BUSSW Names Marylou Sudders (SSW’78) as Chair of Dean’s Advisory Board
Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) has named former Massachusetts Secretary of Health & Human Services Marylou Sudders (SSW’78) as chair of its Dean’s Advisory Board.
A BUSSW alum with a wealth of experience in organizational leadership, human services policy and practice, and social work scholarship, Sudders brings a multifaceted prowess to the role.
“Marylou is one of the most highly regarded social work leaders in the country,” says BUSSW Dean Barbara Jones. “As a proud BUSSW alum, she will help guide us forward into a strong and vibrant future focused on continued excellence and leadership in social work. She is a compassionate leader, a proud social worker, a consummate collaborator and a brilliant strategist. Personally, I am thrilled at the opportunity to partner with such a powerful BUSSW alum as we move our School forward into a dynamic future focused on dismantling injustice and liberating possibilities.”
Sudders served as the Massachusetts Secretary of Health & Human Services from 2015-2023. During her tenure, she oversaw 12 state agencies, spearheaded initiatives to support behavioral health and child welfare, transformed Medicaid into a population-based health program, and led the state’s COVID-19 response. Appointed by former governor Charlie Baker, she is the longest-serving Secretary in the state’s history. Since stepping down from the role, she has joined the consulting firm Smith, Costello & Crawford where she advises on critical healthcare and public health issues.
Sudders earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, master’s in social work, and honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Boston University. Her previous roles include associate professor and program chair at Boston College, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and mental health commissioner for Massachusetts.
The Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB) advises the BUSSW dean and senior administrators on matters of strategic importance. Composed of alumni, friends of the School, community leaders, and emeriti faculty and staff, DAB members are chosen for demonstrated leadership in their field, commitment to BUSSW, and a strong interest in promoting social work education. Their knowledge and resources enable the School to meet its objectives and support its mission to develop dynamic and diverse social work practitioners, leaders, and scholars through rigorous teaching, innovative research, and transformative community engagement.