Suzanne Dworak-Peck Names the School of Social Work at USC

“Endowing the school of social work is my expression of how much my USC education and the profession of social work mean to me, and I am grateful that my education has made it possible for me to give back.” Minutes after Suzanne Dworak-Peck spoke these words in front of the Social Work Center on September 14, her name became forever intertwined with social work at USC.

She built a career dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others, at all levels of society. An inspirational trendsetter, she recognized opportunities for the profession and led it over new horizons. 

Dworak-Peck’s historic gift is an investment in the future. Transforming society begins with the education of those who study the effects of social determinants and apply best practices to the most pressing issues of our time. For her, the school that produces many of the most respected professional social workers – and now also nurses – is at USC.

“As a society, we can’t afford not to invest in social work education,” Dworak-Peck said. “It is time for us to be more strategic about where we direct our energy and our resources, deriving solutions rather than putting expensive band-aids on the problems of the world.”

Supporting growth

A double alumna of USC, Dworak-Peck received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1965, and her Master of Social Work in 1967. She has always credited her education from USC as providing the knowledge, ethics and values that became the cornerstones of her successful career.

Observing the tremendous growth of the school under the vision and leadership of Dean Marilyn Flynn over the past 20 years, Dworak-Peck was inspired by how it has proven itself in innovative ways. She feels now is the time to take that innovation to the next level and provide an opportunity for the school and its students to continue to flourish.

“The school deserves to have its future secured in perpetuity,” Dworak-Peck said. “Dean Flynn has been a role model for leadership, and this is reflected in the commitment of faculty, staff and students to both the school and the further development of the profession. It is important to foster creativity with knowledge and new ideas, and I feel our school does this exceptionally well.”

As a professional social work practitioner herself, Dworak-Peck is acutely aware of the challenges that social workers face when they choose to follow their passion and enter this particular profession. It can be one of the most rewarding careers, but it often takes tremendous drive and ingenuity. At one point in her career she worked for an agency, taught a class and had a private practice, all at the same time.

“There are multiple ways to work within and influence the profession,” she said. “When you take your social work education and apply it in new and unique ways, it gives you the opportunity to apply your social work values to different sectors of society.”

Thinking outside the box

Dworak-Peck encourages social workers to get involved with their professional associations, and to even consider running for office within them. In her experience, many influential people in the profession have an interest and body of knowledge in many diverse areas. Some of her most rewarding leadership initiatives have been when she has collaborated with other disciplines.

She was pleased when the school announced it would launch a Department of Nursing and open the doors to an interdisciplinary approach to health care. “Social work and nursing are complementary to one another in so many ways,” Dworak-Peck said. “Combining our strengths can only result in a positive outcome for both individuals and communities that are often marginalized by the social determinants of their background, economic standing or daily surroundings. What the school has embarked on is a very innovative approach, and I believe it will be a game-changer for health care in this country.”

Dworak-Peck’s endowment is about recognizing and celebrating social work as a focus for learning and research and as a profession. Today, social work impacts the highest levels of local and global communities, and she hopes future students will recognize the school as the destination for learning and preparing for important leadership roles within the field and beyond.

“We must always look for ways to move beyond our profession to discover and understand others’ views,” she said. “Find ways to relate to the public’s issues and concerns and identify how they can be approached from a social work perspective. My vision is that our school, alumni, students, faculty and staff will always be an influential presence, demonstrating how social work expertise brings essential value to the dialogue and decision making wherever we practice.”