Service and success: MSU marks Social Work Month with celebratory event

STARKVILLE, Miss.— Mississippi State University’s Department of Sociology will celebrate Social Work Month with a student-focused event Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Bowen Hall 260. The celebration will include the induction of the 2025–2026 Phi Alpha Honor Society members followed by a networking and celebration reception.

Social work students, faculty, alumni and anyone interested in learning more about the profession are invited.

“Social Work Month is a time to reflect on a core principle of the profession that individual well-being is deeply connected to social context and that a healthy society depends on fostering environments where all people can thrive,” said Dana Dillard, assistant professor and director of the bachelor’s of social work program at MSU. “We hope this celebration provides students an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the profession, engage with faculty mentors, build connections with fellow social work students and celebrate the accomplishments of the program and their peers.”

According to 2024 data from the Association of Social Work Boards, MSU’s undergraduate social work program achieved a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the national social work licensure exam. The result exceeds the national pass rate of 67.2 percent and Mississippi’s statewide average of 52.8 percent, giving MSU the highest undergraduate licensure pass rate among social work programs in the state.

Social Work Month recognizes the essential role social workers play in strengthening individuals, families and communities. It also highlights both experienced practitioners and emerging professionals who are committed to enhancing well-being, meeting basic needs and upholding dignity for those who are vulnerable or marginalized.

In addition to strong licensure outcomes, MSU’s social work program partners with the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services through the Mississippi Academic Pathways scholarship, supporting students who plan to pursue careers in social work across the state.

“The statewide collaborative is very committed to elevating this initiative’s visibility,” Dillard said. “We are part of a partnership among seven public institutions of higher learning with social work programs that provides scholarships for students seeking experience and future employment with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. Since Fall 2023, MSU has awarded more than $115,000 in Title IV E funding to support social work students in their education and career preparation.”

For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Social Work Program, which is housed in the Department of Sociology, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.sociology.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.