¡Bienvenidos!  
Bienvenue!  
Welcome!  
Greetings Social Work Students, Administrators, Faculty, Staff, and Visitors:  
It is my absolute joy to greet you and to extend a warm welcome to the University of the Virgin Islands 
and in particular, the Social Work Department. You matter greatly to us, so whether you are new to UVI, 
returning to complete your degree, continuing on this incredible collegiate journey with our students, or 
just browsing our website—welcome aboard. You are in the right place, and we are so happy you are 
here!  
I am indeed proud of the amazing work our department continues to do and this semester promises 
endless opportunities for growth and repair. As a new program dedicated to excellence, diversity, equity 
and inclusion, our mission is central to our students’ success because we have the awesome 
responsibility to produce competent graduates for professional social work practice at all levels of 
intervention – clinical, community, organization, and policy. So, although the future bodes bright with 
possibilities, it will require all our hands, hearts, and minds on deck to make it a resounding success.  
  
With such an important precept, our aim is to honor and promote the resiliency of individuals, families, 
groups, communities, institutions and systems in the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and its diaspora, and 
it is a mantle of distinction that I pledge to carry on with utmost fidelity, compassion, and loyalty. Our 
BASW and MSW degree tracks are specifically designed with you in mind, and are offered for your 
convenience on both the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. 
Thomas. Our courses also offer equal flexibility in scheduling, timing, and affordability to accommodate 
both the traditional and non-traditional learners so there is ample ease of access to earning your social 
work degree at the level that you desire. Let us help you unleash your potential.  
  
As a lifelong social worker and advocate, I truly cannot think of a more propitious time to be in this 
profession—to be an agent and catalyst for change—than at this moment in our collective history. The 
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics aptly describes social work as a helping 
profession with the core mission to enhance human well-being, to stand up for justice and equality, and 
to be the voice of marginalized people everywhere. The growing disparities in wealth and health, global 
pandemics, police brutality, an alarming increase in domestic violence, systemic racism, and widespread 
discrimination are but a few of the day-to-day societal challenges that social workers are called upon to 
address.   
  
It is uplifting to know that over six decades after they first appeared in the NASW Code of Ethics, the core 
tenets of the profession still hold true today and are a great testament to the fact that social workers do 
change lives and we do have an enormous influence on what impacts the world. Through the supportive 
services we provide, people can and do live better lives. So, as you embark on this leg of your academic 
journey, know that our faculty, staff, and administrative teams are committed to assist, support, and 
guide you throughout the learning process, and I look forward to partnering with you, the university, and 
the community to achieve your goals.  
As you immerse yourself into this new semester or academic year, I encourage all of you to set 
SMART goals for yourselves—goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-
centered.  Take advantage of the many on-campus resources and student activities that have been 
provided for you and manage your time well so you can maximize and enjoy your learning experience. 
Equally important is the need to balance personal time with your academic pursuits. Taking care of your 
mental and physical health is not only a professional responsibility, but also an important key to help you 
remain rejuvenated, productive, and optimistic. We are well able, so let’s do this!  
A special thanks and welcome back to the social work faculty, administrative teams, practicum 
supervisors, and all our allied partners both on campus and in the community. Through your diligence 
and commitment to our students’ success, you have been instrumental in advancing our mission and 
core values. We have accomplished many of the goals we had set for our programs, but we have much 
more to give, much more to attain, and even more to celebrate. So, please continue to be the scaffold 
and bastion for each other as we continue to grow and move forward to the next level of victory with 
pride and confidence.  
One of our many goals during this and every year is to surpass each preceding milestone, but we can 
only do this through our mutual efforts and commitment to making our department as ethically 
functional and welcoming as possible. Among other things, this means leading by example, respecting 
our students and each other, treating our clients with compassion, engaging in continuous professional 
development, and acting with integrity and purpose in all that we say and do. Thank you, faculty teams, 
for imparting your knowledge and experience, and thank you, students, for entrusting us with this 
important aspect of your educational journey. Together, we make the dream work!   
I am very excited about meeting all of you in person and even more optimistic about what we can 
accomplish together. If you are a visitor to our site, thank you for taking the time to peruse our programs 
and please continue to visit and learn more about our progress. The UVI Admissions Office has been a 
tremendous asset in connecting prospective students and visitors to our programs, and I encourage you 
to also utilize them as a guide and reliable source of information. Again, on behalf of our dedicated 
teams, welcome to the social work family, study smartly, be well, and I look forward to seeing you in 
class.  
¡Buena suerte!  
Bonne chance!  
Good luck to all of you!  
Yvonne I. Woods, PhD, MSW, CSW  
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND CHAIR  
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK  
BACHELOR & MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS  
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES  
2 JOHN BREWERS BAY, OEK CAMPUS, ST THOMAS, VI, 00802-6004  
P: (340) 693-1184  
E: yvonne.woods@uvi.edu