Monmouth University’s School of Social Work is marking its 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of educating and empowering future social workers.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, Monmouth University’s School of Social Work is ranked as one of the top social work programs in the country. The school offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a graduate Master of Social Work (MSW).
“This anniversary is a moment of reflection and gratitude for the visionaries who founded the school, the faculty who shaped its direction, the students whose work in the field bringstheory to life, and the communities that have trusted us to walk alongside them. It’s also a moment of renewal of our mission, of our passion for transformative education, and of our responsibility to lead,” said Golam M. Mathbor, Ph.D., a professor and the Interim Dean of the School of Social Work at Monmouth University.
According to Mathbor, Dr. Greta Singer laid the foundation for professional social work education at Monmouth. Singer developed the Bachelor of Social Work program at Monmouth College [now Monmouth University] in 1975. In 1977, the program received initial accreditation from the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), the national association representing social work education in the United States.
Mathbor said that a strong core faculty and a culture of academic rigor and student engagement were developed throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with the help of Dr. Mark Rodgers, who succeeded Dr. Singer in the early 1980s, and Dr. Robin Mama, who joined the faculty in 1992, thereby strengthening BSW instruction and leadership.
Other milestones include the official launch of the MSW program in 1998, which transitioned the School of Social Work into an institution of graduate education, and the beginning of the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program in 2022, with its first cohort of ten students graduating in 2025.
Mathbor discussed the growth of their global engagement, which included partnerships and practicum placements across more than a dozen countries, as well as their exchange program with the Catholic University of Applied Science in Cologne, Germany. “These collaborations have helped our students and faculty see social work through an international lens, enriching our practice and deepening our understanding of global justice,” Mathbor added.
Jasmine Key, a sophomore at Monmouth University, who is double-majoring in Social Work and Criminal Justice, said, “My mom is a social worker. She works as an adjunct professor in the Social Work (SW) department [at Monmouth University]. Having received her bachelor’s and master’s [degrees] in SW at Monmouth, I was inspired by her career and experience in the SW Department here to study in this field… I saw firsthand how Monmouth University’s SW department equipped my mom in her line of work, and not only where that degree took her, but how much she was able to do with her experience and education here at Monmouth.”
One of the key highlights of the school’s anniversary is a gala event scheduled for February, which will bring together a vibrant mix of the School of Social Work’s community, including current students, alumni, faculty, and practicum partners.
This celebration will not only honor their shared history and transformative impact across decades, but with over 3,650 alumni, will aim to create opportunities, share their stories, mentor students, and participate in events that highlight the impact of a Monmouth social work education, Mathborn explained.
“Reaching this 50-year milestone is both a deeply humbling and profoundly inspiring moment for me as dean… Looking forward, I see this milestone as a springboard for growth. I’m committed to expanding scholarship opportunities for our students and building pathways for them to pursue their education and professional goals without financial barriers. I also hope to establish endowed professorships and increase support for faculty research and scholarship, so we can continue contributing meaningfully to the advancement of social work knowledge and practice,” Mathbor added.
The School of Social Work will also be spotlighting stories from the community through digital content on social media throughout the year.
“I’m excited to be a part of the 50th anniversary of the School of Social Work because it’s rapidly evolving and becoming a better program every year!” continued Key.
With 13 faculty members and four administrative staff members, Monmouth’s School of Social Work has grown to serve students at all levels of higher education by centering its curriculum and mission around human rights. This approach prepares a new generation of social workers to advocate for and transform their communities for the better.
Mathbor added, “Above all, this 50th anniversary reminds me of the enduring power of social work to change lives, and the privilege of leading a school that is helping to shape the next generation of changemakers… It’s a time to reflect, to reconnect, and to recommit to the mission that binds us all: advancing human rights and social justice through education, service, and leadership.”
