Stacey Abrams, the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair at Howard and a national figure in voting rights, leadership, and social justice, delivered the keynote address on Thursday morning focused on leadership, mobilization, and the vital role of advocacy within higher education. Abrams’s presence underscored the connection between the missions of the Walters Chair and GADE — both rooted in justice, equity, and the transformation of institutions through doctoral education.

In recognition of her leadership, the GADE board of directors presented Abrams with a commemorative glass brick engraved with her name. A permanent brick honoring her contributions will also be installed on the Pathfinders Walkway outside Howard’s School of Social Work, a symbol cementing her legacy in the community of social work scholars.

Breakout sessions throughout the conference sparked dialogue on a wide range of topics shaping doctoral education. Sessions covered timely issues such as the role of generative artificial intelligence in social work research and teaching, strategies for equitably recruiting and supporting doctoral students, and innovations in curriculum design.

On Friday, the conference closed with a panel discussion titled “The Influence of State and National Politics on Doctoral Education,” led by experts from public policy and higher education advocacy firm Lewis-Burke Associates. The panel illuminated how rapidly shifting political landscapes are affecting federal research funding, higher education access, and public perceptions of the social work profession.

Throughout the conference, attendees also reflected on the history and enduring impact of Howard University’s Doctor of Social Work Program, a legacy shaped by pioneers like Rowena Wilson, Ph.D., one of the first program enrollees in 1976. Wilson would become GADE’s first Black president and chair, serving from 2000 to 2003. Her journey from doctoral student to national leader offers a living example of Howard’s commitment to cultivating transformative leadership.

Wilson described how Howard’s “Compassion + Action” ethos shaped her life and career. “It represents how I interact with others, how I serve them, how I problem-solve, and how I express my humanity,” she said, crediting her Howard professors — including Drs. Dorothy Pearson, Moses Newsome Jr., and Fariyal Ross-Sheriff — with instilling in her a commitment to rigorous scholarship, community uplift, and professional excellence. That commitment would guide her through a distinguished academic career, including nearly four decades of service at Norfolk State University, where she became founding director of its doctoral program in social work.

It is my fervent hope that I have passed on this incredible legacy to the social work students and faculty whose lives I have had the privilege to touch along the way.”

Wilson’s story of generational mentorship, institutional vision, and personal tenacity echoes the larger narrative of Howard’s leadership in social work education. “The extraordinary deans and faculty had a well-articulated, shared vision for the school and its students,” she wrote. “This was a transformative vision that was shared with other schools of social work. It is my fervent hope that I have passed on this incredible legacy to the social work students and faculty whose lives I have had the privilege to touch along the way.”

With that spirit, the 2025 GADE Conference concluded on a note of shared purpose and renewed commitment. From the roundtable conversations to the commemorative honors, the gathering at Howard served as a bridge between legacy and future, affirming the role of doctoral education not only in shaping social work scholars, but in advancing justice, equity, and compassion.

As GADE looks to the future, the memory of this historic gathering at Howard — a space that has nurtured and inspired generations of social work leaders — will remain a beacon for the work ahead.