Gassman to receive Distinguished Alumni Award in School of Social Work

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman will receive the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Social Work in a ceremony Monday, April 12 at the Waisman Center on the UW–Madison campus.

Gov. Jim Doyle will join UW–Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin in paying tribute to Gassman. A member of the governor’s cabinet since 2003, Gassman has led efforts to strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce and meet the needs of job seekers, working families and employers.

“When I formed my cabinet, I chose Roberta Gassman because of her true passion for public service and community building, her ability to lead, motivate people and get things done, and the widespread respect she has throughout the community,” the governor says. “Few can match her energy, drive and determination to bring about positive change, especially for the most vulnerable in these challenging times.”

As part of the honor, the School of Social Work is establishing the Roberta Gassman School of Social Work Opportunities Fund and the Roberta Gassman Distinguished Lecture Series.

At the secretary’s request, the fund will support social work policy research, programs that address poverty and the needs of people with disabilities, and the recruitment and retention of students of color and student achievement awards.

“Her career exemplifies the true spirit of social work,” says professor Jan Greenberg, director of the School of Social Work in UW–Madison’s College of Letters and Science. “She has dedicated her life to public service and community building. She has worked tirelessly to improve the lives the most vulnerable among us. She has been extremely successful in her career, someone who has had an incredibly significant impact, both in Wisconsin and nationally. She is a real inspiration to our students, being a role model for them as they prepare for careers in social work.”

Noting her strong ties to the School of Social Work and UW–Madison, Greenberg adds: “She’s been a very enthusiastic partner with the school in helping us train future leaders in the field. She’s always been somebody who is willing to give guest lectures and supervise our students.”

Professor emeritus Melvin Morgenbesser, director of alumni relations and development for the School of Social Work, chaired the selection committee. He cites her ongoing involvement with the school, including opportunities over the years for students to intern at DWD.

“Roberta Gassman is very deserving and uniquely qualified to receive the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award because of her extraordinary commitment to improving people’s lives,” Morgenbesser says. “Many individuals already have contributed to the fund. We are thrilled by the very positive response. It is evidence of Roberta’s impact and how well she is respected for her work at the city, county and state levels.”

“I am deeply honored to have been chosen to receive the School of Social Work’s Distinguished Alumni Award,” Gassman says. “The University of Wisconsin is an amazing institution and the outstanding education I received there has been a source of inspiration to me throughout my career.”

Gassman, a native of Evanston, Ill., has lived in Madison since coming to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1966. She earned her B.A. in social work, with distinction, and her M.S.S.W. in 1972, also from UW–Madison.

With 1,645 employees, the department she leads provides employment and training services, works with employers to fill jobs, enforces workers’ rights, and administers the Unemployment Insurance, Apprenticeship and Worker’s Compensation programs.

Gassman has led Gov. Doyle’s efforts to expand career pathways for low- wage workers, raise the minimum wage and help train workers for emerging industries such as energy, advanced manufacturing and health care. Now, as the nation begins to emerge from its worst recession in decades, she is active in preparing job seekers for future employment opportunities.

Early in her career she worked as a social worker with teens and the elderly, but was drawn to public policy, community development and organizational change settings. Her public sector experience includes serving as Gov. Tony Earl’s Policy Advisor on Employment and Women’s Issues; as Madison Mayor Paul Soglin’s top aide; and she directed communications for Dane County Executive Rick Phelps. In the private sector, she served as the senior vice president of sales, marketing and community investment for Home Savings Bank. She also led Gassman Communications and Public Affairs LLC, which provided strategic external and management consulting services to major Wisconsin employers.

Gassman was the president of the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission and has served on the boards of Forward Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Women’s Council, Downtown Rotary Club of Madison, Downtown Madison, Inc., the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the Madison Repertory Theatre and Temple Beth El.

For information about supporting the Roberta Gassman School of Social Work Opportunities Fund, contact: Jennifer Karlson of the UW Foundation, (608) 262-7225, jennifer.karlson@uwfoundation.wisc.edu; or Morgenbesser, (608) 233-4260, mmorgenb@wisc.edu.