Alice Lieberman Scholarship Support

Dr. Alice Lieberman has been a cornerstone of the School’s BSW program, serving as BSW program chair twice and mentoring and teaching countless undergraduate students over the years. Her passion and skill working with undergraduate students resulted in her selection as a member of the prestigious Chancellor’s Professor of Teaching Club, which recognizes excellence in teaching and is only awarded to those who demonstrate outstanding teaching over a period of years.

If you have ever crossed paths with Dr. Lieberman, you know how devoted she has been to the School and to her students. When the School posted an image of her last day of teaching, our page immediately started filling up with comments.

Congratulations, Alice. You remain an inspiration.

 I love ❤️ You, Al!! Sister you are simply irreplaceable and will truly be missed!!

Well deserved. Never doubt the difference you’ve made!

Love that I was your student! You are wonderful! Thank you for all your encouragement through the years!!

Your guidance and encouragement has made a difference to so many students.. thank you .. enjoy the next adventure

 Alice Lieberman embodies everything a social worker is and who helped me start my amazing social work career. Thank you for years of service, passion and support

 Alice, this is bittersweet. You have been a fabulous influence on generations of social workers. I am forever in your debt for the interest you took in me, my education, and my wellbeing. Thank you for everything.❤❤❤❤❤

We could go on and on. There are literally hundreds more comments similar to these.

In addition to mentoring and teaching, Dr. Lieberman devoted time and energy into recruitment and retention of social workers, particularly in child welfare, and workforce development. During her tenure, she helped secure millions of scholarship dollars to not only assist students with tuition but also provide value-added educational experiences for students.

Admittedly, when I applied for the Scholar's Program, my primary motivation was the scholarship money. I would have never dreamed that the value of the trainings incorporated into the program would surpass the value of the scholarship money- but they have! Especially living in a rural area, having access to top-quality trainings with experts in the field have been experiences that are second to none. The trainings have covered practical information that is directly applicable to social work practice. As a future social worker of Western Kansas, the opportunity to become better prepared and more highly educated has been a privilege. I am so grateful that the Scholar's Program has allowed all this to be at my fingertips here in Western Kansas!" - Jessica Albin, Former Scholar Program Scholarship Recipient, Western Kansas MSW Program

These are just a couple of testaments to Dr. Lieberman’s love and dedication to the profession and continuing to grow the workforce with talented, passionate individuals. In honor of Dr. Lieberman and to keep her passion for students alive at the School of Social Welfare, one of her former students and alum of the School, Todd Porch, decided to champion a scholarship in her name. He felt it only fitting and the best gift to Dr. Lieberman in retirement would be a scholarship that will live on in perpetuity and continue to help student after student obtain an education in a field that was so dear to her heart – social work. By making a gift to this special scholarship, you help undergraduate students with financial need pursue their dream of a social work education and also honor Alice’s legacy at the University of Kansas.

Alice has dedicated 31 years to helping others, now it is our turn to fund a scholarship in her name, so her generosity, kindness and passion can live on here at the School of Social Welfare in her retirement. Thank you to Todd Porch for leading this effort and for starting us off with a generous $15,000 lead gift!