The scholarship honors Samuel B. Little, former associate dean for field education and an emeritus faculty member at the school.
The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) is proud to celebrate a new philanthropic commitment to support the next generation of social work leaders dedicated to tackling homelessness and housing insecurity.
A new endowed fund, the Samuel B. Little Scholarship, has been established to support Master of Social Work students pursuing careers advancing policy and practice to see that housing is hope realized.
The scholarship was created with a generous lead gift from Distinguished University Professor Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW, the former dean of UMSSW, to honor Samuel B. Little, MSW, PhD, LCSW-C, formerly the associate dean for field education and an emeritus faculty member at the school.
"It is a profound honor to establish this scholarship in the name of my dear colleague, Dr. Sam Little, who brought organizational skill and personal joy to every part of his work,” Barth said.
"His decades of dedication to our students and practicum instructors, as well as his national leadership on behalf of residents in public housing, embody the commitment to service that we seek to instill in future generations. This fund represents a critical investment in students who will step up to expand innovations to see that homelessness is rare and brief. Sam has also been a national leader in the Social Work Grand Challenge to end homelessness — using that position to help expand practicum opportunities nationally and nearby."
The scholarship’s purpose is to offer financial assistance to advanced-year Master of Social Work students who demonstrate a strong interest in addressing public housing and public/private partnerships to end homelessness. Preference will be given to students working in these sectors within Annapolis, Baltimore City, or Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Little, the honoree, expressed his gratitude for the commitment.
"I am deeply humbled by this generous gesture from Dr. Barth and the school," Little said. "To know that my name will be associated with supporting talented, passionate social work students who are dedicated to making real, tangible change in the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors is truly inspiring. They are the future leaders who will address these complex issues head-on and create new solutions."
The Samuel B. Little Scholarship is an open fund and, as an endowment supporting UMSSW, is intended to exist and provide annual support in perpetuity. Make a gift in support of this scholarship.