TULANE TALK

December 6, 2002

Good Morning:

I trust you all had an enjoyable and relaxing Thanksgiving. With the semester fast coming to a close this is a busy time for students, faculty and staff alike. But, as always, we are looking ahead. So, with the future in mind, I’m pleased to announce that Professor Ronald Marks, who has served as interim dean of the School of Social Work since August 15, 2001, has accepted our offer to be the school’s permanent dean.

Ron, who received a Ph.D in social work, a master of public health, a master of social work and a bachelor of science from the University of Pittsburgh, came to Tulane University in 1985 as an associate professor and adjunct associate professor in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, a position he still holds. In July 1996, he was named associate dean and director of the master of social work program at Tulane.

Ron has also served as director of the doctoral program at the School of Social Work and coordinator of its gerontology certificate program. He has been the coordinator of several interdisciplinary programs including the master of public health/master of social work joint degree program, the social work/Latin American studies joint program and the law/social work joint degree program. In addition, Ron has chaired 17 doctoral dissertations, supervised more than 30 master theses and organized and lead several international social work courses for students.

Ron’s interdisciplinary approach, his creativity, good humor and hands-on approach (he recently led a group of social work students deep into the Himalaya mountains to work with Tibetan refugees) will continue to strengthen the School of Social Work in its mission “to advance the ideals of a humane and just society.” Please join me in congratulating Ron and welcoming him to his new position.

Have a good weekend,