Lisa Reyes Mason has been selected to serve as the next dean of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Her appointment will begin Aug. 1.
Following a competitive national search, Reyes Mason was selected for her extensive leadership experience, strategic vision, collaborative approach, and strong commitment to the mission and values of social work education.
Reyes Mason currently serves as professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, where she recently completed a term as interim dean. Before serving as interim dean, she was associate dean for academic affairs.
As interim dean, Reyes Mason led a school with a $50 million annual budget, more than 50 full time faculty members, approximately 200 adjunct faculty, 100 staff members, and 1,200 master’s and doctoral students. During her tenure, she guided the school through a period of fiscal constraint while maintaining a focus on organizational culture, enrollment and revenue stability, and institutional advocacy.
Reyes Mason also brings a strong record of advancing academic innovation and student success. She has overseen both in person and online academic programs, led curriculum revision efforts, strengthened student support services, and helped develop new academic concentrations, including an Ecological Justice concentration within the Master of Social Work program at the University of Denver.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and both her Master of Social Work and Ph.D. in Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Her scholarship focuses on advancing social and environmental justice, reducing inequities, and strengthening the connections among research, policy, and practice. She is nationally recognized for interdisciplinary and community engaged research, collaborating with colleagues across engineering, geography, public health, and public policy to address complex societal challenges.
Reyes Mason’s focus on sustainable growth, systems thinking, social justice, and statewide impact, together with her thoughtful approach to balancing innovation and institutional capacity, positions her well to lead the School of Social Work into its next chapter.
The University of Illinois System campuses (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Springfield and University of Illinois Chicago) are partnering for an upcoming simulation symposium, set to take place at the University of Illinois Springfield campus on October 29, 2026 from 8:00am to 5:00pm. The University of Illinois Simulation Symposium invites practitioners, educators, researchers, and innovators from across the nation to explore the expanding role of simulation in transforming teaching, training, and practice. Designed to cast a wide and inclusive net, this symposium highlights cutting-edge work across disciplines, showcasing how simulation can deepen learning, strengthen professional competency, and elevate real-world impact.
When: October 29, 2026 8:00am-5:00pm CST
Where: University of Illinois at Springfield Student Union 2251 Richard Wright Dr, Springfield, IL 62703
Fee: $75 for full day attendance with CEUs (for LCSW/LSW, LCPC/LPC, and nursing licenses in the state of Illinois) $50 for full day attendance with no CEUs
Join us for a dynamic leadership training series, beginning in March 2026, designed for individuals who want to strengthen their leadership capacity and deepen their impact within their organizations and communities.
This series features modular, one-hour trainings led by Joy Das of the Illinois Leadership Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Each session will offer practical insights, reflection, and skill-building opportunities to support leadership growth across sectors.
The series is open to: • Community organizations and nonprofit professionals • Those who are seeking CEUs (LCSW, LSW, LCPC, LPC) • Emerging and experienced leaders • Anyone interested in developing their leadership skills
Whether you are leading a team, supporting community initiatives, or investing in your personal leadership journey, this series offers accessible, high-quality learning grounded in real-world application. These sessions will be held in person and there is a $10 fee per session for those seeking CEUs. All other attendance is free.
This Leadership Training Series is made possible through the collaboration of our community partners: Illinois Leadership Center, UIUC School of Social Work, Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, United Way of Champaign County, Champaign County Developmental Disabilities Board, and the Champaign County Mental Health Board.
July 15, 2026 9:30-10:30am CST 1.0 CEs for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC In Person at Champaign Public Library, Robeson Room
Leaders usually desire to be empathetic but are often asked to make hard decisions that can hurt or disappoint others. In this workshop, participants will learn how to balance empathy and effectiveness through compassionate leadership. Defining features of this workshop include practicing active listening and tools to prevent empathy burnout. Participants will have the opportunity to make the key connections between empathy, compassion, and leadership.
Learning Objectives:
Define sympathy, empathy, and compassion
Practice active listening skills
Identify strategies to prevent compassion fatigue
Making Strategic Decisions
September 16, 2026 9:30-10:30am CST 1.0 CEs for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC In Person at Champaign Public Library, Robeson Room
Discussions and brainstorming can easily get out of hand without structure and guidance. In this workshop, you will learn the different aspects of healthy individual and group brainstorming processes. Everyone will practice different types of thinking to facilitate effective and efficient decisions for themselves and their organizations.
Learning Objectives:
Identify six facets of decision-making
Compare types of thinking using Six Thinking Hats model
Practice facilitating a decision-making process using De Bono method
Addressing Conflict in Teams
October 14, 2026 9:30-10:30am CST 1.0 CEs for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC In Person at Champaign Public Library, Robeson Room
Recognizing the importance of conflict in personal and professional relationships is a key skill in teamwork. In this workshop, we explore how conflict often arises and how it can be an opportunity for change and greater understanding. We will help students assess their personal conflict management technique and learn strategies to build their conflict management skills.
Learning Objectives:
List benefits of all five Thomas-Kilmann approaches to conflict
Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy behaviors related to own approach to conflict
Demonstrate multiple responses to conflict based on five approaches
Navigating Multicultural Organizations
November 18, 2026 9:30-10:30am CST 1.0 CEs for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC In Person at Champaign Public Library, Robeson Room
Today, many organizations bring people together from various cultures and work experiences to offer a wide range of perspectives on strategy and organizational challenges. Participants will be able to navigate situations where cultural differences are present.
Learning Objectives:
List the communities and cultures that shape our behaviors in a group
Explain own behaviors in a team based on the scales of cultural difference
Discuss diverse approaches to teams with others
Telling My Leadership Story
December 10, 2026 9:30-10:30am CST 1.0 CEs for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC In Person at Champaign Public Library, Robeson Room
What makes one an authentic leader? By telling personal leadership stories, people reflect on different aspects of leadership such as their values and beliefs, their goals, the actions that they take to achieve those goals, and why their role as a leader is important. In this workshop, participants will learn the purpose of telling their leadership stories and how to tell a story that represents their purpose as a leader. Participants will be able to draft and practice telling their story in a way that highlights who they are as a leader.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of storytelling in leadership
List different types of leadership stories
Draft a story of your own leadership origins
Previous Sessions: Practicing Servant Leadership
March 25, 2026 9:30-10:30am CST 1.0 CEs for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC In Person at United Way, 5 Dunlap Ct., Savoy, IL
Anyone can be a leader—but what about a servant leader? The main goal of a Servant Leader is to serve others. This means prioritizing others’ ideas and goals over your own and valuing relationships first in your leadership. In this workshop, participants will recognize what servant leadership looks like, identify the core competencies of Servant Leadership and learn how to encourage others to practice servant leadership.
Learning Objectives:
Define servant leadership
Recognize the differences between “traditional” and “servant” leadership
Identify at least three characteristics of a servant leader
The School of Social Work and the Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society present a 3-part book study on What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD and Oprah Winfrey. These sessions will delve into the intricate intersection of trauma, examining its biological, psychological, neurological, and relational dimensions. Trauma profoundly affects the developing brain, leading to biological changes such as altered gene expression through epigenetics, which can impair stress responses and overall health. Psychologically, the repercussions of trauma often manifest as anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation, hindering one’s ability to thrive. Neurologically, adverse experiences can reshape neural pathways, affecting emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. Moreover, trauma disrupts relational dynamics, influencing attachment styles and the ability to form healthy connections. This study will explore how these interconnected factors contribute to developmental challenges and inform clinical practices, program development, and policy aimed at supporting vulnerable individuals.
All sessions will offered in a hybrid format. In-person participation for the March 25 session will be held at the ACES Library, Heritage Room (1101 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, Room 107). If you register to attend virtually, you will receive the Zoom link the week before the first session. Dr. Perry is planning to join the March 25 session virtually.
Dr. Perry is the Principal of the Neurosequential Network and a Professor (Adjunct) at the School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia.
Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences holding a variety of academic positions. His work on the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma on the developing brain has impacted clinical practice, programs and policy across the world. Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered. Dr. Perry’s most recent book, What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing(2021), co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, has been translated into 26 languages and has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for over 100 weeks after becoming #1 on the list in April of 2021.
Dr. Perry was on the faculty of the Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry at the University of Chicago School of Medicine from 1988 to 1991. From 1992 to 2001, Dr. Perry served as the Trammell Research Professor of Child Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. During this time, Dr. Perry also was Chief of Psychiatry for Texas Children’s Hospital and Vice-Chairman for Research within the Department of Psychiatry. From 2001 to 2003, Dr. Perry served as the Medical Director for Provincial Programs in Children’s Mental Health for the Alberta Mental Health Board. From 2009 to 2024, Dr. Perry was a Professor (Adjunct) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Dr. Perry has conducted both basic neuroscience and clinical research. His neuroscience research examined the impact of prenatal drug exposure, the neurobiology of human neuropsychiatric disorders, the neurophysiology of trauma and adversity, and the development of neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. His clinical research and practice have a focus on the complex impact of developmental adversity. This work has examined the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, and physiological effects of developmental adversity such as neglect and trauma as well as the positive and resilience-building effects of healthy relational connections work has been instrumental in describing how childhood experiences, both negative and positive, change the biology of the brain – and, thereby, the health of the child.
His experience as a clinician and a researcher with traumatized children has led many community and governmental agencies to consult Dr. Perry following high-profile incidents involving traumatized children and youth including the Branch Davidian siege in Waco (1993), the Oklahoma City bombing (1995), the Columbine school shootings (1999), the September 11th terrorist attacks (2001), Hurricane Katrina (2005), the FLDS polygamist sect (2008), the earthquake in Haiti (2010), the tsunami in Tohoku Japan (2011), the Sandy Hook Elementary school shootings (2012), the Camp wildfire in California (2018) and the Turkey-Syria earthquake (2022), among many others.
Dr. Perry has published over 500 journal articles, book chapters and scientific proceedings and is the recipient of numerous professional awards and honors, including the T. Berry Brazelton Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award, the Award for Leadership in Public Child Welfare, the Alberta Centennial Medal and the 2014 Kohl Education Prize. In 2024 he was the recipient of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Scientific Research Award and the NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award. In 2025, Casey Family Programs selected Dr. Perry for the Casey Excellence for Children Award (Leadership). He serves on the Board of Directors of multiple organizations including the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA), and the Ana Grace Project. He is a Lifetime Member and Vice-Chairman of the Board at Prevent Child Abuse America.
He has presented about child maltreatment, children’s mental health, neurodevelopment and youth violence in a variety of venues including policy-making bodies such as the White House Summit on Violence, the California Assembly and U.S. House Committee on Education and South by Southwest (SXSW). Dr. Perry has been featured in a wide range of media including 60 Minutes, National Public Radio, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC and CBS News, the Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah’s Super Soul. His work has been featured in documentaries produced by Dateline NBC, 20/20, the BBC, Nightline, CBC, PBS, as well as dozen international documentaries. Many print media have highlighted the clinical and research activities of Dr. Perry including a Pulitzer-prize winning series in the Chicago Tribune, The Sun Magazine, US News and World Report, Time, Newsweek, Forbes ASAP, Washington Post, the New York Times and Rolling Stone.
Dr. Perry, a native of Bismarck, North Dakota, was an undergraduate at Stanford University and Amherst College. He attended medical and graduate school at Northwestern University, receiving both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Dr. Perry completed a residency in general psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at The University of Chicago.
Recent Executive Orders have profoundly affected social work practice, particularly in areas impacting vulnerable and marginalized communities. Shifts in federal policies and agency structures have further reshaped access to critical services, presenting new challenges for social workers committed to advocacy, equity, and justice. These changes have also raised ethical dilemmas around our profession’s core values and responsibilities, as outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics.
Join us for this lunchtime series, a collection of speakers over one-hour virtual sessions designed to provide food for thought and actionable insights. Each session will feature discussions on critical policy shifts, their implications for social work practice, and actionable strategies to support vulnerable and marginalized communities. This series offers a space for reflection, dialogue, and professional growth in the face of our evolving social and political landscapes.
Open to all students, alumni, and practitioners
Free to attend | 1.0 CEU available for $10 per session (LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC)
Reproductive Rights in This Moment: Where Confidentiality, Self-Determination, and Social Work Values Meet
May 13, 2025 12:00-1:00pm CST 1.0 CE for LCSW/LSW or LCPC/LPC $10 for CEs, free for no CEs
When the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision landed on June 24, 2022, half a century of reproductive rights protections in the United States changed in an instant. Depending on a person’s location, their rights to make decisions about their reproductive healthcare may vary widely, and their medical providers’ ability to aid them in this decision-making and provide evidence-based care may have changed drastically. Changes to not only abortion care, but also miscarriage care, in vitro fertilization, and family planning of many kinds have occurred in many locations. With continued legislative and judicial efforts to restrict reproductive freedoms further in motion at the federal level, what can we as social workers do to support those in our communities who may be affected? Recalling our professional values around confidentiality, self-determination, and advocacy can anchor social workers in this moment. This session will provide broader context for the current challenges to reproductive rights, strategies for centering the confidentiality and self-determination of the individuals we serve, and a call to action to advocate for change that centers on the dignity and worth of those whose reproductive autonomy is at risk.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to identify historical and present legislative and judicial policy-making that has shaped the current landscape of reproductive rights challenges.
Participants will be able to connect social work values of confidentiality and self-determination to specific strategies they can utilize to support the reproductive rights concerns of individuals they serve.
Participants will be able to articulate the role of advocacy as a social worker value and mechanism to make political change to support their communities’ needs for reproductive rights protections.
Registration:
If you do NOT need CEUs for LCSW/LSW or LCPC/LPC, register via the link below:
Molly M. McLay, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who has worked as a mental health educator, researcher, and advocate on issues such as gender-based violence, LGBTQIA support, anxiety, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and sexual health from her current home base of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, for the last 15 years. In early 2024, she opened Molly McLay Counseling & Consultation Services, PLLC, an organization that provides psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and medical advocacy virtually to individuals across the state. She has spent time working toward a PhD in social work at Washington University in St. Louis, and she has previously worked at a group therapy practice, the University of Illinois Women’s Resources Center, and a federally qualified health center with at-risk pregnant and parenting women. She has also been a member of the Champaign County Mental Health Board for the last 3 years and became president of the board in June 2024. Molly has also spent the last 3 years undergoing treatments for infertility and pregnancy loss, and she is the mother of a stillborn daughter conceived via IVF. She is committed to strengthening mental health supports for those who have experienced any kind of reproductive health challenges and believes all birthing people deserve decision-making autonomy over their healthcare.
