The USC School of Social Work welcomes five new members to its Board of Councilors, an advisory body composed of professional, academic and community leaders who provide counsel to ensure the success of the school’s mission to improve the well-being of the vulnerable and to advance social justice.

Dwight Tate, MSW ’77, is no stranger to USC and has been a generous supporter of the school’s mission and programs for years. Recently he and his wife established the Dwight and Katherine Tate Scholarship Endowment for Veterans to provide scholarships for veterans and military spouses pursuing an MSW. Tate started out his professional career as a school teacher and then moved on to join Pacific State Hospital in Pomona, California, where he worked with people with developmental disabilities and their families. After earning his MSW from USC, Tate worked as a licensed clinical social worker for 20 years before he transitioned into financial advising, which he saw as an extension of his desire to help people. Now retired, he continues to serve his community by volunteering at nonprofit organizations, including as chair of the board of directors for The Carolyn E. Wylie Center for Children, Youth & Families.

Paul Blavin is a passionate proponent of social change. His interest in helping foster youth and those who have aged out of the system drew him to the School of Social Work. Blavin and his wife, Amy, established the Blavin Scholars program at the University of Michigan and Northern Arizona University to provide scholarship and mentorship assistance to foster youth aging out of the foster care system. The program boasts a 98 percent graduation rate for participants, of which there have been 20 so far. The goal is to have 100 graduates on a yearly basis, and Blavin hopes to bring this program to USC. He also serves on the boards of South Central Scholars, which helps students from disadvantaged Los Angeles County communities achieve academic and personal success, and Teen Project, which provides transitional housing and other resources to aged-out foster youth. Blavin, who has a background in investment banking, is also chief executive of Graceful Light Entertainment, which has produced documentary films to shine a light on dark places in society and compel social action.

Judy Kamins, who received her MSW from New York University, has worked in day and residential treatment settings, schools and outpatient treatment including conditional release clients. Most recently, she has been working with her therapy dog, visiting the elderly, terminally ill and people afraid of dogs. She has also served as a field agency liaison for USC MSW students. Kamins’ other philanthropic work includes her roles as vice chair of the development committee and board member of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, where she is also a member of the executive board of the Library Council. She is also involved with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, Feminist Majority Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and the American Red Cross.

Ron Hartwig returns to the Board of Councilors, having previously served from 2004 to 2006. Hartwig, vice president of communications of the J. Paul Getty Trust, has a long history of public service. He served in the Carter Administration as director of public affairs and counselor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Hartwig is also interested in the intersection of social work and the arts and hopes to assist in this area at the school. He has taught at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and has supported Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and KUSC.

Starlite Randall, MSW ’01, is an international partnerships and community relations manager for Horyou, an action-oriented social network that leverages social media for humanitarian purposes. Since high school, she has spent much of her time working in various social service areas, the majority of which has been dedicated to families and children. Her passion for the well-being of children and their families led her back to her alma mater, where she is excited to support research and community initiatives in this area. In her role as a board member, she will continue the Randall family’s tradition of support of the MSW program, which includes the establishment of the school’s Randall Information Center.

These community leaders join the board as Ann Hill transitions to emeritus status. Hill, BA ‘71, MA ‘73, joined the School of Social Work’s board in 2010 and served as its chair for two years. Previously, she was president of the USC Alumni Association and served on the Board of Trustees of the university.