Louisiana State dean picked to lead KU's School of Social Welfare

The dean of the Louisiana State University’s School of Social Work has been named dean of the University of Kansas’ School of Social Welfare, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor David Shulenburger announced today.

Mary Ellen Kondrat will succeed Ann Weick, who announced last year she would step down after nearly 19 years as dean.
Shulenburger lauded the hiring of Kondrat.

“Dean Kondrat is an experienced dean with proven ability. Her interest in promoting international research and study abroad and in promoting interdisciplinary research fit well into the central themes of this university. I have great confidence that she will help this already strong school grow in national and international reputation.”

Kondrat has been at LSU since 2003. Before that, she was associate dean and director of the Master of Social Work Program at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. She has been teaching in the field of social work since 1984.

While at LSU, Kondrat initiated and oversaw the School of Social Work’s inaugural Community Campaign, which targeted foundations and donors beyond alumni for fund raising; initiated a focused minority recruitment strategy which led to an eight percent increase in minority enrollment in the school’s master's degree program; and helped revise the school’s bylaws to place a greater emphasis on fundraising.

Kondrat said she was excited about becoming the dean of the School of Social Welfare at KU. “The social welfare program at KU has a wonderful reputation nationally and a growing presence internationally under Dean Ann Weick’s strong leadership. It is a privilege for me to be able to work together with this outstanding faculty and staff to enhance the school’s already excellent educational and research programs.”

Kondrat has also received numerous accolades, including being named a Committee on Institutional Cooperation Academic Leadership Fellow for the 2000-01 academic year, Ohio State University International Faculty of the Year award and served as consultant to the Egyptian Ministry of Social Affairs in its social sector reform project.

She has worked extensively with scholarly journals. She is a consulting editor for Social Work, managing editor of Social Development Issues and a member of the board of advisers for Journal of Comparative Social Welfare.

Kondrat received a doctorate in education, master’s in social work and master’s in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor’s in psychology from Marquette University.