Social Work Events

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Carenlee Barkdull, Associate Professor & Director of the MSW Program, presented at the 2011-2012 University Faculty Lecture Series at the North Dakota Museum of Art on Thursday, March 8, 2012. Carenlee's lecture entitled "Peril, Promise and Potential of Distance Education" addressed some of the current challenges and controversies around distance education and teaching with technology. She also shared results of her research for the MSW Distance Program's first graduated cohort.

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The Department of Social Work held a welcome luncheon for newly admitted BSSW students on January 25, 2012 at Swanson Hall.

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Fall 2011 Commencement for BSSW graduates held on December 16, 2011.

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Fall 2011 BSSW Pinning Ceremony was held on December 16, 2011 at the Memorial Union.

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Fall 2011 MSW Hooding Ceremony was held on December 16, 2011 at the Memorial Union.

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Social Workers & Legal Liability Issues Conference held on October 21, 2011 at the Hilton Garden Inn - Grand Forks. This annual UND Homecoming Event was co-sponsored by NASW-ND. The Department of Social Work presented The Honorable Judge Karen K. Braaten with her Distinguished Alumni Award at the conference.

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The Honorable Judge Karen K. Braaten was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award from the UND Department of Social Work on Friday, October 21, 2011. The presentation took place at the Department's homecoming event, Social Workers & Legal Liability Issues, at the Hilton Garden Inn.

The Honorable Judge Karen K. Braaten received her BA in Social Work in 1973. She worked at the Grand Forks County Social Service Center as a Child Welfare Worker, was a child advocate and advanced the quality of home child care centers.

"Judge Braaten has done the Department of Social Work proud in her almost 40 years as an alumnus," shares Thomasine Heitkamp, Chair of Social Work. "She is highly accomplished and very distinguished and it gives us great pleasure to recognize her as our Distinguished Alumna."

Judge Braaten secured her Juris Doctorate degree from UND in 1979 and worked in a private practice with emphasis in family law, commercial law and real property until her election as District Judge in 2000. She was re-elected by voters of her judicial district in 2006.

As a lawyer and judge, Judge Braaten has served in a number of leadership capacities including as a Board Member and President of the North Dakota Bar Foundation and President of North Dakota Judges Association. She was a Board Member and Vice-Chair of the North Dakota Supreme Court Disciplinary Board and a member of the Joint Attorney Standards Committee. Judge Braaten is currently serving as President of the Grand Forks Randy H. Lee Inn of Court, Chair of the North Dakota Supreme Court Informal Complaint Panel and a member of the North Dakota Supreme Court Ethics Advisory Committee.

While she enjoys a distinguished legal career, she has maintained her social work roots by serving as an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Social Work teaching Social Work and the Legal Process. She has been on the Board of Directors for Development Homes, Inc. for 12 years, serving as President during that period and is an avid supporter of Prairie Harvest Mental Health Center by helping with fundraising activities.

She is currently the President of the UND Letter Winners (she lettered in tennis at UND). She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, served for the past 30 years as the local representative in Girls State Selection. She has also been a lector at Holy Family Church for the past 20 years.

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"Stomp Out Child Abuse" Grand Forks Red River Children's Advocacy Center Walk held on September 14, 2011. The UND Department of Social Work and United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Area sponsored this walk attended by faculty, staff and community to raise awareness about the realities of child abuse that thousands of children face every day and how Children's Advocacy Centers make a difference in these children's lives.