Joel R. Ambelang

Director, Baccalaureate Social Work Program, Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon, WI, since June 1992.

I received my Master of Science degree in Community Development from the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Social Work, Dept. of Regional and Community Affairs, June 2, 1970.
Cardinal Stritch University, ABD, (Ed.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning & Service), December 2002.
Member of the NASW Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW).
Certified Independent Social Worker (CISW), State of Wisconsin Dept. of Regulation & Licensing.
Member of BPD since 1992.
Membership Committee since 1997; Chair, 2001.

I am uniquely qualified to be Board Member-at-large because I have come into social work education from social services administration and macro-practice settings. I have maintained currency with the BSW marketplace and understand the job environment into which we send our students. My professional experience has been macro-practice. BPD's purpose and process is macro-practice. When I came into social work education in 1992 I had much to learn and BPD was my academy. I was responsible for the accreditation of the Concordia social work program which was initially accredited in 1997 and reaffirmed for eight years in 2001.

BPD is a dynamic organization which has much to offer baccalaureate social work educators and administrators: leadership, development and support, innovation, advocacy and collaboration, research, diversity, and global awareness. I am close enough to my roots to appreciate the experience of new directors, affiliated with BPD long enough to understand how we walk the talk, and intimately familiar with accreditation and quality social work education to provide the leadership necessary to help us meet the complex needs of the 21st century.

Mary Ann Suppes

Mary Ann Suppes, MSW, CICSW
Professor and Director, Social Work Program
Mount Mary College
Milwaukee, WI 53222

BPD is truly an extraordinary organization. Its responsiveness to members' needs and interests has resulted in a remarkable level of loyalty among BPD members. I am incredibly proud of my membership in BPD. My interest in running for the member-at-large board position is the opportunity it gives me to use my energy and broad understanding of social work education to help BPD sustain its leadership role in social work education, while strengthening its outreach to members. As an organization, BPD has had to fight to achieve recognition as a force in the social work education community. Much progress has been made but there are still unresolved issues (advanced standing and the social work educational continuum, among others). In terms of outreach to members, I would like to help BPD to sustain and even further develop its nurturing, non-competitive environment, its ability to assist with the small and large problems members experience daily.

I would bring to my role as member-at-large a substantial amount of knowledge and experience with social work education. My past involvement with BPD includes service on the Nominating Committee, the Advanced Standing Committee, editor of the BPD Update, and member of the board. Currently I am also serving on CSWE's Commission on Information Management and Research and I've served on the Commission on Accreditation, and am an experienced site visitor. I am eager to use my experiences to seek constructive change that will benefit social work education and, ultimately, the people served by our students.