On Nov. 7, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Foundation honored Peter Vaughan, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) with the Knee/Wittman Lifetime Achievement award for his efforts in social work education, military social work, and social work with aging.

Vaughan was presented with the 2011 award, which was announced last June, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. at the NASW headquarters. The awards recognize individuals who are models of excellence and have made significant contributions in the field of health and mental health.

Vaughan has served as dean of GSS since October 2000. Previously he was the associate dean for academic programs and associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work.

Under Dean Vaughan’s leadership, the GSS has become Fordham’s highest-ranking school, named No. 11 in the nation among graduate schools of social work by U.S. News & World Report.

“Dr. Peter Vaughan has served our profession with extreme sensitivity, skill, and respect for professional values, organizational vision, and compassion for the vulnerable who are so often put aside or ignored in our society,” said Julia Watkins, outgoing executive director of the Council on Social Work Education. “He never hesitates to step forward and make a commitment to the work at hand.”

“Peter Vaughan has dedicated his life to serving others both in the military and out,” said Robert Arnold, director of the NASW Foundation. “The Social Work profession has been fortunate to have such a dedicated worker.”

The NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers and has nearly 145,000 members nationwide.

The National Association of Social Workers’ New York City chapter will present Susan Bair Egan, Ph.D., with the Chapter Service Award at the NASW-NYC Annual Meeting tonight.

Egan, assistant dean for student services at the Graduate School of Social Service (GSS), will be recognized for her longtime service to the NASW as a member of the Board of Directors—most recently as third vice president—and a member of several committees.

Currently, Egan is the Region II (New York City and Connecticut) representative on the National Board of NASW and is serving a second three-year term on the Council of Social Work Education’s Committee on Leadership Development.

Egan began her social work career in child and family services after earning her master of social work degree from Fordham in 1977. Following her work at a family center in Brooklyn, she provided social work services at Methodist Hospital, first on the OB/GYN, neonatology, and pediatrics units and later on the in-patient psychiatric unit.

Egan returned to Fordham in 1986 as the director of admissions for the M.S.W. program before becoming assistant dean in 1989. She earned her doctorate from GSS in 2004, specializing in women’s issues, and is currently involved with the Institute for Women and Girls.

Congratulations to Dean Egan on her achievement!