Leadership Transition

Associate Professor Lisa Reyes Mason will step into the role of interim dean of the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work on July 1, 2023, as Dean Amanda Moore McBride steps down to return to the faculty following a yearlong sabbatical.

Reyes Mason joined the GSSW faculty in 2020. For the past year, she has served as GSSW’s associate dean of academic affairs. She also chaired the school’s faculty search committee. Known nationally and internationally as a leader in ecological justice, Reyes Mason co-created GSSW’s Ecological Justice MSW concentration, which was the first of its kind in the nation. In the community, she served on Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s Sustainability Advisory Council. She also served as a steering committee member for the Council on Social Work Education Environmental Justice Curricular Guide Task Force and as co-leader of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Grand Challenge to Create Social Responses to a Changing Environment.

“Since joining GSSW, Dr. Mason has proven to be a thoughtful, consistent and decisive leader,” says Provost Mary Clark. “Dr. Mason has already impressed me with her vision and demonstrated leadership of GSSW, and, together, we have great optimism for GSSW’s continued thriving while we work to appoint our next leader.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve GSSW and the University of Denver as interim dean,” Reyes Mason says. “Although this is a time of leadership transition, GSSW’s focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice will not change, nor will the school’s deep commitment to our students and the communities we serve.”

As interim dean, Reyes Mason will continue to address workload, workload equity and wellness at GSSW. “I will also continue to prioritize positive growth for GSSW’s culture and climate, collaborating closely with faculty, staff, students and our GSSW Executive Advisory Council,” she says.

Winn Professor for Children and Youth Kimberly Bender co-chaired the dean search in 2022–23. As acting dean in spring 2023, she worked with GSSW’s Executive Advisory Council to survey staff and faculty, host office hours and lead dialogues across the GSSW community to better understand the questions and desires related to DEI values and practices. She also held an Executive Advisory Council retreat focused on workload equity, at which GSSW leadership made significant strides in clarifying responsibilities by faculty line, distributing service more equitably and aligning reward structures in the GSSW promotion and tenure guidelines. Bender has also collaborated with GSSW’s advancement team on strategies for increasing funding for paid student internships.

“We are deeply indebted to Dr. Bender for her brilliant and generous leadership of GSSW during this transition period,” Clark says.

The search for a dean will continue in 2023–24 under the leadership of GSSW Associate Professor Leslie Hasche and Korbel School Dean Fritz Mayer.