Image of Dr. Edith Fraser
Award: Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award
The Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award is presented to Edith Fraser, MSW, PhD, a retired adjunct professor who taught for more than 37 years at Oakwood University, Alabama A & M and Smith College School for Social Work.
While at Oakwood University (formerly Oakwood College), Dr. Fraser served in several capacities: Director of Field Instruction, Chair of Social Work Department and had a dual appointment as professor in Social Work Department and Director of Faculty Development and Research. At Smith College School for Social Work, she was an adjunct professor for over 20 years and Bertha Reynolds Senior Fellow providing guidance for faculty and students on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. During her tenure at Alabama A & M, she was Chair of the Social Work and Psychology Department.
Dr. Fraser has taught undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. She has a passion for teaching and her students recognize her knowledge, fervor, and innovative pedagogical approaches. Her proudest moments are seeing her many students making a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations, in social work education, in research and in the Social Work profession.
She has a long history of Community Service and Service to the profession: she has served as a site visitor for CSWE; Chair of local NASW; Vice-President for State Board of NASW (2003–2005); CSWE commission on Accreditation (2007–2012) and NASW Credentialing Committee member (2020–present). She has been a board member for Catholic Family Services, Catholic Center for Concern, Aids Action Coalition, Women’s Advisory Board UAH, Homicide Survivor Program, International Services/Global Ties, Madison County Commission for Healthy Marriages, and American Red Cross.
Her international experience includes being selected as a Fulbright Scholar in Egypt, China, Thailand, and Myanmar and Dr. Charles Drew Memorial International Researcher in Ghana. As a Fulbright Senior Specialist, she was instrumental in providing guidance for the development of a Social Work program at the University of Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.
Dr. Fraser has been the recipient of numerous awards: Century Club Inductee (Louisville Male High School), Day-Garret Award (Smith School for Social Work); Alabama Social Work Hall of Fame; Social Work Educator of the Year (Alabama–Mississippi Social Work Educators); Outstanding University Professor (Oakwood University); Boston University School of Social Work Alumni of the Year.
She holds an AB in Sociology from University of Louisville, MSW from Boston University and PhD from Smith College School for Social Work.
While at Oakwood University (formerly Oakwood College), Dr. Fraser served in several capacities: Director of Field Instruction, Chair of Social Work Department and had a dual appointment as professor in Social Work Department and Director of Faculty Development and Research. At Smith College School for Social Work, she was an adjunct professor for over 20 years and Bertha Reynolds Senior Fellow providing guidance for faculty and students on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. During her tenure at Alabama A & M, she was Chair of the Social Work and Psychology Department.
Dr. Fraser has taught undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. She has a passion for teaching and her students recognize her knowledge, fervor, and innovative pedagogical approaches. Her proudest moments are seeing her many students making a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations, in social work education, in research and in the Social Work profession.
She has a long history of Community Service and Service to the profession: she has served as a site visitor for CSWE; Chair of local NASW; Vice-President for State Board of NASW (2003–2005); CSWE commission on Accreditation (2007–2012) and NASW Credentialing Committee member (2020–present). She has been a board member for Catholic Family Services, Catholic Center for Concern, Aids Action Coalition, Women’s Advisory Board UAH, Homicide Survivor Program, International Services/Global Ties, Madison County Commission for Healthy Marriages, and American Red Cross.
Her international experience includes being selected as a Fulbright Scholar in Egypt, China, Thailand, and Myanmar and Dr. Charles Drew Memorial International Researcher in Ghana. As a Fulbright Senior Specialist, she was instrumental in providing guidance for the development of a Social Work program at the University of Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.
Dr. Fraser has been the recipient of numerous awards: Century Club Inductee (Louisville Male High School), Day-Garret Award (Smith School for Social Work); Alabama Social Work Hall of Fame; Social Work Educator of the Year (Alabama–Mississippi Social Work Educators); Outstanding University Professor (Oakwood University); Boston University School of Social Work Alumni of the Year.
She holds an AB in Sociology from University of Louisville, MSW from Boston University and PhD from Smith College School for Social Work.