Interim director for MU's School of Social Work to stay in job

COLUMBIA — Marjorie Sable has been named the new director for the School of Social Work, said Stephen Jorgensen, the dean of MU's College of Human Environmental Sciences.

Sable is the associate dean of Research and Graduate Studies and a professor of social work.

The decision was announced in an e-mail to colleagues on July 14 and announced publicly Friday in a news release. She will start the position on Sept. 1.

Sable has been a faculty member since 1993 and has served as interim director since 2007.

In the news release, Jorgenson said that during her 15 years at MU, Sable has significantly contributed to the field of social work.

"Her research in the areas of reproductive public health, psychosocial barriers to quality health care access among low-income and minority groups and HIV/AIDS prevention in high-risk groups has brought national and international distinction to her and to the University of Missouri," Jorgensen said.

Sable's educational background includes a master's degree in social work from Washington University as well as a master's degree and doctorate in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"I am excited to accept this position and eager to prepare the next generation of social workers, honoring our school's long-standing commitment to training," Sable said in the news release.

The School of Social Work was established in 1953, but MU has offered training in the subject since 1906. The field has experienced vast changes since then.

"Social work practice is experiencing new challenges in the area of child welfare and family well-being, substance abuse and other mental health issues, particularly in the current economic downturn," Sable said.

She hopes to improve the future of social work.

"Modern social work research is providing us with new insights for meeting the challenges. I want to take advantage of these opportunities to adapt social work practice to today's needs."