SSW Alumni Eric Kamba (SSW’04) Appointed to NASW Practice Section
–Farha Sandhu (COM ’09)
BUSSW Alumni Eric Kamba (SSW ’04, SPH ’05) was recently appointed to the Social, Economic Justice and Peace Specialty Practice Section Committee of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Members were appointed through a selective nomination process.
As a member of the Social, Economic Justice and Peace Specialty Practice section, Kamba will be responsible for generating information for the practice section program; serve as a resource for policy issues such as legislative testimonies, practice standards, and continuing education; as well as promote member education and networking with other members and allied groups.
Ultimately, though, he hopes to promote social justice and expand awareness on poverty, violence, racism, sexism, disability, religious persecution, and other forms of oppression. Says Kamba, “I want to stand up for others.”
Currently, Kamba is the Refugee Health Assessment Program Manager at Massachusetts General Hospital, which serves the Greater Boston area. His responsibilities include supervision of medical students and program coordinators; organization of training, seminars, grant writing and data analysis; community relations; and program management. He also works with primary care medical practices on case management and system issues that support care to immigrant populations. Kamba is also the founding Executive Director of the Congolese Development Center, a non-profit organization that serves members of African refugee communities in Massachusetts and promotes assistance and capacity building within the African community.
Reflecting on his career, Kamba has high praise for a BUSSW education. He shares he has “been able to directly apply knowledge from both [his] public health and social work graduate education” and that the coursework provided him “with a special eye to critical thinking, policy practice, community practice, leadership, and professional development.”
NASW is the largest membership association of professional social workers in the world, and works to advance social policy, as well as the professional development of its members. Established in 1955, the organization is made up of Specialty Practice divisions, which deal with different social work topics promoting societal causes and services. Other sections include Child Welfare; Mental Health; Aging; Alcohol, and Tobacco and Other Drugs.
About BUSSW:
Distinguished by its urban mission and clinical and macro practice focus, the Boston University School of Social Work is committed to educating masters’ and doctoral level students who will become leaders in a multicultural environment. The School offers the MSW and PhD degrees, as well as continuing professional education, and its nationally recognized faculty has been ranked 8th among schools of social work with doctoral programs. Located in a diverse and academically rich community, the School offers almost unlimited opportunities for urban social work practice and research. Visit bu.edu/ssw for more information.
About Boston University:
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 30,000 students, it is the fourth largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 colleges and schools along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes which are central to the school’s research and teaching mission.