USM School of Social Work Leadership Change Announced

Tue, 10/08/2024 - 10:07am | By: Karelia Pitts

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) has announced the appointment of Dr. Joohee Lee as interim director of the School of Social Work, effective October 1, 2024. Dr. Michelle Brazeal will continue serving as the school’s associate director.

“We thank Dr. Jerome Kolbo for the leadership he has provided as director of the School of Social Work for the past five years. As he transitions back to full-time faculty to focus on his work as principal investigator on an impactful Title IV-E grant related to child protective services, we are excited to see Dr. Joohee Lee apply her wealth of experience and analytical skills to guiding the school,” said Dr. Trent Gould, CEHS dean.

“The School of Social Work plays an integral role in our college mission to produce graduates that will enter the workforce and improve the human condition. Under Dr. Lee’s interim direction, we will continue to advance our School of Social Work’s connection to our mission to better serve the stakeholders of Mississippi and beyond.”

In 2006, Dr. Lee joined the faculty at USM as an assistant professor for the School of Social Work. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from EWHA Womans University in South Korea, Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina-Columbia, and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Her areas of expertise include geriatric workforce enhancement, disaster, mental health, resilience and child welfare.

“Stepping into leadership is both an exciting opportunity and a challenge. It invites me to unlock strengths I haven’t fully recognized before. I hope to contribute to the continued success of our school and draw on our collective strengths to create positive change where needed,” said Dr. Lee.

Faculty and staff in the School of Social Work strive to prepare students for competent, ethical and culturally informed social work practice while also working to advance knowledge relevant to social work practice and social welfare. Through the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees, the school develops and communicates social work knowledge and skills consistent with the values and ethics of the profession. Their graduates produce dynamic solutions for personal, interpersonal and systemic challenges with particular attention to the needs of people who are poor, oppressed and underserved.

Click here to learn more about the USM College of Education and Human Sciences. Click here to learn more about the School of Social Work.