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N.C. A&T Alumna Named NASW North Carolina 2018 Social Worker of Year

Photo Caption: Photo by Steve Jamroz, courtesy of the UNC General Alumni Association.

Dr. Iris Carlton-LaNey ’72 was named 2018 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter (NASW-NC).

The NASW-NC Social Worker of the Year Award is an annual award given to a social work professional who has demonstrated commendable social work practice and involvement with NASW and other professional, civic and community organizations.

For over 40 years, Carlton-LaNey has taught in social work programs at three North Carolina universities: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and currently as the Berg-Beach Distinguished Professor of Community Social Work at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has made a career of educating and mentoring the next generation of social workers and challenging students to think critically about oppression, institutionalized racism, micro-aggressions, racism and privilege.

“I am incredibly honored that NASW has given me this coveted recognition and so appreciative that they have given it to an academic. In doing so they are acknowledging the immutable link between social work education, advocacy and future professional performance,” said Dr. Carlton-LaNey.

Over the course of her career, Carlton-LaNey has published four books, in addition to chapters and articles relating to African-American aging, social work in the American South, African-American breast cancer survivors, and training African-American social workers, among many other topics of relevance. She is a nationally recognized scholar whose work has impacted professionals and communities as well as the students she has taught.

Carlton-LaNey has received numerous accolades and awards for her professional contributions, including the Hortense K. McClinton Outstanding Faculty Staff Award presented by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Black Alumni Association, one of 50 Heroes for Justice selected by the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and Carlton-LaNey was selected as a NASW Social Work Pioneer in 2015, the profession’s highest honor.

In May 2017, she was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to serve on the North Carolina Social Services Commission.

Dr. Iris Carlton-LaNey will be honored as Social Worker of the Year at the NASW-NC Annual Ethics Conference and Awards Luncheon at the Durham Convention Center on March 23, 2018.