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Former Boston College School of Social Work faculty member Marylou Sudders, now the Massachusetts Commissioner for Health and Human Services, was honored on Tuesday at the Massachusetts State House for her contributions to the human services field.
Governor Charlie Baker – who appointed Sudders to the post last fall – was among those praising Sudders for her long career as an advocate for the less fortunate.
“Marylou is one of those people who simply knows how to get stuff done,” he said. “And to the people of the Commonwealth, and especially those who are serving in Health and Human Services, I can’t think of a more important characteristic to bring to the table every single day. I’m thrilled to have her on the team.”
BCSSW Dean Alberto Godenzi also spoke at the event, which was sponsored by BCSSW, Boston University School of Social Work and the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
“The appointment of Marylou Sudders to Secretary of Health and Human Services is historic,” said Godenzi. “To my knowledge there is no social worker in this country who has that kind of a leadership position. The appointment recognizes and leverages a unique social work champion.”
Other featured speakers were BU School of Social Work Dean Gail Steketee, NASW Massachusetts Chapter Executive Director Carol Trust and NASW CEO Angelo McClain PhD’01.
Sudders said, “What I’ve always taught students is that social work opens any door you want to run through. It is our inhibitions that prevent us from running through those doors, and there is no greater education than a social work education to open up a wealth of opportunities for us.”
Sudders served as the state’s mental health commissioner from 1996-2003 and then became president and CEO of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. After teaching on an adjunct basis for five years, in 2012 she joined BCSSW as a full-time faculty member with the title of associate professor of the practice and chair of the health and mental health program.
While at BC, Sudders continued to build on, and draw from, her experience in public service and public policy. She was appointed to special boards monitoring reform of the state’s health care delivery and studying potential legislative solutions to gun violence. Last fall, she was awarded a grant to fund a program that will provide critical on-the-ground training for 53 second-year master’s level students at BCSSW.