Nancy Humphreys interview, 2015

Humphreys, Nancy - Oral History Interview - CSWA ❧ An interview with Dr. Nancy Humphreys, MSW as she discusses her work in social work education, professional associations, and influence on policy. ❧ Interviewed by Ellen Dunbar, PhD. Date of interview: 10-10-15. Length of interview: 39 minutes. ❧ INTERVIEW TOPICS: (1:15) – Her start in social work, Occidental College. (3:02) – MSW at USC School of Social Work. (4:45) – Experience as a child with polio knowing a social worker. (5:15) – Her mother’s work in the relief department as a social worker. (6:09) – Political, social, economic climate in the 1960s. (7:30) – Civil Rights Act of 1964. (8:09) – Career Development, work for the Welfare Department, organizing welfare rights groups. (10:45) – PhD at UCLA; teaching at Cal Poly Pomona, USC, and UCLA. (12:00) – Leaving California for Rutgers University, social work in policy practice. (13:20) – President of National Association of Social Workers (NASW), first president of CA chapter. (15:30) –Director at Montana State University, headed policy practice institute at UCONN, created Nancy A. Humphreys Political Social Work Institute at UCONN. (17:55) – Changes in MSW and BSW programs from 1960 to 2015. (18:32) – Founding BSW and MSW in Armenia after the earthquake in 1988, during the collapse of the USSR. (20:30) – Political social work as a career, running for political office as a social worker. (22:03) – Difficulties as a young woman president of NASW. (23:00) – Regrets for not being a stronger proponent for the gay and lesbian community as president of NASW. (24:45) – Increase in Affirmative Action target for women in the social work profession in leadership positions within NASW. (26:40) – Social work under presidents Nixon and Reagan. (28:20) – Change in political, social and economic climate during her career, denial of healthcare in some states. (29:15) – Balancing micro and macro practice in MSW programs. (30:15) – Preparing students better for policy change on behalf of their field, and getting people to vote and advocate for themselves politically. (35:40) – Political Social Work. (38:20) – Millennials’ creative use of technology and not joining traditional social work/professional groups. (40:00) – “Black Lives Matter” movement, NASW involvement in Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, Gay Rights movements. (43:10) – Closing. ❧ ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: 1. California Social Work Hall of Distinction Biography ( http://socialworkhallofdistinction.usc.edu/honorees/ ). 2. DVD with interview. 3. Biography from California Social Work Hall of Distinction Induction. 4. Press release. 5. C.V