A standing-room-only crowd of UT Social Work community members and partners gathered on the Forty Acres as The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work marked its 75th anniversary with a full-day symposium, celebrating the many ways social workers lead.
The event spotlighted UT Social Work’s legacy of leadership in practice, policy, research and education, as well as the ways that it impacts lives through health and behavioral health, global engagement, and the arts and humanities.
State of the School
Dean Allan Cole opened the day with a State of the School address to faculty, staff, students, alumni, advisory board members and community leaders. Present among the audience members were UT President Jim Davis, as well as numerous deans and university-wide leaders.
Dean Cole’s speech highlighted the innovative practices and accomplishments of UT Social Work’s faculty and staff, underscoring why the School continues to rank among the nation’s top social work education programs.
He credited strong faculty, interdisciplinary programs and strategic partnerships — including the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Dell Medical School, the School of Nursing and the College of Pharmacy — with preparing graduates to solve complex social challenges.
UT Social Work is one of the few social work schools with a direct partnership with a medical school, integrating social workers into health and behavioral health innovations. With the planned expansion of the UT Medical Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center on campus, the School is poised to grow its leadership in health-related research and care.
“Our vision remains anchored in rigorous science and social science — in evidence-based practice and critical inquiry. And yet it’s also tethered to the humanities and the arts,” said Dean Cole, encouraging attendees to share the School’s stories and support its mission.
Students were a central focus of the address, as Dean Cole noted record enrollment at UT Social Work alongside UT Austin’s all-time highs in enrollment and student performance. He emphasized that the School of Social Work is a leader in graduation rates among colleges and schools at UT Austin, increasing its four-year graduation rate while also serving the highest proportion of first-generation students on the Forty Acres.
“You are why we are here,” Dean Cole told the students. “Our students are smart, yes, but they are compelling, visionary, and refreshingly practical.”
Celebrating Innovation Through Partnerships
Following the address, Dr. Octavio Martinez of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health joined Dean Cole on stage to announce new funding for behavioral health research through the arts and humanities. Through the Hogg Foundation, ten grants of up to $22,000 will support mental health research and tenure-track faculty at social work schools across Texas. The RFP for the program will open in January 2026.
Additional highlights from UT Social Work partnerships included presentations by Dell Medical School’s Dr. Greg Wallingford on the human side of patient care, and an interactive musical experience with Dr. Kelley Glover, postdoctoral fellow at the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, on drumming and somatic healing.
Award-winning NPR executive producer Rebecca McInroy also moderated a live recording of KUT’s popular “Two Guys on Your Head” podcast and show with hosts Drs. Art Markman and Bob Duke discussing the intersections of mental health, psychology and social work. Dean Cole and Dr. Martinez served as guests for the recording.
Spotlight on Student-Led Solutions
The symposium concluded with a student pitch competition hosted by the Moritz Center for Societal Impact, which supports community-driven projects that advance behavioral and mental health through the arts and humanities.
Four teams from across five colleges and schools on the Forty Acres competed for two prizes of $5,000 each to support community-based projects that advanced mental and behavioral health efforts through the arts and humanities.
The competition showcased bold, student-led solutions to community challenges. Projects included:
- Teaching Story, Stigma, and Mental Health Narratives in Prison
Charlotte Perez, Jo Hurt (College of Liberal Arts)
A storytelling-based curriculum designed to reduce stigma and support mental health among incarcerated individuals. - C.H.E.F.S: Culinary and Healthy Education for Fueling Students
Lauren Bell, MPH, Madilyn Bradley (College of Natural Sciences)
A nutrition and wellness initiative using culinary education to promote behavioral health in school settings. - Cultural Healing Through Story, Song, and Symbol
Cheng Chow (School of Social Work), Hannah Kim (Moody College of Communication)
An arts-based exploration of behavioral health pathways in Asian and Asian-American communities. - LetraLight: Empowering Bilingual Literacy and Well-being
Raquel Silva, Shirley Souza, Cinthia Herrera, Hanyue Sha (College of Education)
A bilingual literacy program that integrates mental health support for young learners and their families.
Honoring Generosity That Fuels Our Mission
During the celebration, the School received several generous gifts in support of students and programs. One gift funded all four student-led projects from the pitch contest, allowing the Moritz Center to recognize and amplify even more student innovation.
Another — a $100,000 pledge — will support students in the GRACE program for the 2026–27 academic year, following the conclusion of the grant that originally launched and sustained the program. The GRACE Program (Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education) is a field-based learning initiative that deepens students’ understanding of aging and older adult care. The new gift will provide $7,500 scholarships to 13 students, ensuring continued access to transformative learning opportunities.
Additionally, a member of the School of Social Work Advisory Council and their spouse formalized an estate intention to support the School in the future — a meaningful gesture that reflects deep trust in our mission.
Art as Advocacy
The day concluded with the opening of the “Into Light — Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories,” an art exhibition that drew a crowd of family members and individuals who have lost loved ones to substance misuse. The exhibit works to remove the stigma of addiction through portraiture and personal stories.
UT Social Work continues to lead efforts to end cycles of substance misuse through research, education, and community partnerships. The exhibit is open to the public on the second floor of Walter Webb Hall, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 75 years of leadership in social work, UT Social Work remains focused on preparing practitioners and scholars to lead in addiction, aging, disability, housing, child and family wellbeing, health and behavioral health, medical humanities, social policy, and support for veterans and military families. Our work continues to shape responsive systems, strengthen communities, and expand opportunities for connection, care and wellbeing — across Texas and beyond.