Getting to Know CSWE's Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education

The Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education was established in 2004 to honor its namesake. Its goal is to advance international social work for the American classroom. This session will highlight the institute's mission and strategic plan while showcasing grant awardees, emphasizing innovative projects that enhance international content in the classroom.

The Katherine A. Kendall Institute for International Social Work Education was established in 2004 with a generous endowment from its namesake. Professor Kendall was a world-renown icon and trailblazer in social work education. Her passion for social work’s global reach helped infuse international perspectives into teaching. The mission of the Kendall Institute “strives to prepare educators, researchers, students, and practitioners for an increasingly global community through its programs and initiatives.” (Kendall, 2021)

Although the immediacy of global social issues might appear remote and abstract, the global presence in local affairs is increasingly apparent due to migration, globalization, the covid-19 world-wide pandemic. The impact on social work education is uniquely challenging the traditional American social work curriculum. The Kendall Institute is a CSWE resource to address curricular and pedagogical limitations regarding international social work education. This Kendall Connect session is timely forum to act together on advancing indigenous knowledge and environmental justice from a global perspective.