Bluffton University’s social work program is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. According to associate professor of social work and director of the social work program Walt Paquin, the program began in 1944 because, during World War II, the number of male students had decreased. Lloyd Ramseyer, the president at the time, was looking for professions that might draw more women to college, which lead to the development of the social work program, Paquin said.
Walt Paquin, associate professor of social work and director of the social work program, photo by Aubrey Bartel
“I think [the anniversary is] really critical,” Paquin said. “There are a lot of programs around the state, but there are not very many that have been around for 75 years. I think that longevity in our program speaks to how important it is at Bluffton, how supported it is at Bluffton and how needed the profession is.”
The social work program has several events planned for the 75th anniversary, including a tent at the tail-gating party for Homecoming, a Forum and Colloquium during March for Social Work Month and a reunion event on May Day.
“I’m looking forward to meeting some of the graduates I haven’t met from 20, 30 or even 50 years ago,” Paquin said. “I’m excited about hearing their stories, hearing about what they did and what the social work program meant to them at Bluffton.”
Paquin, who has been at Bluffton for nine years, said he believes the program is able to give its social work students a unique experience.
“I think that because we have a Christian background, because we are focused on social justice, I think that our students are thinking about those issues when they are in the field,” Paquin said.
Rowena Zuercher, a senior social work and Spanish double major, said she believes the small program size at Bluffton is one of its strengths, as well as the site location trips they get to participate in.
Rowena Zuercher, a senior social work and Spanish double major. Photo credit Aubrey Bartel
“I love our site location trips,” Zuercher said. “We do that with Heidi [Mercer, assistant professor of social work and director of field education] and Walt both. We just get to visit area agencies, do a little bit of volunteering and get a feel for what it’s like to work at different places in the field. They’re cool because we’re getting on-site experience.”
With the goal of working in a bilingual setting, Zuercher said she wants to use her degree to work in either the physical health or mental health field.
“I think that with social work, when it’s meant for you, you know it,” Zuercher said. “You really have to be the sort of person who wants to be a social worker. It’s a major that chooses people, as cliché as that sounds. I really feel like I’ve been able to explore my passions and essentially my purpose for life, through this major.”
Overall, Paquin has several long term goals for the future of the social work program.
“We’d like to see a lot more students who are social work majors come to Bluffton, and we want to serve the local community, northwest Ohio, by providing really solid social workers who can provide the best services available for vulnerable populations,” Paquin said.
