Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Advisory Committee for the Social Work Department is to review existing curriculum and to suggest changes which will improve the academic content, the relevance of the curriculum to the practice of social work, and which will encourage student interest in the social work major.

The Advisory Committee is composed of alumnae/i of the social work program, who are currently working as social workers along with other social workers from the community, the current social work faculty, and the president and vice-president of the Social Work Club.

In recent years the Advisory Committee has adopted a new mission statement along with departmental goals and objectives for the department, revamped the Junior Practicum, and worked with faculty and staff to develop a website for the Social Work Department.

The Advisory committee meets four times a year. For further information contact John Yoakam, Chair of the Social Work Department. 320-363-5155.

2007-2008 Members of Social Work Advisory Committee

Jim Broda
Retiree, VA Hospital

Amanda Buerman
St. Benedict’s Senior Community

Jennifer Lieser Eschmann
Tri-CAP

Kirstin Franzen
Central MN March of Dimes

Cory Jelinek
Adoption Social Worker
Lutheran Social Service of MN

Andy Mesna
Stearns Co. Human Services
Family & Children Serv. Div.

Jennifer Pettit
New Beginnings

Ann Stalboerger
Central MN Mental Health

Social Work Club Members
Nicole Kempenich,  President
Ashley Strobel, Vice President
Megan Current, Treasurer
Stacey Endres, Secretary

Faculty
John Yoakam, Ph.D., LICSW
Janelle Hinchley, MSW, LICSW
Rena Sespene-Hinz, MSW, LICSW, ACSW
Kerby Plante, MSW, LGSW
Felicia Washington, MSW, LICSW