Stephen C. Anderson, Ph.D.; LISW
Director and Undergraduate Program Coordinator
School of Social Work
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM

I began my career in social work education in 1972 at Bemidji State University in Minnesota. For two of the three years I was at Bemidji, I served as the coordinator of the BSW program. Later during the twenty-one years I spent at the University of Oklahoma I spent a number of those years serving as the field coordinator, undergraduate coordinator, graduate coordinator and associate director. Now at New Mexico State I serve as both director and undergraduate coordinator. Throughout my 27 year career in social work education I have been dedicated to the role of BSW social work education in our profession. I am energized by our BSW students and enjoy teaching our Intro course and working to recruit undergraduates into our profession.

I have served a three year term as a member-at-large on the BPD Board of Directors. Currently I am finishing the second year of a three year term as the secretary of the Board of Directors. In this capacity I also serve as a member of the Executive Committee. As a member of the BPD Board, I have served as the board liaison to the Publications and Communications Committee, EFLAG Committee, and the Technology and Distance Education Committee.

In running for the position of President-Elect, I pledge to provide the leadership to strengthen the role of BPD in being the leading voice and advocate of baccalaureate social work education. In order to fulfill this role, BPD must first work to strengthen and unify its organizational structure. I fully endorse the Membership Committee's recommendation that we have one membership category. The time has come to have one organization that not only reflects the voice of baccalaureate program directors, but also the diversity and strength of baccalaureate faculty. As an organization that is inclusive of all people with a passion for the strength and role of baccalaureate social work education in our profession, I believe we will be better positioned to speak with a unified and strong voice. One of the great strengths of BPD is in the diversity of its membership and the role the organization plays in the development of leadership for social work education. In recognition of this diversity, I run openly as a gay male and will always strive to insure that the full range of our membership will be reflected in the structure and operation of the organization. I believe most strongly that we must retain a strong identity and keep our annual meeting apart from that of CSWE. While remaining separate and maintaining vigilance in protecting the autonomy and strength of BSW education, we must also seek out avenues of cooperation and dialog with our sister social work organizations to build unity in strengthening the understanding and role of the social work profession in our society. It would be a privilege to serve you.

Linda Moore, Ph.D., LMSW-AP
Professor of Social Work - TCU

I am honored to have my name placed in nomination for President-elect of BPD. I love this organization and I want to represent the BPD membership as we implement our mission. BPD has a rich and exciting history, including 20 years of working to bring baccalaureate educators to the table as equal partners in the mission of educating social work practitioners. CSWE recently published its Strategic Planning Task Force Report outlining its proposed new structure. While there are issues on which we need to come to agreement, what struck me is that the proposed structure includes equal representation between BSW and MSW educators and leaders. The CSWE Office restructuring plan includes a Leadership Roundtable of elected leaders including those representing BPD, GADE, SWRR and others. We are there! Our voice is heard and valued. That's pretty exciting!

We now face a future that demands energy and commitment to the continued ideals of BPD. I want to consistently focus on our mission of supporting excellence in baccalaureate social work education. I want BPD to continue to provide one of the best conferences available to social work educators; an excellent journal, JBSW; a wonderful newsletter, Update; a Web site and a list-serve that allow us to share information and ideas; and a mentoring program to support new BPDs. I want to continue our linkage with other organizations such as IASWR, ANSWER, SSWR, and the National Gerontology Leadership Coalition, because that enhances our knowledge base and provides advocacy for social work education and research.

There are also many challenges as we move forward. I look forward to those challenges. I want to ensure that we have the appropriate structure to carry out the tasks necessary to achieve our mission. I want BPD to maintain fiscal responsibility, making necessary adjustments to ensure that. I want to increase the leadership base of BPD through our mentoring program and leadership development efforts. I want to continue our focus on increasing diversity both in our organization and in our focus on partnerships with other organizations. Most of all, I want to hear what is important to the membership. I want to listen and act to implement the wishes of the members who give so much to BPD.

My work as chair of the BPD Nomination Committee and the CSWE Nominating Committee allowed me to meet many colleagues and realize the incredible talent available to our organization. I want to motivate my colleagues to work as part of this great group of educators to keep it moving forward with enthusiasm and humor. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with colleagues who are committed to continuing the amazing progress we have made and to enhancing baccalaureate education. Thanks for your support.