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“Our organization is fortunate to have two such extraordinary volunteers stepping into these important leadership roles,” said Dr. Halaevalu F. Vakalahi, President and CEO of CSWE. “Christa and Ausirys reflect the best of the social work profession, and they both see CSWE as a dynamic force to empower educators, students, and practitioners to continue their vital work.”
Gilliam, an associate professor of social work at Morgan State University, was already serving as the Board’s undergraduate program representative.
“My journey with CSWE began as a graduate student at UC Berkeley, where I had the opportunity to present on a panel alongside my professors at CSWE’s Annual Program Meeting,” Gilliam said in a written statement. “This early engagement solidified my commitment to social work education and its critical role in shaping the profession’s future. “I envision a forward-thinking CSWE that not only upholds the core values of social work but also ensures that we are cultivating a well-prepared, adaptable workforce capable of addressing contemporary societal challenges.”
Alviz (MSW, LCSW, DSW candidate) was elected to CSWE’s National Nominating Committee, which prepares slates of nominees for the organization’s officers and board members. She is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, educator, and advocate for human rights and ecosocial justice.
“As a first-generation Colombian migrant, my journey has been a transformational commitment to healing,” Alviz said in a statement. “My involvement with nonprofits and social workers extends to Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia. I have been able to work with Indigenous communities, support fundraising efforts, and co-create initiatives that center on Indigenous knowledge and self-determined healing practices. These experiences fuel my doctoral research in human rights leadership, where I explore the intersections of trauma, identity, and systemic inequities, aiming to disrupt colonial legacies in social work and mental health care.”
Gilliam and Alviz will each serve 3-year terms beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028.
CSWE extends its appreciation to all members who participated in the nomination and election process and to each candidate who expressed interest in serving on these important governing bodies.
Founded in 1952, CSWE is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include more than 900 accredited baccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs and their affiliated social work educators, students, and staff, as well as practitioners and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education. Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development so that social workers are empowered to play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice. CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.
Published on : June 4, 2025
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) announced today that Dr. Christa Gilliam has been elected Treasurer of the organization’s Board of Directors, and that Ausirys Alviz has been elected to the National Nominating Committee (NNC) as Practice Representative.“Our organization is fortunate to have two such extraordinary volunteers stepping into these important leadership roles,” said Dr. Halaevalu F. Vakalahi, President and CEO of CSWE. “Christa and Ausirys reflect the best of the social work profession, and they both see CSWE as a dynamic force to empower educators, students, and practitioners to continue their vital work.”Gilliam, an associate professor of social work at Morgan State University, was already serving as the Board’s undergraduate program representative.
“My journey with CSWE began as a graduate student at UC Berkeley, where I had the opportunity to present on a panel alongside my professors at CSWE’s Annual Program Meeting,” Gilliam said in a written statement. “This early engagement solidified my commitment to social work education and its critical role in shaping the profession’s future. “I envision a forward-thinking CSWE that not only upholds the core values of social work but also ensures that we are cultivating a well-prepared, adaptable workforce capable of addressing contemporary societal challenges.”
Alviz (MSW, LCSW, DSW candidate) was elected to CSWE’s National Nominating Committee, which prepares slates of nominees for the organization’s officers and board members. She is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, educator, and advocate for human rights and ecosocial justice.
“As a first-generation Colombian migrant, my journey has been a transformational commitment to healing,” Alviz said in a statement. “My involvement with nonprofits and social workers extends to Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia. I have been able to work with Indigenous communities, support fundraising efforts, and co-create initiatives that center on Indigenous knowledge and self-determined healing practices. These experiences fuel my doctoral research in human rights leadership, where I explore the intersections of trauma, identity, and systemic inequities, aiming to disrupt colonial legacies in social work and mental health care.”
Gilliam and Alviz will each serve 3-year terms beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028.
CSWE extends its appreciation to all members who participated in the nomination and election process and to each candidate who expressed interest in serving on these important governing bodies.
Founded in 1952, CSWE is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include more than 900 accredited baccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs and their affiliated social work educators, students, and staff, as well as practitioners and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education. Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development so that social workers are empowered to play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice. CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.