For the first time, the Academy was invited to present to the Executive Leadership Team of SDSU’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS), and we could not be more proud of the moment our team delivered.
The Academy has long had a relationship with SDSU. That relationship has included guest lecturing in School of Social Work classes on topics like Core Practice Model, Safety Organized Practice, and translating theory into real practice improvement, as well as supporting their graduates as they enter the county workforce. This invitation represents something new. Dean Amy Bonomi, who leads the entire College of Health and Human Services, is now exploring how Academy programs could serve CHHS directly, reaching faculty, staff, and students at the University level. That is a significant expansion of what our partnership with SDSU has looked like until now.
This shift matters for you as our partners and community. It means the tools and programs we offer are being recognized not just as valuable for the workforce, but as something worth bringing into the academic space where future leaders are being trained. It also aligns with broader statewide efforts through CalWISE to build clear pathways into child welfare, from pre-service preparation all the way through a professional’s career. That recognition strengthens the Academy’s reach and our ability to serve the broader health and human services community alongside you.
Representing the Academy were Executive Director Kimberly Giardina; Sr. Director of Strategy, Development and Organizational Advancement Jacquelyn Furtado; Director of Finance & Business Services Stacie Johnston; Sr. Director of Workforce Development Programs Dawn Schoonhoven Scott; and Child Welfare Development Services Director Erika Tucker. They shared how our programs transform the way health and human services leaders think and work.
Our Culturally Responsive Leadership (CRL) program was a highlight of the conversation. The series was co-developed by Charmaine Utz, LCSW, Director of Culture, Learning & Development and Brand Strategy (lead developer); Adam Renteria, M.A., former Responsive Integrated Health Solutions Manager, Kendrick Dial, MSW, Practice Coach; Kim Mettler, former Tribal Star Manager, with contributions from Joanne Chen, MA, CPC, former ORganization Development Specialist. CRL is now part of our Cultural Responsiveness Services porgram and led by Wanjiru Golly, PhD, CRS Manager, and the CRS team. The six-month learning experience gives leaders practical, equity-centered tools to address systemic inequities and build environments where everyone belongs. It is exactly the kind of program that resonates when the conversation turns to preparing the next generation of health and human services leaders.
Dean Bonomi also expressed strong interest in our Leaders in Action (LIA) program and was captivated by how our Simulations create real, lasting change for learners. Erika Tucker did a wonderful job bringing that experience to life during the presentation.
We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in us. It is that trust, and the dedication of our team, that opens doors like this one. We are excited to see where this expanded partnership leads and will keep you informed as things develop.