UWF welcomes new chair of Department of Social Work

“We are excited to have Dr. Rodenhiser join UWF to lead the department of social work,” said Dr. William Crawley, dean of the UWF College of Education and Professional Studies. “Dr. Rodenhiser comes with a wealth of experience, having served to develop and shape the field of social work education at the national level.”

With more than 40 years of social work teaching and leadership experience at such institutions as the University of Maryland, University of North Dakota, Rochester Institute of Technology and the U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences, Rodenhiser brings an array of expertise and accolades. Most recently, Rodenhiser served as a professor and director for the School of Social Work at Boise State University.

“After spending a number of years involved in social work education, federal service and assessment tool development, I look forward to bringing my skills and experience from those fields to my new role,” said Rodenhiser.

The UWF Department of Social Work equips students with the tools to become successful social work practitioners, helping children and families, mental health clients, substance abusers, those in hospitals and hospice services and many more. The department offers a Bachelor and Master of Social Work, as well as undergraduate minors in interdisciplinary aging studies, child welfare, social welfare and substance abuse.

Prior to his academic career, Rodenhiser served in the Army, spending several years in West Germany employed in various social work roles, including chief of the Family Support Division. He has been published in the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, the Journal of Social Work Education and the Family Preservation Journal.

Rodenhiser received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, his Master of Education from Boston University in an overseas program, and his Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. He received his Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern California in 1990, after which he began his more than 20 years of service to higher education institutions.

For more information about the UWF Department of Social Work, visit uwf.edu/socialwork.