Social Work Teaching Awards

The 2003 recipients of the School of Social Work's Excellence in Teaching Awards are Dr. Carol Wilson Spigner, a member of the standing faculty; Joseph McBride, and Dr. Arthur Schwartz, members of the part-time faculty.

The awards were presented at the School's commencement ceremony. Recipients of the Excellence in Teaching Awards are selected by graduating students and must demonstrate a high level of scholarship in the course(s) taught; a teaching style that stimulates the students' interest; a commitment to student learning; respect for students' personal differences; and a significant and lasting impact on the professional development of students.

Dr.Carol W. Spigner, received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Riverside and her graduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Southern California. She came to Penn in July, 1999 as a visiting professor and joined the faculty permanently in September, 2000 when she was named the Kenneth L. M. Pray Distinguished Professor. Prior to her arrival, Dr. Spigner had been the associate commissioner of the Children's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families where she was responsible for the administration of federal child welfare programs.

Joseph McBride, is a part-time lecturer at SSW, where he teaches Foundations of Social Work Practice, and Practice with Children and Adolescents. He is past director of social work and training director at Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. Mr. McBride has extensive consulting and teaching experience in family therapy, grief, chronic illness, parenting issues, private practice in social work, and social work supervision. He also worked on both the landmark NIH Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and the Diabetes Prevention Trial. His publications include articles on funeral homes, grief therapy and diabetes.

Dr. Arthur Schwartz received his graduate degree from the Boston University School of Social Work and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. In addition to his teaching at Penn, he has held faculty positions at the University of Chicago, the University of Maryland and recently he was the Scholar-in-Residence and Professor at the Center for Social Work Education, Widener University. Dr. Schwartz has consulted around the world on social work practice and mental health treatment issues. In addition, he has been a visiting lecturer at major universities in the U.S. and abroad. He has authored and co-authored many articles and book chapters. His books include Depression, Theories and Treatments: Psychological, Biological and Social Perspectives, (with Ruth M. Schwartz); The Behavior Therapies; and Social Casework: A Behavioral Approach (with Israel Goldiamond).