New to the full-time faculty of the School of Social Welfare this semester is Blanca Ramos.

Ramos taught “Micro Practice in Social Work I” at the University in 1995, and “Micro Practice in Social Work II” last spring, and has held the position of private social work practitioner at Journeys Counseling Center in Albany (1993-96).

Now in the process of obtaining a doctoral degree at the University, Ramos received both her bachelor’s degree (1989) and her master’s degree in social welfare (1991) at Albany, and also earned a C.S.W. at the State of New York, Board of Certification, in 1991.

“Ramos is experienced in issues related to culture, specializes on Latinos in the United States, and issues of cultural diversity and mental health,” said Anne Fortune, the Interim Dean of the School of Social Welfare. “She is also very will known in the community, and such knowledge is very important in the School of Social Welfare.”

In addition, Ramos has been elected president of the board of governors of the Centro Civico Hispanoamericano, Inc., for four consecutive terms (1991-93) and was appointed by the U.S. Congress to the New York State Advisory Committee for the United States Commission of Civil Rights from 1991 to this current year.

Halpern has held academic appointments as visiting assistant professor in the psychology department at Union College in Schenectady (1993-96), assistant professor in the psychology department of Indiana State University (1991-93), and assistant instructor in pediatrics for the Brown University Program in Medicine at the Woman and Infants’ Hospital in Providence, R.I. (1989-91).

Halpern is a dual alumna from the University at Albany, receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1980 and her masters degree in 1982. She went on to earn her Ph.D. at George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., in 1989.

“The Department of Psychology is pleased to welcome assistant professor Halpern to its faculty,” said Mark Durand, professor and chair of the department. “Dr. Halpern is a clinical child psychologist whose research includes studying how factors such as a child’s personality characteristics and skills can combine to make children æresilient’ or resistant to high risk environments. She joins a growing core of child psychologists in the department and around the campus who work with children at risk.”

Other professional positions Halpern has held include research consultant at the State of New York Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (1994-96), and acting clinical director and research project coordinator in the department of pediatrics at the Women and Infants’ Hospital in Providence.

Linda Chavis