NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma has received a transformative $4.5 million gift from The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation. This significant investment will help establish a doctorate-level program and position the school – named for the Zarrows due to their extraordinary and continued generosity – among the top 25 schools of social work in the nation.
“The family of Henry Zarrow has long believed in the life-changing potential of our School of Social Work, which graduates talented, compassionate professionals and produces research that shapes the field,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “With their visionary support and this latest gift, the Zarrow family will help us step into the future, building on our national reputation for excellence and creating one of the nation’s top 25 schools of social work.”
The Foundation’s gift aligns with the school’s new strategic plan, led by Interim School Director David McLeod, Ph.D. With the guidance of the plan, the school will develop skilled social workers, bold collaborative research and intentional community partnerships, using those resources to create inclusive communities committed to opportunity and well-being.
“As we chart the course for the future of social work at OU, The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation’s partnership continues to be transformational,” McLeod said. “Their support is allowing us to redefine the profession and the ways we prepare and expand the workforce to serve the state of Oklahoma. OU Social Work is taking the next step in our evolution to better serve students and the community and to take our place in the national landscape. We wouldn’t be in this position without the Foundation.”
The gift will support various key initiatives throughout the School of Social Work.
It will cover costs for annual cohorts of six Ph.D. students, ensuring that these scholars receive the financial support needed to excel. The school expects to welcome its first Ph.D. cohort in fall 2025. The gift will also support four tenure-track positions crucial for advancing the school’s educational mission and attracting emerging scholars who will be pivotal in launching the Ph.D. program.
The gift will also fund a chair appointment to be filled by a rotation of high-ranking scholars, who will be empowered to take on additional mentoring and leadership roles in research areas like forensic social work, global and environmental social work, mental health and substance use disorder social work, and poverty and inequity social work. These appointments will mentor new tenure-track faculty, who will be hired into these key research areas.
Furthermore, the gift will support the creation of new educational programming in high schools and community colleges that will prepare students to enter OU’s Bachelor of Social Work program, along with new priority admissions programs and direct transfer agreements.
The school will also partner with key stakeholders in Oklahoma to advance social work workforce development and will allow faculty to create open access teaching materials that will be disseminated far beyond OU to expand the School of Social Work’s global influence. Marketing, media and digital content creation will further spread awareness of the school’s achievements.
The school will hire a strategic project manager to oversee data measurement and implementation, monitor the distribution of the Zarrow grant and other revenue sources, and coordinate reporting as a liaison with external reviewers. A portion of the gift will also be invested in personnel, research and infrastructure, including small grants, equipment and special projects designed to increase the school’s capacity and reach.
“So much of our philanthropic work is dependent on a strong social work presence in the many organizations the Foundation regularly supports, making the growth and advancement of the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work critical for us and our state in meeting its workforce needs now and in the future,” said Bill Major, president of The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation.
This landmark gift from The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation will have a profound impact on the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work, driving excellence in education, research and community engagement for years to come.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
About the OU Foundation
The University of Oklahoma Foundation is an independent charitable organization that facilitates and manages philanthropic gifts to support the University of Oklahoma. With a culture of integrity, skill and persistence, we align the passions of donors and our alumni with the indelible mission of the University of Oklahoma.
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