The University of Southern California School of Social Work has named Michalle Mor Barak and Madeleine Stoner to two newly endowed professorships and Iris Chi to a previously endowed chair, marking the first time in the School's history that all full professors now hold endowed chairs or professorships. All three will be honored at an installation dinner ceremony on Nov. 3 at Town and Gown on the University Park Campus.

"These noble gestures of enduring patronage from our donors will enable us to give enhanced attention to issues that will impact our places of work and influence policies and services for our elderly and homeless populations," said Marilyn Flynn, dean of the USC School of Social Work. "We're grateful for the support to help us better prepare our students to understand and adapt to the ever-changing environment around us."

Michàlle Mor Barak, Ph.D., whose work centers on diversity in the workplace, will be installed as the first Lenore Stein-Wood and William S. Wood Professor in Social Work and Business in a Global Society. Devoted friends of the USC School of Social Work and members of the Board of Councilors, Lenore (Lee) Stein-Wood, a co-founder of Inter-City Home Health Association, one of the first home health agencies in the United States, and entrepreneur William (Bill) Wood created the professorship as a way to say thanks for all the University and School of Social Work have given them over the years.

A member of the faculty for 16 years and leader in the field of industrial/occupational social work, Dr. Mor Barak, who has a dual appointment with the USC Marshall School of Business, currently chairs the industrial/occupational world of work social work concentration and serves as the director of the Ph.D. program. In addition to receiving numerous honors, including a Fulbright award, she was the first USC faculty member to receive a Rockefeller Foundation grant to conduct an international conference in Bellagio, Italy, which focused on gender and ethnic differences in the workplace and global workforce diversity. A principal investigator on several research projects, she has published extensively in the areas of global diversity and inclusion and industrial/occupational social work. Currently, she is researching employment for domestic violence victims and anticipates the release of her third book, Managing Diversity: Toward a Globally Inclusive Workplace, early next year.

Madeleine Stoner, Ph.D., a prolific writer on homelessness, will be installed as the Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Development. Active in their community and loyal supporters of the School, the Thors enjoy a long tradition of philanthropy. Richard, who is a former social worker with the California Youth Authority and clinical consultant with the Los Angeles Free Clinic, has a special connection with the School of Social Work, having graduated in 1958 and served as an assistant dean. Richard and Ann established the professorship to create a lasting legacy of their friendship and support of the School.

The first recipient of the Thors' gift, Dr. Stoner, is the author of two books on homelessness, including one entitled, Inventing a Non-Homeless Future: A Policy Agenda for Preventing Homelessness, which was nominated for the Park Award of the American Sociological Association. She currently serves as faculty chair of the USC Urban Initiative and is a participant in the Southern California Inter-University Consortium on Homelessness and Poverty. Prior to joining the USC faculty in 1980, Dr. Stoner worked in London as deputy director of the Local Organizations Divisions of the National Council for Voluntary Organizations and research assistant to the Parliamentary Private Secretary for Health in the British House of Commons. She also has been a consultant to a Los Angeles City Councilman, the Department of Mental Health, Department of Children's Services and United Friends of the Children.

Iris Chi, D.S.W., an expert in elderly health and gerontology, will be installed as the Golden Age Association / Frances Wu Chair for the Chinese Elderly. The first endowed chair in the School of Social Work was established in 1997 by a $1.5 million gift from Dr. Frances Wu, who was the first Chinese-American to receive a doctorate of social work degree at USC. A retired social worker, Dr. Wu devoted herself for decades to fulfilling the needs of Chinese senior citizens, including long-term care and assisted living.

Dr. Chi's work is building upon Dr. Wu's contributions to the Chinese-American community. The Hong Kong government recently honored Dr. Chi with the Bronze Bauhina Star for her meritorious public and community service with the city's aging population. She was among 376 honorees on the 2004 Honours List awarded a medal by Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa. In addition, Dr. Chi has participated in more than 50 studies and published more than 150 articles, helping her earn four research awards, including the Hong Kong Association of Gerontology's Award for Outstanding Research in Gerontology. As a result of her extensive work and expertise, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government appointed her to the Elderly Commission, a post she has held since 1997.