Catholic Social Thought in Action Academy Featured on WSOU Program
Thursday, March 2, 2023
Over the past two years, the Department of Social Work and the Catholic Studies Program have been collaborating, and with great success. Their work together, along with the great value of social work in promoting human dignity, will be the subject of an interview on WSOU-FM's popular program Thank God for Monday with Brother Gregory Cellini, O.S.F.
Having launched an innovative double major program, the Department of Social Work and the Catholic Studies Program worked together to establish the Catholic Social Thought in Action Academy, which is supported by the Office of the Provost and the Office of Grants and Research Services through an Innovation Challenge Grant.
Dawn Apgar, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice; Ines A. Murzaku, Ph.D., professor, Department of Religion, director, Catholic Studies Program; and Anthony Nicotera, J.D., D.S.W., assistant professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice, have presented the work of the Catholic Social Thought in Action Academy at both national and international conferences. The Academy has been held up as a model for interdisciplinary programs that include service-learning components at Catholic universities worldwide.
On TGFM, Apgar, Murzaku, and Nicotera discussed with Brother Gregory the reasons for which social workers are uniquely prepared to engage in promoting social justice, as well as their own professional journeys. They also explained the integral role the profession of social work can play in putting Catholic social thought into action, bringing the principles discussed in Seton Hall's classrooms into practice to improve the lives of clients. Brother Greg stated, "How blessed TGFM was to have not one, not two, but three guests of this ilk during March – designated as Social Work Month."
"The work of the Catholic Social Thought in Action Academy is very exciting, bridging the disciplines and uniquely preparing our students for their careers as advocates for social justice and peace," Murzaku said. "We were very grateful for the opportunity to have this conversation with Brother Greg and share this information with his audience, which includes Seton Hall students, of course, but also spans generations and locations."
TGFM is presented in interview format. Guests include authors, company presidents, and career coaches. Each guest brings a unique story to the program and is a role model of the Seton Hall University motto, Hazard Zet Forward (Advance Despite Difficulties). TGFM is geared toward adults of all ages who wish to enhance their work-life. These include the unfulfilled, unemployed, underemployed and those just starting their career. The show airs for 30 minutes every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. EST on WSOU 89.5 FM and on the station's website. Subsequent to each episode airing, a podcast is available free of charge. More information about TGFM and prior episodes can be found here.
Categories: Arts and Culture, Education, Faith and Service
