Message from the Dean
Description of the video:
IU Social Work (00:00)
First question for the dean: What is your social work origin story?
My gosh. So social work for me began whenever I was in college. I knew I wanted to work with kids. I knew that specifically children who'd experienced abuse and neglect really had my heart. And then a lot of those kids experienced troubles or struggles with behavioral health.
I wanted that opportunity to practice at that intersection of mental health and child welfare, and it's been a beautiful thing for me.
Love that. Awesome.
Next question. Now what class would you love to secretly sit in on this semester?
I think probably our intro class because our intro to social work class is where students really get to understand what social work's about. A lot of them aren't even social work students, but during that class, as a result of the class, many of them become interested in social work.
So for me, it's just this impact class that helps people understand social work, even if they're not gonna be a social worker. I think that lens that social work brings to any other profession is still incredibly important.
Love to hear that.
Number three, what is one thing on your desk that tells students a little bit about you?
Well, there's two rocks on my desk that came from a friend that kind of remind me that, first of all, everything is beautiful. And second of all, sometimes even the hardest things are shaped by nature. And I think that that's an incredible lesson for us all.
I love that. That's a really nice one.
All right, number four, what is a project you've worked on recently that you're especially excited about?
Well, I I think probably the second edition of my textbook on social, racial, economic, and environmental justice has been incredibly powerful and meaningful for me. I have two wonderful co editors with that project, Diane Leffler and Natalie Pope. And I think that that really stemmed from my understanding or awareness that it's really hard sometimes to have that justice lens in social work practice, and we tend to teach it from a population-specific view.
But what we need to do is pull that back and look at the systems that actually impact our ability to achieve justice or not. So that's what that textbook really does, is it looks at various systems, whether it's criminal justice, education, child welfare, public child welfare in particular, and it really allows us to have that bigger lens on social work.
Nice.
Now, number five, what is your go-to coffee, tea, lock in drink?
My lock in drink? It's probably Topo Chico, passion fruit.
Nice one. That's a good.
Number six. What was your first job? Were you any good at it?
My first job. My gosh. So my first job is I was a lab tech at this place called Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory. I've got to take care of the the specimens that we had. I got to do field work. I was out collecting cow patties in the pasture. I got to do it all.
And what we're trying to do is understand biological control of parasites for corn. And so that entailed a lot of maggots. That entailed a lot of work that I don't want to repeat, but helped me understand the scientific method and the rigor that it takes to really understand how we can impact research in a way that allows us to use nature and the things that are already in place.
Yeah, so it sounds like you were pretty good at it then.
Number seven. What is something that students wouldn't right away guess about you?
I think probably my love and knowledge of sports is probably pretty high in the social work world. Some of it comes from having four boys who are all involved in sports. What my family has gotten from it is hard work, perseverance. Sometimes you work really hard. You don't always get your way. So it creates resilience as well.
I think there's a lot of life lessons that athletics and involvement, and maybe not even sports, but involvement in extracurricular activities can certainly bring to people. So I don't know that anybody would know that by looking at me.
I like that.
Number eight, what makes you most proud to be a part of the IU social work community?
So for me, what's so powerful about our school is the impact we have on the state. Our school is incredibly committed to Hoosier Nation, and it allows us to understand what the needs are and be able to prepare practitioners to serve and improve health and well-being, not just of individuals, but their families and their communities as well.
And I think that's incredibly important for us to be able to have that footprint across the state.
Thank you so much for sitting down with me, Dean Benner. It was great to get to know you a little bit more.
Thank you.
Boom. That was great.
I'm so glad to welcome you to a new semester at the Indiana University School of Social Work.
Whether you are beginning your first year, transferring to IU, returning for another semester, or preparing for graduation, you are starting another chapter in a journey that will challenge, inspire, and prepare you to make a meaningful difference in your community.
As the semester begins, I encourage you to think carefully about where you direct your time, energy, and attention. I know you have many important responsibilities outside the classroom. Your family matters. Your friends matter. Your job matters. Your health and well-being matter. These are not distractions from your education. They are part of what sustains you and gives purpose to the work you do.
Distractions, however, are the things that pull your focus away from what matters most. They compete for attention without helping you move toward your goals. This semester, I encourage you to be intentional about identifying the people, commitments, and priorities that deserve your energy while finding ways to limit the distractions that make it harder to be present in your learning and in your life.
For those who are new to IU, especially first-year and transfer students, I have one piece of advice: don’t try to do this alone.
Connect with people and build those relationships. That may be a classmate, a professor, an advisor, or another member of our community. Having someone alongside you can make all the difference. The relationships you build here will help you navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and stay motivated when things get tough.
Something I admire most about social work students is that you have chosen a path centered on caring for others. People come to social work from many different backgrounds and experiences, but they often share a common desire to strengthen communities, support individuals and families, and create positive change.
As you begin this semester, I invite you to pause for a moment and think about why you chose this path. What communities do you hope to empower? What causes matter most to you? Where do you want to make an impact? And if you are not yet sure of the answer, think of a person who means a a lot to you.
Once you have that person, community, cause, or place in mind, carry that image with you. Let it remind you why your work matters... why social work matters. Keep it close throughout this semester and throughout your time at the IU School of Social Work. You may even carry it with you throughout your entire career.
When assignments feel overwhelming, when the world feels heavy, or when the work ahead seems daunting, return to that image. Let it reconnect you to your purpose and remind you who or what inspired you to begin this journey.
On behalf of our faculty and staff, thank you for being part of the IU School of Social Work community. We are honored to support you and look forward to all you will accomplish this year.
Warmly,
Kalea Benner, Ph.D.
Dean
Indiana University School of Social Work