Walden University Announces Scholarships to Honor Social Work Pioneer

Dr. Barbara Solomon scholarships offer more than $115,000 to those who help underserved populations

Dr. Barbara Solomon

Minneapolis—April 22, 2014—To honor social work pioneer Dr. Barbara Solomon, Walden University is offering up to six Barbara Solomon Scholarships for Social Work totaling approximately $115,000. Named for the long-time Walden board member who dedicated her 50-year career in social work to empowering minority and underserved communities, these scholarships will be awarded to six outstanding students who demonstrate a proven commitment to helping the underserved.

“It is an honor to be recognized by Walden University, an institution that I have held in high regard for more than 20 years and whose mission is to educate scholar-practitioners capable of making positive social change,” said Dr. Solomon, research professor emerita at the University of Southern California’s Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services, School of Social Work. “It is a privilege to be part of an impassioned, committed social work-driven community of professionals who help marginalized and oppressed populations achieve social equity and improve their quality of life.”

Dr. Solomon was the first African American to hold a deanship at the University of Southern California (USC) and is well known for her landmark book, Black Empowerment: Social Work in Oppressed Communities, which introduced the concept of empowerment as a framework for social-work practice. She was the project director and principal investigator for a long-term evaluation of Los Angeles County’s family preservation and support programs. Dr. Solomon is the recipient of the Presidential Medallion, USC’s highest honor, and the Rosa Parks Freedom Award from the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

The scholarships are available for Walden’s online Master of Social Work (MSW), which was recently granted candidacy status from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and its Doctor of Social Work (DSW) and PhD in Social Work programs offered through Walden’s School of Social Work and Human Services.

To be considered for one of the six scholarships, which include two full-tuition scholarships, applicants are asked to submit an essay that describes their past or present service to a community or organization, impact on social change and desire to help underserved populations. The essay should also discuss how a social worker can help address a potential problem or issue as well as how professionals inside and outside of social work can work collaboratively. For additional scholarship eligibility requirements or to apply, visit www.WaldenU.edu/swscholarships or call 1-855-203-7874.

These scholarships are part of Walden’s commitment to making education more accessible and affordable for those who want to learn online. Walden is offering millions of dollars in grants, scholarships and tuition assistance in 2014 to help support our students. To learn more about Walden’s tuition savings opportunities, visit www.WaldenU.edu/savings.

For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 50,000 students from all 50 states and more than 150 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 75 campus-based and online universities in 30 countries.

Walden offers more than 80 degree programs with more than 370 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, social work, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.