MEET YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION!

Tony Russo, MSW '79
Alumni Association Secretary

What is your fondest memory or most lasting lesson from your time at the University of Maryland School of Social Work?
My fondest memories have to be the people I met while at the School of Social Work.  I had some terrific professors including Abe Makofsky, Stan Wenocur, and Amrit Baruah.  They taught me some valuable lessons about community organizing and group work that I was able to put into practice later in my career.  I also made some wonderful friends and still keep in touch with several of them even though our lives have gone in many different directions.  However, my fondest memory and my most lasting lesson was my field placement experience.  I was fortunate to work for Joyce Kroeller (MSW ’75) who worked at the time as the Legislative Liaison for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services.  Joyce was an incredibly talented and energetic individual.  She was President of the House of Ruth and was instrumental in the development of the Foster Care Review Board among her many other accomplishments.  Joyce taught me how to channel my concern for low income people into meaningful, decisive and professional action.  The School and the greater Baltimore community lost a tremendous individual when Joyce past away last year, but I was fortunate to have worked with her.   If there is one lesson I learned while at the School, it is that the field placement experience can make all the difference both during your time at the School and professionally.  I hope students will take the time to choose a field placement opportunity that matches their interests and professional goals.   

     
What are you doing now?
After graduation, I worked for 20 years in the nonprofit sector on homeless and low income housing issues in Baltimore, New Haven and Washington, DC.  In 1997 I started a management consulting practice.  Since that time, I have worked as a consultant to HUD, HHS and nonprofit organizations.  I currently work full-time as a contractor to the U.S. Department of Labor.  My wife, two daughters and I live in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

What are your hopes for the future of the University of Maryland School of Social Work?
I hope that the School will continue to expand its role within the neighborhoods in Baltimore and among low income populations throughout the State of Maryland through SWCOS, research and field placements.  The poor, homeless and disabled are more disenfranchised than ever before in my lifetime.  The federal commitment to low income people has eroded drastically over the last 20 years and the gap between the poor and the rest of society has widened dramatically.  We have just come out of a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity, but over 20% of our citizens did not participate in that prosperity.  Now as we move into more uncertain times and as we see previously middle-class people slip into poverty, there is a palpable sense of urgency for institutions like the UM School of Social Work to redouble our efforts to help those who have been left behind.    

Why did you make a commitment to become further involved with the University of Maryland School of Social Work?
I was first approached by a friend who I went to school with and he asked me if I would consider joining the Alumni Board.   I did some research and was very intrigued and heartened by Rick Barth’s vision for the School.  Dean Barth has a long history as a researcher and practitioner on behalf of children and he has a tremendous amount of energy.  He also understands that it is important to keep alumni involved in the School.  I look forward to working with Dean Barth and the Alumni Board to help the School continue to grow.

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