Elsa Iverson, a pioneer in the development of international field placements, has died 
Elsa Iverson |
May 14, 2009 - Elsa Iverson, who recently received the 2009 Indiana University School of Social Work’s Spirit of Philanthropy Award in recognition for her development of the school’s international student placement program, has died.
During her 35-year career at the school, Elsa served as the director for field instruction and as a senior lecturer before retiring.
(To read her obituary that appeared in The Indianapolis Star, click here: http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/obituaries/index.php?action=show&id=104176.)
At this year’s Spirit of Philanthropy Award ceremony, IUPUI Chancellor Charles Bantz said, "In honor of IUPUI's 40th anniversary and the Spirit of Philanthropy's 20th year, we asked our deans to reflect on the past 40 yearsof philanthropy and decide on one honoree who is considered to be the most transformational donor to that school over the course of its history."
"Transformational donors," he added, are people "who care deeply about Indiana, Indianapolis, about thepeople in this community."
His remarks clearly described Elsa’s impact on the School of Social Work where she worked tirelessly to help students even after she retired as well as her involvement in the Indianapolis community.
“Elsa not only received her MSW from the School of Social Work, she also gave the School 35 years of dedicated service,” said Michael Patchner, Dean of the Indiana University School of Social Work. “Elsa was a pioneer in the development of international field placements. Because of her efforts our School was among the first in the nation to send students abroad for field education. Over the years many students benefited because of Elsa’s leadership and dedicated service.”
She was still helping students plan trips in the weeks before her death. When a faculty member recently won a major Indiana University teaching award, Elsa immediately sent an e-mail expressing her delight for the attention given to her colleague. “I'm so happy to hear of your Service Learning Award! I think your interest is service learning is, perhaps, an outgrowth of your work in field, lo, those many years ago!! I also think service learning is a very good way for students to link "book learning" to the "real world.” She ended her note with, “CONGRATULATIONS!! It is well-deserved!”
Elsa received her Bachelors Degree at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where she was a botany major and received her secondary teaching certification in 1966. She got her Masters in Social Work degree from the IU School of Social work at IUPUI in 1969.
She went to work as a school social worker in Indianapolis in 1970 and then an unexpected call in 1972 put her on a new career path. A member of the School of Social Work’s faculty was recovering from a heart attack. Would she consider filling in for a year?
Elsa agreed and after a one-year stint, she was offered a full-time faculty position.
By the late 1970s, Elsa was asked to develop a program for international field placements for social work students. As a starting point she began working with government social work officials in Camden, England, a borough of Greater London.
Her efforts soon placed the School of Social Work ahead of what other social work schools were doing at the time. Elsa never lost her conviction the program was an invaluable teaching tool to help students gain a broader perspective of the world around them whether in a field placement or independent studies program.
Elsa was so committed to the program that on occasion she used her own money to make the mid-point liaison visits to students abroad, which reassured students and field instructors that they were on the right track with the placement and answered their questions and concerns. She usually made at least one professional presentation during those visits.
Following the sudden death of an English colleague, Michael Wallace, who along with his wife Muriel, had helped Elsa with placements in London, she felt moved to create a scholarship to assist social work students who might not otherwise be able to go abroad. Elsa started a letter writing campaign to build an endowment for the Michael and Muriel Wallace International Scholarship. The fund assists students who might not otherwise be able to afford to travel abroad
Her success can be seen in the letters and e-mails she received from former students over the years. One student recently wrote Elsa to give her an update on where her career had taken her. She explained, “I just wanted to update you and thank you for your help way back then in managing an overseas practicum placement…..an experience I will not soon forget.”
From its initial efforts to send students to London, the program has expanded to send students to field placements in at least 15 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Romania, India, Ireland and Kenya.
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