Meeting Students Where They Are - Strengthening Recruitment for Graduate Social Work Education

Henry Cantu is currently the Director of Recruitment and Admissions at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Throughout his 36-year career in student recruitment, admissions, and enrollment services, Henry has worked with undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs at both public and private institutions, including the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of the Incarnate Word, Texas Tech University, Virginia Tech, University of Louisville, and the University of Connecticut. He is skilled in holistic admissions review, student enrollment strategies, admissions staff development and leadership, and enrollment management.  Henry received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare (BASW) from Texas Tech University and a Master of Arts degree in Adult & Higher Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  He was elected program chair for the National Deans and Directors of Social Work Admissions (NDDSWA) board for 2024-2026 and 2026-2028.

Ron Martin has been a graduate admissions professional for the past 20+ years and joined the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice as Director of Admissions in November 2017. Prior to joining Crown Family School, Ron spent 20 years at Loyola University Chicago, first as a graduate student in History and last serving as Associate Director of Graduate Admissions.

Lauren McGowan has over ten years of graduate enrollment management experience. She is currently the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Enrollment at the University at Buffalo School of Social work, where she was previously the Director of Recruitment and Admissions. She was honored with the NAGAP Visionary Award in 2023 for her innovative work with video recruitment and received the NDDSWA Rookie of the Year Award in 2019. She has a master’s degree in higher education administration from Buffalo State University.

Richard Sigg is Director of Recruitment and Enrollment at Case Western Reserve University’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, where he leads recruitment, admissions, enrollment strategy, and scholarship initiatives for graduate programs in social work and nonprofit management. Prior to joining Case Western Reserve University in 2013, Richard led enrollment efforts at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. He served as Co-Chair of the National Deans and Directors of Social Work Admissions (NDDSWA) from 2012–2016 and received the NDDSWA Service Award in 2024. Richard holds a BS from Miami University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his partner, Naomi, and their three children, Lily, Noah, and Eden.