The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University celebrated the graduation of its most recent social work and nonprofit management students virtually on Sunday, May 17, 2020.
Alumna Suzanne Elise Walsh, MSSA 1994, JD 1997, gave the Mandel School's diploma ceremony address, sharing her personal and professional journey to becoming the 19th president of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, a historically black, women’s-only private college. Walsh expressed her notion of "soul craft"—being involved with work that speaks to and is important to one's soul, or doing work that one loves. She told graduates that everything they do matters, and others will pay attention if they see they have soul in the game. Walsh closed with advising the 2020 graduates to listen to their souls, because their soul and the world are rooting for them.
Case Western Reserve bestowed upon Walsh an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, and the Mandel School honored her with the Advocate for Human Rights Award, an award given for significant contributions to the social work profession as an education innovator, role model and creator of opportunities for others.