Dr. Joseph Wronka

Present Position: Professor of Social Work
Springfield College

Education

PhD – Brandeis University –Heller School for Social Policy and Management:  Emphasis: Social Policy and Human Rights – 1992

Thesis: An Analysis of Human Rights Principles, as Defined by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in United States’ Constitutions: Implications for Social Policy

Chair: Dr. David Gil, Director of The Center for Social Change, Heller Graduate School                         

MA – Duquesne University – Existential-Phenomenological Psychology (Emphasis: Clinical/Community Psychology) – 1972

BA – Brooklyn College –Major: Psychology Minor: Philosophy – 1970

Ph.D. student at the University of Nice, France from 8/74-9/78 – Did qualitative research on the world of the concert and street musician.

 

Teaching Experience

 

Full Time

Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts – Professor and Chair of the Research and Social Policy Sequences at varying intervals – 1992 to present – Developed curriculum in accordance with accreditation standards; coordinated faculty; and taught all courses in social policy formulation, legislation, implementation and evaluation, social action, human rights, international social work, qualitative research, social movements, legal aspects of social work practice, and grant writing.  Also taught National Directors of African YMCA’s in the School of Human Services. 

Kotzebue Technical Center, Kotzebue, Alaska (Courses accredited through Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage) – Human Services Instructional/Supervisor – 1981-1983- Served in the capacity of chair for a generalist counseling program, developed curriculum, and taught counseling courses in a program geared primarily for Indigenous Peoples, particularly the Inuit in the northwest arctic regions of Alaska. Also laid foundations for other human and health services programs.

West Georgia College, Carrollton, GA – Instructor – 1972-1974 – Taught in a humanistic psychology program, which originated through an initiative of Abraham Maslow. Taught on the undergraduate level: General, Developmental, Abnormal Psychology, Personal Relations; on the graduate level: Human Growth and Potential

 

Part Time

Fachoschule, School of Social Work, Sankt Poelton, Austria (Integrating Human Rights into Social Work Theory and Praxis, 2013); Management Center of Innsbruck, Austria (Evaluating Helping Systems, 2012-2014; Research/Action Initiatives into the formulation, maintenance, and implementation of international human rights principles, 2011; Human Rights and Social Work, 2009); Zurich School of Social Work (Social Policy and the Third World, 2009); University of Hannover, Germany, School of Social Work (Human Rights, Social Justice, and Social Work, 2008). University of Berne, Switzerland, School of Social Work (Human rights and International Social Work, 2007-2012)

 

Administrative Experience

School of Social Work, Springfield College – Chair of  Social Policy Sequence 1992-2004 and Course Lead for Qualitative Research 1992-Present; Course Lead for Policy Courses on social change and policy implementation 2004-Present.

University of Alaska, Native Studies Program, Fairbanks, Alaska -1987 -Academic Coordinator – did academic coordination of faculty and evaluation of the Rural Alaska Honors Institute and taught Introduction to Human Services.

Copper River Native Association Mental Health/Substance Abuse Center, Glen Allen, Alaska – 1985-1986 –Director of Mental Health/Substance Abuse Center – was responsible for overall programmatic functioning of the center, including supervision, program development, grant writing, and community organization. 

 Research Experience

Visiting Scholar, Brandeis University, Heller Graduate School, Center for Social Change – (2000 to 2004).

Research Associate, Brandeis University, Heller School – 1992-2000

Principal Investigator of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Project of the Heller School, originating in its Center for Social Change, a research-action project, which monitors, among other things, U.S. compliance with the Universal Declaration with particular emphasis upon economic, social, cultural and solidarity rights, suggesting ways to overcome human rights violations and attempting to stimulate similar projects in other countries (2005 to 2011).

 

Direct Service Experience

Habit Management Institute, MA – Fee for Service Clinician, working with substance abusers, primarily heroin and cocaine users. – 11/01 to 3/03.

Interior Alaska Counseling and Prevention Education – Licensed Clinician in Private Practice (Psychology: Specialty in Clinical) and Director – 8/86-8/87

Fairbanks Native Association, Alaska – Alcoholism and Addictions Counselor – 9/83-2/84

Brooklyn Psychiatric Centers – Masters Level Clinician – 9/76 -5/80

Publications

Books

Human Rights and Social Justice; Social Action and Service for the Helping Professions. (2017, 2^nd edition) (With Instructor’s Manual including PowerPoints, lecture notes, additional questions for discussion, social action activities, sample curriculum, objective test questions and essays, teaching tips)  available at: https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/human-rights-and-social-justice/book245381

Human Rights and Social Justice: Social Action and Service for the Helping Professions. (2008). Newbury Park, CA:  Sage.

The Dr. Ambedkar Lectures on the Theme Creating a Human Rights Culture. (2002). National Institute of Social Work and Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Human Rights and Social Policy in the 21st Century: (Revised Edition with a Collection of Essays Toward the Creation of a Human Rights Culture)(1998, 2^nd edition). Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

Human Rights and Social Policy in the 21st Century: A history of the idea of human rights and comparison of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights with U.S. federal and state constitutions. (1992).  Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

Festschrift: Essays in Honor of Dr. David Gil (2009). (Served as editor of an in house publication, Brandeis University, the Heller School)

 

Chapters in books:

Wronka, J. (2014a). Human rights as the bedrock of social justice: Implications for Advanced Generalist Practice. In K. Libal, S. Berthold, R. Thomas & L. Healy (Eds.),    Advancing human rights in social work education (19-38). Alexandria, VA: CSWE Press.

Wronka, J. (2014b).  Human rights as pillars of social          justice. In M. Reisch (Ed.). The Routledge    international handbook of social justice (261-226).       London: Routledge.

Wronka, J. (2013a).  An overview of human rights. In T. Hokenstad, L. Healy, & U. Segal (Eds.), Teaching   human rights: Curriculum resources for social    workers (pp. 3-20). Alexandria, VA: Council on Social        Work Education (CSWE) Press.

Wronka, J. (2013b).  Written statement of the International Association of Schools of Social Work before the 24^th session of the human rights council.  Geneva: United Nations.

Wronka, J. (2012a). Overview of human rights: The UN      conventions and machinery. In L. Healy & R. Link, Handbook of International Social Work: Human rights, development, and the global profession (pp. 439-446). New York: Oxford University Press.

Wronka, J. & Staub Bernasconi, S. (2012). Human rights.   In K. Lyons, T. Hokenstad, M. Pawar, N. Huegler, & N. Hall (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of International     Social Work (pp. 70-84). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.  

Wronka, J. (2011). Foreword.  In E. Reichert, Social work   and human rights: A foundation for policy and practice (pp. 1-7) New York: Columbia University Press.

Wronka, J. (2008b). Human rights. Encyclopedia of Social Work. NY: NASW and Oxford University Press. Available at:             http://socialwork.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-19Wronka, J. (2007). Global distributive justice as a human right: Implications for the creation of human rights culture. In E. Reichert (Ed.). Challenges in human rights: A social work perspective. (pp. 44–75). New York: Columbia University Press

 

Articles and Other: 

Whistleblowing, Human Rights, and Mental Health/Well-being: Implications for Advanced Generalist Practice – Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, February 2020.

Wronka, J. (2020).  Human Rights entry in the Encyclopedia of Social Work, National Association of Social Work Press.

Reflections on Human Rights as a Way of Life –Journal of Cross Cultural Thinkers (Chinese University of Political Science and Law), January 2020.

Joseph Wronka’s Career in Human Rights (2017). Brandeis Heller School Alumni Magazine

Wronka, J. (2016). Sharing my story: Representing social    work at the UN and select local human rights activism. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 1, 51-65.

Wronka, J. (2015). Implementing the Spirit of Crazy Horse.  Select published papers  of the 6^th International Conference on Human Rights Education:   Implementing Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms. Available at: http://www.ihrec2015.org/sites/default/files/Panel%20            8.%20Joseph%20Wronka%20-%20paper.pdf

Wronka, J. (2012b, January 4).  Response to Steven Pinker and Robert Lifton on living in a less deadly time or not.  The New York Times . Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/opinion/sunday/Sunday-dialogue-do-we-live-in-a-less-deadly-time-or-                     not.html?_r=0

On Gandhi’s eighth blunder: Rights without responsibilities – The Boston Cambridge Alliance for Democracy, September 2008.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 50: Four Crucial Notions of Rights – Brandeis University: Heller Alumni News, Winter 1998.

A Little Humility, Please-Human Rights and Social Policy in the United States – Harvard International Review, Summer, 1998.

Human Rights – Entry in The Encyclopedia of Social Work, 1995, National Association of Social Work, Washington, DC.

 

Presentations:

Human Rights as the Foundation of Social Justice: A Look at Cambodia and the United States of America – Series commemorating human rights activist Dr. Kern Ley – Cambodian World Council (Zoomed in), July 2020.

The Keynote Presentation on Creating a Human Rights Culture to Enhance the Sustainable Development Goals – Conference on Community Interventions to Implement the Sustainable Development Goals – The University of Malaya, January 2020.

A keynote: Reflections on a Human Rights Culture as the Foundation of Social Justice – Conference on Natural Law, Human Rights, and Traditional Chinese Culture at the Chinese University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), Beijing, October 2019  (Also gave a lecture on Human Rights as a Way of Life at CUPL during that time.)

Integrating Human Rights into the Sustainable Development Goals: Implications for the Helping and Health Professions -21^st International Conference on Social Development, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, July 2019

Keynote: Creating a Human Rights Culture: Implications for the Social Work Profession – The Jack Raekenfelt Memorial Lecture, University of Southern Connecticut, April, 2019

Teaching About Countries’ Constitutions; Implications for Social Policy –  Council on Social Work Education, Orlando, Florida November 2018

Workshop on Select Human Rights Activism from the Local to the International at the 9^th Annual Conference on Human Rights Education, Sydney Australia, November 1918

Keynote Address, “Human Rights, Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion: Implications for Advanced Generalist Practice” at the International Conference from Diversity to Inclusion: a Social Work Paradigm, Roshni Nilya University, Mangalore, India February, 2018.

Speaking Tour in the Karnataka Region of India which included: the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences – “Toward the Creation of a Human Rights Culture:  Implications of the United Nations Declaration on Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care: Christ University:  “What then shall we do? (Luke 3:10):  Suggested social action strategies to create a socially just world : at the Management Professional Group of Mangalore “Integrating Human Rights/Social Justice into Business Practices”: at the Postgraduate Workshop for social work, Mental Health, and Law students on “A Multi-Pronged Approach to Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Promote Well-Being” at Manipel University, Manipel Media School and the Department of Social Work:  “The Media as a Force for Social Change and Social Justice.”

Keynote Address, “Creating a Human Rights Culture: Implications for the Helping and Health Professions”  Conference on Forensic Social Work, Fordham University, New York City, August 3, 2017.

Keynote Address, “Implications of the Human Rights Triptych for Social Work and Public Health” with question and answer period skyped in to the International Conference on Human Rights, University of Mangalore, India, March 3, 2017

Keynote address commemorating the 68^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sponsored by various human rights groups, Amherst, MA, Jones Library, on Creating a Human Rights Culture: A Look at the Human Rights Triptych –December 2016

Panelist speaking on the Importance of Integrating United Nations Initiatives into the Classroom at the Annual Conference on African and African American Development, Research and Training, Springfield, MA– October 2016

Implementing the Spirit of Crazy Horse:  Experiences in Pakistan as a Fulbrighter and a Multi-Pronged Approach to Promoting Well-Being and Eradicating Social Malaises – 6^th International Conference on Human Rights Education on Implementing Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, Middleburg, Holland – December 2015

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a Tool for Conflict Resolution – 38^th Annual Fulbright Alumni Association Conference on Global Health and Peace, Atlanta, Georgia – November 2015.

As Main Representative (appointed as Independent Expert) to the United Nations for the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) I gave official policy statements and participated in and organized side events many times from 2008 to 2015 (Most recent policy statements in September 2015 were on:  The Declaration on the Rights of Peasants; Statement of the International Association of Schools of Social Work on the UN Report on Illegal Drug Use; The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the UN; and Responding to the USA Report to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review.  Also moderated a panel on Self-Determination sponsored by the World Muslim Conference)

Warrant Article: Towards the Creation of a Human Rights Culture – Submitted and presented before Town Meeting for Amherst, MA, May 2015.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and United Nations Conventions as Means for Conflict Resolution – African and African American Development, Education, Research, and Training Institute, Springfield, MA April 2015

A Comparative Analysis of the Rights of People with Disabilities in Austria and the United States: Implications for Social Policy – Fachoschule, Sankt Polten, Austria 3/2015 (as a Fulbright Scholar in social justice and poverty)

Constitutions of Pakistan and the United States of American: A Comparative Analysis vis a vis The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Implications for Social Policy – Islamabad – January 2015 (as a Fulbright Scholar in social justice and poverty)

(Invited to give a keynote in Islamabad at an international conference, sponsored by the Akhtar Hameed Khan Center, on social work and social policy, but was cancelled due to terrorist threats)

The Media and Thought Control: A Reflection on Brainwashing – African and African-American Development Education, Research and Training Institute, Springfield College, February 2014.

Side Events on Extreme Poverty and Terrorism and The Poorest of the Poor as a Group Entitled to Self-Determination, Geneva, 2015 and The Relationship Between Extreme Poverty and Self-Determination – United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, March 2012

Keynote:  Towards Ratification of the UN Convention on People with Disabilities – at the Berkshire Family Research Institute, Lenox, MA – April 2012

The Interconnection Among Human Rights, Social Justice, and the Arts – Fordham University, New York, April 2011

Human Rights and the Pursuit of Democracy – United Nations, Geneva, March 2011

Incorporating Human Rights into the Curricula of Social Work and Sociology – University of Delhi, India, January 2011 (was also Fellow at the University of Delhi, School of Social Sciences)

An Examination of Indian Social Policy vis a vis International Human Rights Standards – Department of Political Science, University of Delhi, January 2011.

The Right to Self-Determination and the Eradication of Extreme Poverty: An Intimate Connection – United Nations, Geneva, March 2010

Statement of the International Association of Schools of Social Work Before the Human Rights Council – United Nations, Geneva, March 2010, 2011

The Arts as a Means to Create Social Change and Social Action/Research Toward the Creation of a Human Rights Culture – Council on Social Work Education National Conference in Philadelphia, November, 2009

Integrating Social Justice/Human Rights into the Social Work Curricula – Fordham University, School of Social Work, October 2009.

On Creating a Human Rights Culture in Western Massachusetts – Event to Commemorate the 60^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Town Hall, Amherst, MA December 2008.

The Accordion as an Instrument for Social Change: Toward the Eradication of Extreme Poverty  – Council on Social Work Education National Conference in Philadelphia, November, 2008.

Keynote:  Social Justice Challenges for 2008 and Beyond: The legacy of Jane Addams – the Annual Conference of the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Work, March, 2008

Keynote:  On the Guiding Principles to Eradicate Extreme Poverty: Toward an Internationally Binding Legal Convention – 14^th Annual Conference on Global Human Rights sponsored by the African and African-American Development, Education, and Research Training Institute, Springfield, MA, 2007

As Representative of the International Association of Schools of Social Work before the 6^th Human Rights Council, Geneva, presented before the Council on “Eradicating Extreme Poverty and the Promotion of Human Rights Education” and “Comments on Agenda Item 6 on Implementing the 1993 Human Rights Declaration”. Also organized a workshop “Toward a Convention to Abolish Extreme Poverty (CAEP) and did a PowerPoint presentation on the Human Rights Machinery at the UN – September, 2007

Conference-debat: Vers une culture des Droits de l’homme:  Reflexions a propos de l’elaboration d’une Convention de l’ONU pour l’eradication de la pauvrete extreme – School of Social Work, Geneva, Switzerland – September 2008.

Keynote:  Eradicating Extreme Poverty: A Human Rights Approach – International Fourth World Conference on Eradicating Extreme Poverty, Paris, France, August, 2007.

Training and teaching human rights in the social work profession – Conference on social change and the social professions of the European Association of Social Work and the International Federation of Social Work, Parma, Italy, March, 2007.

Keynote: Social Justice and Human Rights Challenges for 2007 and Beyond – Social Welfare Action Alliance Chapter of the National Association of Social Work, Chicago, Illinois, June 2006.

Indigenous Peoples and International Human Rights Initiatives – Alaska Native and American Indian Educators Association, Council on Social Work Education Annual Meeting, February 2006, Chicago, IL

Keynote:  Human Rights in the Vision of Hope series at St. Francis College, Cincinnati, Ohio (January 2006).

Keynote:  – Creating a Human Rights Culture: Toward a global consensus for the interdependency of rights – Second International Conference on the Right to Self-Determination, Geneva, Switzerland August 2004 (Sponsored by the International Human Rights Association of American Minorities, Vancouver and the Center for Human Rights, Brussels

Delivered the Dr. Ambedkar [a social activist working for human rights and the abolishment of the caste system in India] Lectures, 2001, at the School of Social Work and Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Human rights and social policy in the 21st century – School of Law, Center for Human Rights and Duties, Uktal University, Orissa, India, February 2001

Customary International Law: Implications for Social Policy – before the Orissa Bar Association, India, February 2001

A Workshop on Creating Human Rights Action Alerts – Conference on Tolerance, Respect, and Human Rights, Prague, the Czech Republic, January 2000.

Economic and Social Policy: An Intimate Connection – European College of Management, Vienna Austria, February 2000.

A History of American Social Policy: A Human Rights Perspective – Vienna School of Social Work, February 2000.

Human Rights and Social Policy in the United States: Towards a Dialogue with Russia  – The Tenth International Human Rights Conference on the Culture of Peace and Human Rights, December 1999, Moscow, Russia

1899-1999 – The Hague Peace Conferences: 1899-1999 – Keynote Address at the Coalition for a Strong United Nations Council Meeting, Cambridge, MA, February, 1999

The Challenge of Human Rights into the 21st Century – Keynote address at the Vermont Law School, December 1998

International Human Rights Defenders Summit, Paris, December 1998

(Invited to share and present my human rights work)

Panelist at the Human Rights Symposium, responding to the former U.S. Human Rights Ambassador to the United Nations, Brandeis University, October, 1998(aired on C-Span in November)

Poverty as a Human Rights Violation – Closing Address at the October 17th Event to Eradicate Extreme Poverty 1998, sponsored by the International Fourth World Movement, Copley Square, Boston

Commencement Speaker, Graduation of the College of Health Professions, University of Massachusetts at Lowell, May 1997.

Social Policy and Human Rights: Their interrelatedness – School of Social Welfare Policy at Chen-Chung University, Taiwan, August 1996.

Creating a human rights culture: A challenge for the social work profession – the Joint World Congress of the International Federation of Social Work Convention, Hong Kong, July 1996.

The United Nations, Human Rights, and Social Policy: 50 Years of Struggle – Colloquium on International Social Welfare – Brandeis University, October 1995.

Creating a human rights culture: An educational strategy to affirm the right to peace – Conference on Peace as a Strategy, Tufts University, 3/95.

Helping, Indigenous People, and Cultural Relativism – Symposium to Celebrate the International Year of Indigenous People, Springfield College, 12/93.

La psychologie et la necessite d’une prise de conscience – presented to doctoral students at the University of Nice, France 12/75

 

Media Productions:

Public Service Announcements, short documentaries, interviews, and slide show with voice over of my experiences in Pakistan  can be found as part of Amherst Media’s website. Am also producer of a show called Creating a Human Rights Culture

Go to: http://www.amherstmedia.org/search/node/Wronka

 

Office and Board Membership:

Re        presentative for the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) at the United Nations in New York, April 2020 – Present

International Advisory Board Member for the 9^th International Conference on Unleashing the Power of Civil Society in Sydney Australia, 2018.

Main Representative to the United Nations in Geneva for the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) – May 2009 to present.

Part-time Representative to the United Nations in New York for the People’s Decade for Human Rights Learning (at www.pdhre.org)– 2015 to present.

 Executive Board for Amherst Media, Amherst, MA – 2010 to 2016 (Vice President from 2013-2014).

Human Rights Commissioner, City of Amherst, February 2002 to 2005

Vice-president, the World Citizen Foundation, Inc. (at www.worldcitizen.org) 1996 to 1999.

Founder, Human Rights Action International (HRAI), Amherst, MA and Amherst Human Rights Training Institute (AHRT, The Institute with a Heart in it) 2001 to present.

Board Membership (Editorial, Advisory, Governing): Journal of Human Rights and Social Work; (2015 to present )Clarity Press (a human rights publisher)(1994 to present); Coalition for a Strong United Nations (1996 to present); World Citizen Foundation (1998 to present); Journal of Teaching and Social Work (1998);Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies (1995 to present); Journal of Moral Education (1997); Economic and Social Human Rights Network (1993-1995);

 

Honors, Select Appointments, Distinctions, Certificates, Other Abilities, etc.

Albert Nelson Award for Excellence and Significant Life Achievement, Marquis Who’s Who, 2020.

Placed on the Fulbright Senior Specialist Roster (for the second time) 8/18-8/21.

Fulbright Scholar Award – 2010 to 2015 Senior Specialists Program – September 2010 to present in the discipline of social work with specialty in social justice and poverty and sub-specialties in human rights, psychology, and existential-phenomenology

In January 2015 served as consultant to the Akhter Hameed Khan Resource Center (Islamabad, Pakistan) and gave human rights/social policy seminars at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (as a Fulbright)

In March 2015 gave seminars on integrating human rights into the social work curriculum at the School of Social Work (Fachoschule) and a keynote on Comparing the American with Disabilities Act with the Convention on People with Disabilities in Sankt Polten, Austria (as a Fulbright)

Visiting Fellow, University of Delhi – January 2011

Producer of Public Service Announcements and human rights shows for Amherst Media, 2010 to present. (Available at: www.humanrightsculture.org)

Honorary Advisory Board Member, International Human Rights Institute, Brussels, Belgium, 2004 to present

Presented first joint policy statement for IFSW and IASSW before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, March 2007 and numerous other policy briefs before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Listed in the following: Who’s Who in America (2008, 2010-2014); Who’s Who in American Education (2005); Who’s Who in the World (1999, 2009-2014, considered for 2016Organized an Annual Reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in front of the Babson Library every December 10 (1992 to present) and on the Town Common in Amherst (2001 to present)

Certificate of Appreciation for “Untiring efforts for social action in violations of human rights and commitment in expanding the awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to all humanity,” at the Hispanic Conference for the Empowerment, Education and Awareness of Human Rights, April 1999

Honored as one of 300 “select” human rights activists/scholars worldwide to attend, present my work, and participate in the development of The Paris Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Action Plan (sponsored in part by the International Fourth World Movement) at the Human Rights Defenders Conference in Paris, December 1998.

Certificate of Honor as Human Rights Educator, Xavier University, October 1998

Appreciation Award for giving the Commencement Address at the College of Health Professions, University of Lowell, 1997.

Musician (accordion, piano, organ) in various capacities (street and strolling musician [Nice], one man band, church organist [NYC}); Award for Best Musician of the Arctic, 1983

Licensed to practice Psychology (Specialty in Clinical) in the State of Alaska 1/85-6/89

Languages- English/French