About Us
The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) is an organization of social work doctoral program directors from more than 100 member institutions. Founded in 1977, our mission is to promote excellence and equity in social work doctoral education through networking, capacity building, and stewardship of the profession. Toward that end, members share knowledge and resources that support innovation and excellence in doctoral education for developing and existing programs; promote the development of doctoral students in all their diversity and publicly recognize their achievements and contributions to the profession; and represent and promote the interests and concerns of social work and social welfare doctoral programs in the larger profession. Since 1992, GADE has strived to codify and unify these goals and principles in its Quality Guidelines for PhD Programs in Social Work.
Vision
To advance inclusive, equitable, and just social work doctoral education.
Mission
Promote excellence and equity in social work doctoral education through networking, capacity building, and stewardship of the profession.
Purpose
- To provide networking and capacity-building opportunities for doctoral program directors.
- To support programs in preparing doctoral students to engage in anti-racist, socially just research, advanced practice, and teaching and to function as stewards of the discipline.
- To recognize excellence in research, teaching, mentorship, leadership, and service in social work doctoral education.
- To serve as thought leaders on matters that pertain to social work doctoral education.
Join GADE
To learn more about our membership offerings and how to join, please visit our membership page.
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