Campus News

Sherman Fund Established at School of Social Welfare

by Carol Olechowski

Susan R. Sherman

Susan R. Sherman, a Distinguished Service Professor Emerita recognized for her contributions to social welfare and gerontology, has established a fund to support master�s students at the University at Albany�s School of Social Welfare.

The Susan R. Sherman Endowed Fund for the Internships in Aging Project is named for a Collins Fellow who taught at the school for more than 25 years. Annually, the endowment will provide a partial stipend for a field placement at Albany Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York for a second-year student participating in the school�s Internships in Aging Project (IAP), which prepares MSW professionals for leadership roles in mental health, health, and social services for older persons.

Prior to joining the University faculty, Sherman held research positions at the New York State Office for the Aging; the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene; and the University of California, Los Angeles. A founder and director of UAlbany�s Institute of Gerontology and chair of the Baccalaureate Program in Social Work for five years, she taught courses in Research Methods, Social Gerontology, and Human Behavior in the Social Environment. Her books include Foster Families for Adults: A Community Alternative in Long-term Care (with E. Newman) and The Environment for Aging: Interpersonal, Social and Spatial Contexts (with R. Ward and M. LaGory).

Currently, Sherman serves on the advisory board of the University�s Center for Jewish Studies and on the Albany Collegiate Interfaith Center board of directors. She has also been active with nume-rous community organizations, including the New York State Society on Aging, the Senior Service Centers of the Albany Area, and the B�nai B�rith Parkview Senior Apartments. In addition, she was a member of the Jewish Student Services Committee/Campus Commission for the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, an adviser to the University at Albany RUACH Student Group, and a member of the Aging Committee of the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York.

Sherman has received a number of awards for her work. They include the Walter Beattie Award for Distinguished Service in Gerontology, the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work, and the Mildred M. Seltzer Distinguished Service Recognition Award from the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

Sherman noted: �I created this fund as a way to preserve my connection with the School of Social Welfare and the University. I believe that this endowment honors both my ideas about aging and the strong dedication I feel to the Jewish community.�

In order to fund the IAP stipend fully, UAlbany and Jewish Family Services continue to seek contributions toward the endowment. Questions may be directed to Mary Beth Nelligan-Goodman at (518) 442-4161. Checks, payable to The University at Albany Foundation, should be mailed to the University at Albany School of Social Welfare (RI 120), 135 Western Ave., Albany, N.Y., 12222. The memo section on the check should note that the gift is for The Susan R. Sherman Endowed Fund for the Internships in Aging Project.

Contributions to the following, which also support students at the School of Social Welfare, are also welcome:

• Seth W. Spellman Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Distinguished Service (to recognize exemplary community leadership and service of an undergraduate or master�s student)
• Kenneth Price (Kent) Brown II Endowment (for master�s or doctoral students committed to serving the aging who suffer from HIV/AIDS and physical disabilities, and to dismantling the barriers they face)
• Shirley J. Jones International Community Building Endowment (to advance the education and career aspirations of master�s or doctoral students of black African descent)
• William Randolph Hearst Endowment (for master�s students in the Internships in Aging Project)
• William J. Reid Fund (for supporting doctoral students� dissertation research)
• Ralph Sidman Memorial Fund (for a student who has evidenced a commitment to community service and has completed at least 160 hours of volunteer work through the Community and Public Service Program).

Donations to these funds may also be made via check payable to The University at Albany Foundation, mailed to the aforementioned address. The memo section of the check should designate the name of the fund. Nelligan-Goodman is also the contact person for inquiries.