08/01/2025
**LONG POST WARNING!!**
Dear King Student Social Workers and King BSW Faculty:
When I founded the King University BSW Program, I held close to me the stories of my own lived experiences in the nexus of my own identities, the inequities we witness and are often victims of, my frustrations with systems that continue to fail us, the work that continues to under-resource us, and the dire need to elevate those who dedicate their life’s work to bettering our world. I was and continue to be inspired by each of you in the work, my faculty who are dedicated to training and nurturing our students, those in my communities, and other marginalized groups, and knew that any efforts I could commit to advancing the well-being of present and future social workers is a worthy cause. I am grateful to have served you, to have advocated for ensuring recognition and investments of our workforce, to have provided a quality social work education built on mutual respect, celebrating each of you and your accomplishments, providing a welcoming and soft landing for your colleagues from Limestone University and other transfer students, and for the overall sustainability and wellness of those communities we serve. My program here at King has produced countless high-achieving, exceedingly competent social workers who serve vulnerable people in communities across the US and, in fact, across the globe! I could not be more proud of the social workers I’ve had the honor and of privilege of working with and teaching – YOU! It is with mixed sentiment that I share that I will be transitioning out of my role with King University and taking on another leadership role in the TN Wesleyan University BSW Program. Through deep prayer and contemplation, I have agonized over this decision for weeks before the Lord gave me confirmation. I will finish most of the month of August at King and transition out of this role before the start of the fall 2025 semester. Let us celebrate our remaining time together.
In just short of 11-years, we have truly, radically altered the optics, structure, and functionality of a 21st century BSW educational opportunity. This program has educated students who reside in nearly every state in the US, as well as countries abroad, built an unprecedented strong sense of community and camaraderie with and among each student – a feat once believed impossible in an online learning environment, celebrated and encouraged our students’ abilities to shine, provided expansive service-learning opportunities in every social work sector, touching the lives of those in need, demanded positive change, and exemplified the heart of social work – none of this would have been possible without versatile thought leaders, caring and dedicated faculty, quality instruction, dedication to our mission, and the commitment of each of you! I founded and launched the Phi Alpha | Chi Omega chapter of the international social work honor society in 2016. In nine years, our chapter has been recognized with 27 local, state, national, and international awards! 27!! Our students have amassed $39,000 in scholarship funds from honor society awards and our own unique BSW earmarked scholarship! The NASW-TN said, “there’s something extraordinary about the King BSW Program”! This statement followed the recognition of four BSW Student of the Year awards, two Social Work Educator of the Year awards, and two Social Worker of the Year awards – all from the King University BSW Program representing the entire state of TN! The Phi Alpha President and CEO said, “the King BSW chapter is the singlemost active Phi Alpha chapter in the nation”! These statements and this number of awards are incredibly revealing of the quality of students we have cultivated in the King BSW Program! We raised our own capacity to augment chapter funding streams to offset burden away from many student social workers’ requirement to pay honor society dues. I have leaned on your voices to inform and impact the improvements in our program. Making space for each of you to be involved in the decision-making has given YOU ownership of the program you are part of, which is vitally important. As I exit this program I built, I am overwhelmed by the acknowledgement that for the last five consecutive years, it has held/still holds the distinction of being the largest program at King! These are bold accomplishments that have not been acquired in isolation, but in concert with each other. I pray the culture of unity remains in this program and continues to flourish. Don’t let anyone tell you that success is out of reach! Show them you are capable and qualified, while leading with servantship and humility.
Thank you for the honor of allowing me to walk with you on this journey to becoming world-changers, building community with you, and forging alliances with so many inspiring social workers! Thank you for allowing me to serve you and call you my students and ultimately, my colleagues, and also my friends! Lastly, thank you for the diligence and love you commit in your daily lives. I’ll continue cheering for you, regardless of where I am! I want to leave you with a blessing from the book of Numbers 6:22-27:
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
May God continue to richly bless and keep you!
With love and heartfelt gratitude,
Dr. Jodi Helbert
Founded in 1867, King University is a Presbyterian-affiliated Christian college dedicated to the integration of rigorous academics and faith.
