Graduate School of Social Work
GSSW Student Organizations
GSSW's active student organizations offer you a variety of ways to connect outside the classroom, and to work together with faculty and staff to impact the school, the University and the larger community.
ECO Conscious
ECO (Environment+Conservation+Opportunity) Conscious aims to promote conservation and environmental justice within the social work profession and to demonstrate such principles in the classroom and the community.
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
GSA serves as the official voice of the GSSW student body. It acts as the liaison between the student body and GSSW's faculty and administration, professional associations and the community.
GSA representatives serve with faculty and staff on various GSSW committees to ensure consideration of student interests and concerns. GSA also works closely with the University's Graduate Student Association Council and the Colorado chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). In addition, GSA plans social and graduation events, reimburses students for conference fees and organizes lunchtime discussions. Contact the Graduate Student Association at gsswgsa@du.edu.
Multicultural Social Justice Student Organization (MSJ)
MSJ seeks to promote a multicultural community and social justice issues in a forum of self-awareness, education and advocacy. Open to all students, its primary purpose is to identify, acknowledge and celebrate cultural and religious diversity.
Phi Alpha (Xi Delta Chapter)
Phi Alpha is a national social work honor society. It seeks to provide a closer bond among social work students and to promote humanitarian goals and ideals. MSW student membership in GSSW's Xi Delta Chapter of Phi Alpha is based upon grade point average and adherence to the code of ethics established by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Queer Equality Alliance (QEA)
QEA seeks to provide a safe and supportive environment for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexed and questioning students, staff, faculty and alumni of GSSW; heterosexual allies; and those of any additional status or orientation.
Activities include outreach, education and work with other organizations. QEA also addresses educational, political and social needs, provides advocacy for the GLBTQIA community and works toward dismantling oppression in all its forms.
REhD (Red Estudiantil de Hispanohablantes en DU GSSW)
REhD is GSSW's Spanish conversation group comprising 30+ "intermediate" to "advanced" level Spanish-speaking students. Developed and facilitated by Clinical Assistant Professor Stephen von Merz, REhD provides students with the vocabulary and conversational practice needed to communicate in the field of social work in Spanish. Students identify themes and topics that are addressed in biweekly group conversations (for example, internship issues, domestic violence, health care in the Latino community, and so on).
Shades of Brown Alliance (SOBA)
Shades of Brown Alliance (SOBA) is a student organization that strives to offer a "safe place", supportive, and encouraging environment for all individuals of color, allies, staff, faculty, and alumni of GSSW to learn, voice, escape, mature and positively confront and address the issues people of color experience as a part of the GSSW experience.
Additional Information
For more information about GSSW's student organizations, please contact Clinical Assistant Professor Karen Bensen, Assistant Dean for Community Academic Programs (303-871-3709). For a list of upcoming student events, visit the GSSW Student Resource Portfolio and click on the "events" tab.