavanaugh’s excellence was recognized through a national search representing a stellar candidate pool. Many of you had the opportunity to meet with finalists; your feedback was critical to the decision. I especially thank the search committee members Professors Alexis Kuerbis, Paul Kurzman, Vicki Lens, and Willie Tolliver, students Ana Aparicio Calderon and Andy Torres, and its chair Dr. Gail McCain, the Joan Grabe School of Nursing Dean.
Dr. Cavanaugh, a member of the Hunter Community since 2010, served as the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs prior to being appointed as the Interim Dean. During her time as Associate and Interim Dean, the Silberman School experienced a significant increase in enrollment, while also launching a major initiative to increase first-time pass rates for MSW licensure. Drawing on impressive increases in the Silberman School’s external funding, Dr. Cavanaugh also strengthened faculty research support and funding. To enhance student success, Dr. Cavanaugh instituted full time academic advising, strengthened writing and technology support, and oversaw the implementation of our newly accredited undergraduate BSW program.
Dr. Cavanaugh holds a joint Ph.D. in Social Welfare and Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania. Her primary research interests are focused on offender interventions decreasing the risk for violence in intimate partner relationships. She has authored numerous journal articles, books, and book chapters, worked nationally and internationally as a visiting scientist and teaching fellow in Germany, Turkey, England and Norway, and is a consultant to federal, state and local domestic violence agencies.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Cavanaugh to her new role as Dean of the Hunter College School of Social Work.
Jennifer J. Raab
President, Hunter College