Mary E. Medcalf
Coordinator of Field Education Programs
Office: 201-D, 167
Ferry Street Windsor, ON N9A 0C5
Phone: (519) 253-3000 ext. 3065
E-mail: medcalf@uwindsor.ca
Educational Background
- M.S.W. University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario (1988)
- B.S.W. University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario (1987)
- C.Y.W. St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Sciences, Windsor, Ontario (1979)
Biography
MARY MEDCALF is the Coordinator of Field Education Programs in the School of Social Work, University of Windsor. Throughout her career, she has facilitated many community forums, research and working groups, boards, advisory committees and focus groups to identify community needs and capacity and has helped to develop initiatives and policies to fill these needs and enhance community capacities. She has coordinated public awareness campaigns, successful grants and presentations to all levels of government. This work has been accomplished to serve the needs of diverse groups of people: people with disabilities, low-income earners, immigrants and refugees, youth, older adults, families living in poverty and others. She has led policy and research initiatives calling for social housing reform and created a broader base of understanding of homelessness and housing issues related to such issues as poverty and social assistance. She continues to work and teach in the area of community practice and is currently involved in several community initiatives related to crime prevention, community mobilization, social housing, urban renewal and neighbourhood planning. As a founding member, she continues to work toward the development and expansion of a partnership between the University of Windsor and the community, “Community-University Partnership for Community Development, Training and Research”. This partnership is a prime example of what can happen when students, faculty, and service provider stakeholders are brought together with residents living in public housing to revitalize communities and neighbourhoods. She has won numerous awards for creative activity focused on promoting collaboration between the University and the community toward strong and healthy neighbourhoods, enhancing student learning and further integrating the university into the community. In November 2013 she was appointed to the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, Commission on Accreditation for a three-year renewable term.
Awards and Recognition
- Excellence in Sustainable Education, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2011
- Community Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) Annual Award, 2011
- Special Recognition Award: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Strengthening Communities, 2010
- Certificate of Appreciation: Random Acts of Kindness Day, 2010
- Certificate of Appreciation: Random Acts of Kindness Day, 2009
- Certificate of Appreciation for Contribution to the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, 2008
- Special Recognition Award, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Windsor, 2006
- A Book of My Own Children’s Literacy Award, 2002
- The City of Windsor Sheila French Memorial Award, 2002
- OASW Social Worker of the Year, Community Practice, 1998