University of Arkansas at Little Rock

The School of Social Work is delighted to announce that Iraq veteran George “Cliff” Hudson has joined the MSW program as a part-time student this fall.

Cliff was an Infantry Squad Leader in the United States Marine Corps in Ramadi, Iraq and since returning home has begun working with the Veteran’s Administration as a Research Assistant studying the physiological effects of time in combat. He wants to work with returning veterans and their families to assist in their transition home and in dealing with the issues that arise from time spent in combat and the effects of the adjustment of coming back to civilian life.

Cliff is also a successful singer / songwriter who has used his experiences in Iraq to reach out to other soldiers and their families with his music.  He has played venues and military bases throughout the east coast and all over the southeast.  Recently he played at Boot Fest, a benefit for the Arkansas Firefighters Memorial, a bronze sculpture destined for the state Capital grounds and at a concert for returning veterans at War Memorial Stadium.  You can find out more about Cliff and his music at his myspace page.
We are very proud of his dedication to the returning veterans and his pursuit of a MSW to help him be better prepared to assist them.

This week Phi Alpha, the national Social Work Honor Society, announced the recipient of its annual service award.  The college is proud to announce that the award was given to the CPS School of Social Work’s Nu Delta chapter.

Phi Alpha Service Program Coordinator Jane Maas-Brady commended the Nu Delta Chapter for its “outstanding leadership”, and its efforts to strengthen the bond between chapter members and the community.  Maas-Brady also praised the Chapter’s commitment to the academic success of social work students.  She summed up her comments by saying “you do a great job in promoting the profession of social work”.

The Service Award includes a check for $500, as well as national recognition in “The New Social Worker” magazine’s fall edition.  Professor John Miller, the chapter’s faculty sponsor, has also been offered the opportunity to discuss the development and success of the Nu Delta chapter at this year’s Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting.

Members of the CPS’ Master of Social Work Student Group will serve as volunteers at this year’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event on October 17th.  Participating students will brave an early morning start, beginning at 5:00 am and working until 11:00 am.  The student volunteers will spread out among the crowd, sharing information about breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.

Last year 20 students from the MSW program took part, but this year the figure has more than doubled, with a total of 50 community-minded students donating their time to assist in the fight against breast cancer.