Catherine M. Havens
1948 - 2015
Catherine Havens began her career at UConn in 1974 as the first director of the Women’s Center in Storrs. She joined the faculty of the School of Social Work in 1976 and held several significant administrative leadership positions throughout her thirty-eight years at the School. Most recently, she served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and MSW Program Director.
In her position as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and MSW Program Director, Professor Havens made numerous contributions to the School, University and profession. She assisted thousands of students to successfully complete their Masters in Social Work degrees and served on the boards of directors and advisory committees of numerous community organizations including the DCF Training Academy. She devoted much time and energy to support and promote social and economic justice issues. Professor Havens was instrumental in securing teaching opportunities for doctoral students within the MSW program and served as a teaching mentor for doctoral students.
In August 2013, Professor Havens stepped down from her position as MSW Program Director and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to return to the faculty in the Community Organization concentration, as a member of the Puerto Rican & Latin@ Studies Project, and Director of the Institute for Violence Prevention and Reduction. She retired in June, 2014.
Professor Havens taught courses in community organization, macro foundation practice, women’s issues, law and social work, and social welfare policy. Her areas of specialization include women’s studies focusing on women and public policy, women in administration, women offenders, criminal justice, domestic violence, law and the family, and law and social work.
Her areas of specialization included women's studies focusing on women and public policy, women in administration, women offenders, criminal justice, domestic violence, law and the family, and law and social work. Professor Havens' service commitments included Chair, Element Two Advisory Committee, Safe Schools/Healthy Student Federal Project - Hartford Public Schools; member of the Advisory Board, State of Connecticut, Department of Children & Families, Training Academy; Permanent Commission on the Status of Women Consultant - Sexual Harassment in High School's Research Project; Boards of Directors for Legal Services, Inc. and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Co-chair, Legal Committee Justice for Women Survivors of Abuse Project funded by Yale University Public Initiative Program; and member of the Connecticut Women Offender's Committee.
Professor Havens received many honors over her long career, including Educator of the Year in 2010 from the NASW CT Chapter, One Woman Makes a Difference by the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, and as a mentor for women in social work education by the Council on Social Work Education’s Council on the Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=catherine-marie-havens&pid=174510707&fhid=7277
For more information, contact: Reesa Olins at reesa.olins@uconn.edu