Social Worker of the Year Paul Frazer
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There are hints of Dr. Paul Frazer’s past in his office in the Department of Social Work, where framed LP’s of the Beatles’ “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Abbey Road” hang on the wall. But Frazer, a self-described “old sixties person,” would rather not talk about that. The 2009 Social Worker of the Year for this region is willing to talk about his work, about which he is passionate.
“Coming out of the sixties, we weren’t counselors; we were about community social action,” he said. “Over time, I became more drawn to the counseling end of social work as opposed to community organizing. My work is more along the lines of mental health, and that became my educational and occupational pursuit, which ultimately led to my teaching in the field.”
Frazer, assistant professor of social work, joined USI in 1994. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Indiana. “Clinical counseling is a very rewarding profession for me,” he said. “You experience a journey with someone over a period of time. It allows you to develop an area of richness when working with personal or social problems people are having. My interest is in the micro level, working with individuals, families, or groups.”
Frazer grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and attended the University of Alabama, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology and a master’s degree in counselor education. Later, he earned a Master of Social Work and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
He was employed as a clinical social worker with the University of Cincinnati Medical School when he began teaching as an adjunct in its School of Social Work. “That teaching experience inspired me to go back to grad school and get the doctorate,” he said. When he decided to go into teaching, he had more than 20 years of practice in the areas of mental health, forensic psychiatry, private practice, clinical supervision, and consultation.
He was attracted to USI’s developing Master of Social Work program because it is a clinical program. “I believe I taught the first course, at 8 a.m. on a Monday,” he said, chuckling. “Me and the master’s program are one. It was a good fit, and it has been ever since.”
Frazer teaches courses on psychopathology, assessment and diagnosis, advanced clinical practice, and cultural diversity. To teach practice courses in the field, you have to have practice experience - a minimum of two years at USI. “When I go into a classroom, I’ve been a family therapist and an individual therapist for years,” Frazer said.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Region 8 Award for Social Worker of the Year was presented March 6 at the Department of Social Work’s annual Social Work Festival, held during Professional Social Work Month. Frazer has organized the festival for all of its seven years. The award was presented by Dr. Martha Raske, associate professor of social work and Region 8 Representative to NASW’s Indiana Chapter.
She said, “Paul’s work as the organizing force behind this conference today is evidence of his devotion to advancing professional social work education in our region. Those of you who have experienced his work as an instructor know that he artfully combines the skills of an experienced clinician with those of a gifted teacher. As a colleague I am witness every day to his representation of the highest ideals of our profession.”
Frazer has served on the boards of many social service agencies, including the Lampion Center, Mental Health Association of Vanderburgh County, Aids Resource Group, and Youth Services Bureau. He’s also provided consulting services to various practitioners in the Tri-state area, mainly related to clinical counseling issues.
Wendy Knipe Bredhold
News & Information Services
812/461-5259 or wkbredhold@usi.edu
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