Prof. Lombe Awarded Funding to Join 2024 Intensive HERS Leadership Institute
The Boston University Provost’s Office and School of Social Work (BUSSW) have awarded funding to Margaret Lombe, an associate professor and program director at BUSSW, to attend a Summer Intensive HERS Leadership Institute.
The Institute, which takes place in Philadelphia this June, is a 9-day leadership development program for higher education professionals with a focus on women and people who are gender diverse. The program is designed to support participants in realizing their vision of leadership and what they hope to contribute to their institution.
Lombe, who was nominated by BUSSW Dean Barbara L. Jones, was selected alongside three other Boston University faculty: Simone Gill, an associate professor of occupational therapy and director of the Motor Development Laboratory; Arianne Chernock, a professor of history and associate dean of faculty for social sciences; and Pamela Templer, chair and professor of biology.
“Margaret is already a fantastic leader in our school, as well as in our field of social work nationally and globally,” said Dean Jones. “Participating in the HERS program will just give her more skills and support to continue to be a transformative social work leader. I was excited to nominate her and cannot wait to see all that she brings back to BUSSW.”
Professor Lombe stated that she is thrilled to participate in the HERS program and the opportunity to have “space for self-reflection … [to] strengthen leadership skills and commitment to the core values of DEI,” as well as meet and engage with other women leaders across disciplines country-wide. “I see this as a transformational experience for myself, BUSSW, and the University community,” she says.
Margaret Lombe, PhD, is an expert in social work and global health equity. She is an associate professor in BUSSW’s macro practice department and faculty director for the BRIDGE Program, the school’s innovative pre-MSW program for immigrants and refugees that promotes access and equity in graduate social work education. Her research focuses on advancing the wellbeing of marginalized communities, seeking to impact upstream interventions or system-level changes by paying close attention to social and economic justice, empowerment, and participatory democracy. Her work also addresses critical social issues domestically and globally including research on the stigmatization of people suffering from HIV/AIDS, food insecurity, and housing adversity in Boston and in African countries.
Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Lombe has been appointed by the United Nations to serve as an advisor and member of expert group meetings and is a mayoral appointee to the Ryan White Planning Council for the Boston Public Health Commission.