We are pleased to announce Dr. Cynthia Warrick as the new Interim Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW). Dr. Warrick is President Emerita of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she served as the 7th president and 1st female leader in its 148-year history. During her 6.5-year tenure at Stillman, she received numerous awards acknowledging her expertise in community building and town-gown local, regional, and national community relationships. Her extensive background in Environmental Justice and recent work as Executive in Residence in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Texas Permian Basin, where she facilitated the development of a new Master of Social Work program, make her uniquely qualified to lead the GCSW.

In 2016, Dr. Warrick founded the Society for Diversity in the Biomedical Sciences, which aims to support underrepresented students pursuing National Institutes of Health-funded graduate and professional programs in the biomedical sciences. She remarked, “It is critically important to connect students to funding that reduces student loan debt, which prevents many from seeking advanced degrees, especially in high-demand fields like social work.” Returning to Houston allows her to continue this work. AT GCSW, she will direct the development of a new strategic plan and connect faculty and students with opportunities to expand research collaborations, not only with the numerous health professions programs at the University of Houston but also with programs in the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest concentration of medical centers, health professions programs and biomedical research programs in the world.

Dr. Warrick was attracted to this opportunity because the GCSW faculty have existing research and practice partnerships in the TMC, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Southern University, and the University of Texas Health Science Center, where she previously served on the faculty in the School of Public Health. She looks forward to using her extensive network of educators, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and researchers to advance the goals of the GCSW.

“We are confident in Dr. Warrick’s ability to provide steadfast support as we work to identify a permanent dean,” said UH Provost Diane Z. Chase. She shared this news with the campus community on June 28th, emphasizing that the university will continue its expedited and efficient search for top candidates from across the nation to fill the role of Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work.

Dr. Warrick’s collaborative leadership style, emphasizing academic excellence, administrative accountability, biomedical research, and student success, combined with her strong community focus, will be vital in advancing the GCSW's mission. We are confident that her expertise and vision will continue the exceptional work of the college and propel it to new heights.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Cynthia Warrick to the GCSW community.

Cynthia Warrick
Interim Dean
Graduate College of Social Work
University of Houston
Office (713) 743-9156
cwarrick@uh.edu
https://uh.edu