Freddie Avant, LMSW-AP

Associate Professor/BSW Program Director
Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas

Being a member of BPD since 1996 has given me the opportunity to observe the strength, power, and togetherness of the organization. Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) provide a strong voice for undergraduate social work education. Our voices spoke very loudly over the past couple of years in addressing issues with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. BPD addresses true needs of undergraduate social work education. I have taught in undergraduate social work education for almost 15 years, and I share BPD's vision and passion for the continued advancement of undergraduate education. Over the past six years, I have attended every BPD meeting and served on one planning committee. I would welcome a more active role in the organization. If elected, I will bring to the organization the high level of motivation and commitment needed to promote our mission, excellence in baccalaureate social work education. I am a candidate for a position of leadership because I believe in the organization and in undergraduate social work education. I consider it a privilege as well as an honor to run for a leadership position.

Zulma V. de Urrutia

Full Professor and Director of Social Work Department
Business Address: P. O. Box 23345, San Juan, PR 00931
Work Telephone: (787) 764-0000 Ext. 2487/4165 Fax: (787) 764-3145

Dr. Urrutia is the director of the BSW program at the UPR, Rio Piedras Campus. She possesses a Ph. D. in Social Work from Ohio State University and has a solid academic and administrative experience in the field of Education in Social Work. Among the research conducted by Dr. Urrutia include rape, family violence, social work education and evaluative research. An outstanding effort in this direction has been her study of graduated students from the Social Work Department of the University of Puerto Rico covering three decades of social work education in the 70s, 80s and 90s. The last study included all social work education programs in Puerto Rico. She has been active in study groups related to women issues and family violence at university and community levels in Puerto Rico. The presided the first Family Board against Family Violence and the Advisory Board Related to Family Affairs appointed by the Ex Governor of Puerto Rico, Hon. Rafael Hernández Colón. She also presided the social development platform committee of the actual Governor of Puerto Rico, Ms. Sila Calderón, before her election in 2000. This platform was adopted by the governor after her election. Dr. Urrutia represented the island in the First Workshop for the Development of Horizontal Cooperation Among the Countries of the Caribbean Basin held in Mexico in 1991, appointed by the Department of State. She was also appointed by the Citizen Ambassador Program to become part of professional advisement group of social work educators to visit Russia in 1993. Also was appointed by the President of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) as member of the first Task Force called United States and Mexico Initiative in March 1994.

Dr. Urrutia presides the Puerto Rican Committee of the National Association of Social Workers in Puerto Rico (NASW). She also presides the Association of Latin Social Work Educators (ALSWE) of the Council on Social Work Education. Se represents the voice of Puertorrican educators due to her strong commitment to social work education in Puerto Rico.