Benjamin Cuellar

A leader in organizational collaboration

Benjamin Cuellar, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from San Jose State University in 1970, his MSW from the University of California, Berkeley in 1972, and his Doctorate in Social Work from Columbia University in 1981. Over his 40-year career as a social worker, lecturer, professor, and dean, D.r Cuellar has championed diversity and equity in higher education, while strengthening services for minority populations in Central Valley California.

As a student at UC Berkeley, Cuellar successfully pushed for an admissions policy change that led to increased minority MSW student admissions. As a professor and Director of the Department of Social Work Education and, later, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State University, he directed the Title X Program, which dramatically increased the number of MSWs in public social service agencies in the central California area, developed innovative training programs for staff in community agencies, and provided leadership support to regional and statewide educational initiatives and programs. Cuellar was a founding member and initial President of the California Latino Social Work Network (LSWN), creating and promoting annual Central California Social Work Conferences.

In partnership with California State University Stanislaus and UC Berkeley, he provided leadership in developing the initial public child welfare training academy in California and was one of the founding deans and directors of the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC). As dean, Cuellar provided leadership and support for the development of the Fresno State Social Work Education, Research, and Training Center (SWERT) to enhance social work practice, training, and research in the areas of child welfare and social services in Central California.

From the beginning of his career, Dr. Cuellar has tirelessly focused on strengthening social service organizations, institutions, and leaders in the Central California region and promoted collaboration between directors of social services, mental health, health, public health, and nursing programs. Collaborative partnerships such as SWERT, the Central California Social Services Consortium, the Central ValleyHealth PolicyInstitute, the Central California's Institute, the Central California Obesity Prevention Project, the Central California Public Health Partnership and Training Academy, and the Central San Joaquin Valley Nursing Center of Excellence, all emerged from these initiatives, with most continuing to this day.

Dr. Cuellar has made a major difference in the Central California region in the area of social work education and training. His efforts have resulted in a significant increase in the number of MSW practitioners in public social services in the Central California San Joaquin Valley and have influenced practice and policy at the local, regional, and state levels in California. His distinctions include fellowships with the Carnegie Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Kellogg Foundation, the Social Work Administrator of the Year award from the National Association of Social Workers - California, the "Hechos" Community Service Award by El Concilio de Fresno County and the Social Work Conference's Compadre Award. He continues to be involved with a variety of local, regional, and state agencies providing an array of policy, educational, and interprofessional practice projects in social welfare.