Anna Scheyett, a dean at the University of South Carolina who has fostered student success while enhancing research and outreach, has been named dean of the UGA School of Social Work.
Scheyett, who has led the USC College of Social Work since 2011, will assume her new role at UGA July 1.
“Dr. Scheyett is committed to advancing the social work profession, and she comes to the University of Georgia with an extraordinary record of success,” said Provost Pamela Whitten. “I am confident that our School of Social Work will have an even greater impact on our state and nation under her bold leadership.”
At USC, Scheyett oversaw a revision to the Master of Social Work curriculum and developed student testing supports that helped increase licensure pass rates by nearly 40 percent. In addition, she established a graduate certificate program focused on social and behavioral health issues in military service members, veterans and military families.
She has implemented grant submission and management support services while increasing professional development opportunities for faculty.
During her tenure as dean, research expenditures in the USC College of Social Work have grown 87 percent.
“I am pleased that Dr. Scheyett will be joining the university as dean of the School of Social Work,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “I look forward to her continued advancement of the academic stature of the School of Social Work in the coming years.”
Scheyett has made collaboration across disciplines as well as with partners at the community, state and international levels a key priority. Under her leadership, the USC College of Social Work exceeded its $4 million fundraising goal.
“The School of Social Work has a core focus on the most pressing issues of our time—social justice, health and health disparities and poverty—with brilliant, dedicated faculty and students invested in moving the needle on these challenges,” Scheyett said. “I’m honored to have been chosen by UGA to lead the school into the future and am eagerly looking forward to beginning my work.”
Scheyett will succeed Dean Maurice Daniels, who announced last year that he would be returning to the faculty to devote more time to his research.
“Dean Daniels has been a transformative leader, and he leaves a very strong foundation for Dean Scheyett and the faculty, staff and students in the School of Social Work to build on,” Whitten said.