KU News Release

Therapist, author Scott Miller to give presentation at Social Work Day

LAWRENCE — About 350 social workers and University of Kansas alumni will hear Chicago-based therapist, author and trainer Scott D. Miller talk about “Super Performers: Learning from the Field’s Most Effective Practitioners” at KU’s 58th annual Social Work Day.

Miller will present a day-long program beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, April 11, at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Miller is co-founder of the Institute for Therapeutic Change in Chicago and is recognized for his work on client-directed, outcome-informed clinical work and other time-sensitive therapeutic approaches.

Before introducing Miller, Mary Ellen Kondrat, dean of the School of Social Welfare, will recognize two social work alumni and two faculty members with this year’s Recognition of Excellence awards.

Diane Lee and Eunice Ruttinger will receive the Outstanding KU Social Work Alumna/us awards for 2008. Lee, social work manager with KU Med Center in Kansas City, Kan., is a 1967 alumna; and Ruttinger, CSS director at Bert Nash Mental Health Center in Lawrence, received a master’s of social work from KU in 1974.

The 2008 Outstanding KU Social Work Faculty awards will go to Ed Canda, professor and chair of the school’s doctoral program, and Charles Rapp, professor.

Both Canda and Rapp have received numerous grants to support their research and awards recognizing their teaching and service. Canda’s previous honors include Budig Awards for Teaching Excellence in 1998 and 2004 and an Outstanding Graduate and Professional Mentor award from the KU Graduate and Professional Association in 2002. This marks the fourth time Rapp has received the Outstanding KU Social Work Faculty award since he joined the university in 1980. He has also earned a Budig Award for Teaching Excellence in 2003 and a Friend of Case Management Award in 2000 from the National Association of Case Management.

Alumni from as far as Maine are registered to attend Social Work Day. Diagnostic and treatment continuing education credits will be offered.

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