Houston Entrepreneurs, Philanthropists Gift $1 Million to UH College of Social Work

Houston entrepreneurs and philanthropists Victor and Barbara Samuels have extended their commitment to the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) with a $1 million gift to support the college’s students.

The gift builds on an endowed scholarship the Samuels established in the GCSW in 2014. [Read more...]

$2 Million Gift Establishes Maconda Brown O’Connor Endowed Dean’s Chair at UH

On behalf of the family of the late Houston philanthropist and social worker Maconda Brown O’Connor, The Brown Foundation Inc. has given the University of Houston (UH) Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) a $2 million dollar gift to establish the Maconda Brown O’Connor Endowed Dean’s Chair. The legacy gift is transformational for the UH GCSW and echoes the generous, impactful life of O’Connor, who was a leading social worker and advocate for children.

“Our mother was many things, but at her very core she was the consummate social worker and spent her life helping others,” said Nancy I. Abendshein, O’Connor’s daughter. “My brothers and I are pleased to be able to honor our mother’s legacy and life’s work with this endowed chair.” The endowed chair provides an important, permanent source of funding for the GCSW dean to lead the college to its next level of performance and prominence in scholarly research. [Read more...]

Emerita Professor Mary Lewis Planned Gift

Being of service to others was of the utmost importance to Dr. Mary Ruth Lewis, Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) professor emerita and champion for social work, children and families. Since 1980, when she was hired away from the University of Alabama to develop the Children and Family concentration in the GCSW’s Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum, Dr. Lewis accomplished much in the way of providing legal rights for children. [Read more...]

Marjorie L. and Robert R. Jenkins Scholarship

In May of 2013, the GCSW was fortunate to receive a gift from Margie and Bob Jenkins to create the Marjorie L. and Robert R. Jenkins Scholarship in the Graduate College of Social Work. Nationally recognized for her work with end-of-life issues, Margie Jenkins is an author and dynamic public speaker. She has informed and fascinated audiences across the country on this important topic. [Read more...]