June 22, 2010
The dean of Catholic University's National Catholic School of Social Service and a professor emerita will be inducted into the Social Work Pioneer Program of the National Association of Social Work Foundation.
James Zabora, dean, and Sister Mary Vincentia Joseph will be honored in a ceremony in October in Washington, D.C.
The Social Work Pioneer Program honors professionals who have contributed to the enrichment of the profession and made important contributions through service, teaching, writing, research, program development, administration or legislation.
Zabora, CUA's dean since 2002, has been a frequent keynote speaker at health care conferences and editor of the "Journal of Psychosocial Oncology." He has written extensively on his areas of research - cancer prevention and control, psychosocial screening, problem-solving education and quality of life among cancer patients and their families. In 2009, he received the Ida M. Cannon Award from the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care. He also is a past recipient of the Holland Distinguished Leadership Award, the highest honor in the field of psychosocial oncology.
Sister Joseph has taught doctoral seminars as well as graduate courses on supervisory practice and religion, and the spiritual dimensions of social work. She served as assistant dean and chair of the doctoral program from 1986 to 1996. CUA's Cardinal O'Boyle Faculty Scholar, Sister Joseph includes among her research interests religion and social work practice, supervision/consultation, professional ethics and organizational burnout.