ECU School of Social Work to celebrate 50 years; honor Reggie York
Dr. Reggie York has been named the 2019 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Legacy Award from the School of Social Work at East Carolina University. He will be honored at the school’s Alumni and Friends Celebration on Nov. 8, at the Greenville Hilton.
York has taught social work for more than 40 years, but he’s never stopped being a student.
Reggie York (Contributed photo)
“Life is all about learning,” he said. “I love to learn and one of the best ways to learn is to be in a teaching role. You’re called upon to rethink a subject in order to teach it. And you learn from your students. I’ve learned so much from listening to my students, seeing how they respond to things, seeing where and why they might need more guidance, understanding where they’re coming from. I love teaching. It’s the right world for me.”
And it’s one he mostly stumbled into. York earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When he began his job search, someone suggested a position in child welfare. “I worked with children in foster care, older boys who were having, or had been in, trouble. And it turned out to be the right place for me,” he said of that first role.
York then earned his master’s degree in social work and served as director of the department of family services in Charlotte before earning his doctorate at Tulane University. His time at Tulane is where he discovered his love of teaching. He spent a decade on the faculty at Chapel Hill before coming to ECU.
“I’d done more administrating than teaching at Chapel Hill and I really wanted more opportunities to teach. I got that at ECU,” he said. “I wasn’t terribly familiar with the eastern part of the state, but as I learned more, I got a such a strong sense of the university’s purpose and dedication to this region.
“The master’s degree program at ECU enticed me. It was new then. I liked the idea of starting in a new program, being part of developing it, reaching out to people to grow it. It’s not often you have that kind of opportunity. And I had wonderful colleagues,” York said.
York taught at ECU for 20 years and served as chair of the social work department during his tenure. He has published six textbooks on social work research and statistics and has authored more than 30 journal articles. He currently teaches at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s School of Social Work.
“Dr. York was chosen for the Distinguished Faculty Legacy Award because of his service to the School of Social Work as a dynamic teacher and researcher, student and faculty mentor and as a stabilizing leader and director,” said Sheila Bunch, director of the school.
For York, his career comes back to his students and creating opportunities for them to learn, to be actively engaged. “I feel really fortunate. Education was a big vehicle for improving my life. Now, I run into former students at professional meetings and conferences all over the state — that’s a wonderful experience,” he said.
ECU’s School of Social Work is marking 50 years of social work education. In addition to honoring York, the school will name the 2019 recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Rising Star award. For tickets or more information, contact A. Virginia Parker Bunch at parkeran@ecu.edu or 252-737-2058 or visit https://hhp.ecu.edu/socw/alumni/.
-by Kelly Rusk, University Communications