Mandel faculty members retire after 20+ years of service

After decades of research, teaching, mentoring and shaping the future of social work, five faculty members at the Case Western Reserve University Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences are closing a remarkable chapter in their careers and retiring at the end of the semester.

Each of them has devoted more than 20 years to the school—years marked by deep commitment to students, meaningful scholarship and a shared belief in the power of social change. Collectively, they have contributed more than 160 years to the academy. Their impact can be felt not only in the classroom but in communities beyond campus, with their influence reaching far beyond the halls of Mandel.

“These five faculty members have dedicated their careers to advancing our mission, shaping generations of students, and strengthening the communities we serve,” said Dean Dexter Voisin, PhD. “Their impact will be felt far into the future and for generations to come, and we are deeply grateful for the lasting legacy they leave at the university and beyond.”

Mark Chupp 

Associate Professor

Founding Director, Community Innovation Network

Mark Chupp, PhD (SAS ’03), joined the Mandel School 20 years ago and has left an indelible mark as an educator, mentor and community leader. The founding director of the Community Innovation Network and a leader of the Social Justice Institute, he is a two-time recipient of the John A. Yankey Outstanding Teacher Award and widely known for helping students understand that trusting relationships are the foundation of social transformation.

“My favorite part of being at CWRU is the opportunity to work with wonderful, inquisitive students who bring passion and a commitment to social change,” Chupp said. “They have sustained me and inspired me each and every year.”

Throughout Chupp’s career, he has worked in restorative justice, community development and inter-group conflict transformation in multiple countries. He has been involved in several change movements and has been dedicated to community building and organizing in both his research and practice.

“We are grateful for Mark’s vision, his heart and his enduring belief in collective action,” said Voisin. “His leadership has strengthened the community practice area of our MSW program, and his service has impacted recruitment efforts, committee leadership and curriculum development and advancement.”

Victor Groza, PhD

Grace F. Brody Professor of Parent-Child Studies

Associate Dean for Doctoral Education, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Victor Groza, PhD, joined the Mandel School faculty in 1993. Throughout his tenure, he has become a leader in the administration of the school’s doctoral program, holding roles of associate dean for academic affairs, associate dean for research and training, director of the Child Welfare Fellows Program and, most recently, as associate dean for doctoral education. In 2007, he was also appointed the Grace F. Brody Professor in Parent-Child Studies.

“Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Groza has made exceptional and sustained contributions to the school through his leadership, research, teaching and mentorship,” said Dean Voisin. “His record reflects a deep commitment to advancing the school’s mission and to strengthening the field of social work education.”

A licensed social worker (LISW-S) and nationally and internationally recognized expert in adoption and child welfare, Groza also expanded global learning opportunities for students and faculty alike. He broadened the school’s focus on international education for students and established an Erasmus+ faculty exchange with the West University of Timisoara in Romania.

“I have had a great career at Mandel,” Groza said. “I have been able to do projects around the world, take students on learning trips, serve in various administrative positions and have a great personal and professional life.”

Sharon Milligan, PhD

Grace Longwell Coyle Associate Professor in Social Work

Vice Dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services

Professor Sharon Milligan joined the Mandel School nearly 45 years ago and has served as faculty and a leader in the school administration with extraordinary dedication and care. She holds the Grace Longwell Coyle Endowed Professorship and has served as associate dean, interim dean and vice dean for academic affairs. She also held the role of co-director and associate director of the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development.

Throughout her tenure, Milligan has been active across national and international organizations connecting social work education to diverse populations of service providers, supporting clients and training future social work practitioners. She also helped establish one the first online social work programs in the nation at the Mandel School and has been essential in shaping the school’s academic future. She is widely known for her mentorship and for using art as a vehicle for social justice and inclusion. 

“Professor Milligan has a deep connection to our community and represents our school impactfully in that space,” Voisin said. “She has played a unique role in exposing our students, staff and faculty to incredible art displayed in our facilities and tying that back to social work and social justice.” 

Mark Singer

Leonard W. Mayo Professor in Family and Child Welfare

Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine

Deputy Director, Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education

Professor Mark Singer, PhD (SAS ’79, ’83), has dedicated nearly four decades to the Mandel School, shaping the field through groundbreaking research, mentorship and leadership. As Deputy Director of the Begun Center on Violence Prevention, he helped build one of the nation’s leading research centers, securing over $15 million annually in external funding. He also holds a secondary appointment as a professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine and is known for his passion for supporting and engaging with students.

“Professor Singer’s leadership has advanced both the school and the profession over the past 40 years,” Voisin remarked. “His continuous support to junior faculty and doctoral students through his mentorship has set a standard across the school.”

A nationally recognized scholar and mentor, his work has bridged social work, psychiatry and public safety to improve responses to violence and mental health crises. He teaches at the Cleveland Police Academy, working with law enforcement to establish links between police officers and social services. 

“I am proud of the work I have done in shedding light on the psychosocial consequences of exposure to violence and being able to translate that to police officers to help them understand both citizens’ and their own behaviors,” Singer said.

Zoë Breen Wood, PhD

Associate Professor

Director, Office of Educational Outcome Assessment

Associate Professor Zoë Breen Wood, PhD (SAS ’12), has served the Mandel School with distinction for more than 30 years, shaping the student experience through her leadership, teaching and innovation. Since joining the school in 1993, she has held numerous pivotal roles—including director of field education and director of educational outcome assessment—where her steady guidance strengthened curriculum design, accreditation and student learning.

“Professor Wood’s administrative and leadership contributions have been both extensive and transformative,” said Dean Voisin. “Her accomplishments reflect a robust and sustained record of scholarship, service, leadership and teaching mentorship that has advanced both the school and the profession.”

A nationally recognized educator and mentor, Breen Wood was honored with multiple teaching awards, including two Mandel School Outstanding Teacher of the Year awards, a CSWE Mentorship Award and UCITE Teaching, Active Learning and Mentoring Fellowships. She is known for her pedagogical innovation and her approach to pioneering creative learning approaches, such as integrating virtual reality platforms into social work education. Her unwavering commitment to student success and support for faculty colleagues has left a lasting foundation for the school.

“After over 30 years of teaching, I continue to be humbled and inspired by the students I meet, the relationships we form and the possibilities we create together,” Breen Wood said.