May 21, 2025 — The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) is pleased to announce the election of three distinguished social work leaders and scholars to its Board of Directors. These newly elected and returning members will play a vital role in advancing GADE’s mission to promote excellence and equity in doctoral education in social work and to strengthen its support of member institutions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Drs. Tova Walsh, Sondra Fogel, and Viola Vaughan-Eden to the Board,” said GADE President Dr. Mimi V. Chapman. “Drs. Walsh and Fogel return to the Board with deep institutional knowledge and a long-standing commitment to doctoral education, while Dr. Vaughan-Eden brings a wealth of new insight and leadership experience. Each of these scholars has demonstrated a sustained dedication to advancing social work doctoral education through their research, teaching, and service.”

GADE also proudly congratulates Dr. Tova Walsh on her election as President-Elect. Dr. Walsh is the Anne Wackman Oros Associate Professor and PhD Program Director at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work. She has served in this role since 2021, and has contributed extensively to GADE through her previous service as an at-large Board member and active involvement and leadership in Board committees.

The GADE Board of Directors serves as the organization’s governing body, providing strategic leadership and guidance to its national membership. The Board consists of ten elected members who serve staggered terms to ensure continuity and stewardship.

Effective June 1, 2025, the following individuals begin their terms:

• Dr. Tova Walsh – Anne Wackman Oros Associate Professor & PhD Program Director, University of Wisconsin–Madison was elected as President-Elect
• Dr. Sondra Fogel – Associate Professor & PhD Program Director, University of South Florida was re-elected to a three-year term as At-Large Member
• Dr. Viola Vaughan-Eden – Professor & Director of PhD and DSW Programs, Norfolk State University was elected to a three-year term as At-Large Member

GADE also extends its deepest appreciation to Dr. Denise Burnette of Virginia Commonwealth University for her dedicated service on the Board and her leadership as Immediate Past President. “We are grateful to Dr. Burnette for her many contributions and continued support of GADE,” added Dr. Chapman.

To learn more about the GADE Board of Directors, visit gadesocialwork.org/board-of-directors.

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The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) is an organization of more than 100 member institutions representing over 120 social work doctoral programs. 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. gadesocialwork.org