James Midgley

Visionary administrator and social work advocate

James (Jim) Midgley, earned his bachelor's degree in social administration and social work and sociology in 1965 and his master's degree in sociology in 1967 from the University of Cape Town. He earned his MSW from the London School of Economics in 1970 and his doctorate in sociology in 1971 from the University of Cape Town. Midgley immigrated to the United States in 1985, joining the School of Social Work at Louisiana State University, where he served as Dean and subsequently as Associate Vice Chancellor. In 1997, he became Dean of the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley.

During his nine-year term as dean at UC Berkeley, he enhanced the MSW program, strengthened its field practicum, established strong links with the professional community, including clinical practitioners, and launched new fundraising activities for student fellowships, resulting in many more students now receiving financial aid. He also established the school's community partnership board composed of leaders from different community sectors and strengthened the School's Alumni Association. He recruited new women and minority faculty and supported minority student recruitment in the MSW program, particularly of native Americans. Working together with MSW students, he increased international awareness in the curriculum and launched several successful international symposia and a Visiting Scholars program.

Midgley vigorously engaged in advocacy during his tenure at UC Berkeley in his capacity as principal investigator of California's statewide Title IV-E child welfare training program. He strengthened the policies, structure, and governance of CalSWEC (California Social Work Education Center) at a time of continuing expansion with new schools of social work and new CalSWEC programs. He was actively engaged in lobbying the California legislature, where he worked with California Assembly member Dion Aroner. This advocacy affected social work practice and licensure in California, resulting in a joint resolution that invited the state's schools of social work to collaborate and prepare 2004's"Master Plan for Social Work Education in California"- a project in which Midgley played a leading role. These activities helped create a new mental health stipend program funded by the state of California from revenues raised through the MentalHealthServicesAct (Proposition63) for

M S students preparing to work in public community mental health. Midgley later undertook a major three-year evaluation study of the program, which showed that students receiving the stipends were well-trained and persisted in the program after completing their post graduation work obligations. As a result, CalSWEC has furthered social work education in California, improved the implementation of specialty practice area competencies, and advanced professionalization of social work in public social and mental health services.

Midgley has authored or coauthored 1 book and edited another 23 books, including three for NAW Press. In addition, he has published more than 100 articles in academic journals and 80 chapters in edited books. NASW awarded him with the Rhoda Sarnat International Award in 1996. In 2005, he received the Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Award from the California Chapter of NASW, and on stepping down from the deanship at Berkeley, he was awarded the University's prestigious Berkeley Citation for Distinguished Achievement and Notable Services to the University. Midgley has been recognized by several prestigious organizations for his work promoting international social work.