Ferrum, VA, February 23, 2026 — Ferrum College will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program with a special anniversary event and alumni gathering on Friday, March 13, 2026, in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room of Franklin Hall. The event will begin with check-in and registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by ACEs training (on managing Adverse Childhood Experiences) from 9:00 to 11:45 a.m., and an afternoon program—featuring guest speakers, alumni reflections, and a Phi Alpha Initiation Ceremony—beginning at 1:00 p.m. The celebration will conclude with an alumni social at Jose’s Mexican Grill immediately following the program.
Open to Ferrum College social work alumni, students, faculty, and community partners, the event will feature keynote remarks from Dr. Ira Colby, founding architect of the Ferrum College B.S.W. program, along with alumni speakers Holly D’Heron ’09 and Ralph Branch III ’14. The gathering honors five decades of preparing graduates for service-oriented careers that strengthen individuals, families, and communities. The alumni social immediately following the program will provide an opportunity for networking, reconnection, and celebration of the program’s legacy.
Dr. Colby launched his distinguished career in social work education at Ferrum College in the early 1970s and later served in numerous academic leadership roles nationwide. His career culminated in a 15-year tenure as dean of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. Over more than five decades, his work took him across the United States and internationally, where he collaborated with leading scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates.
Building on this foundation of academic leadership, Colby went on to hold prominent roles in the broader profession, including serving as president of the Council on Social Work Education and in national advocacy positions with the National Association of Social Workers. His public policy efforts focused on expanding services for rural communities and at-risk youth, including work that contributed to the creation of Texas’ state-funded STAR initiative (Services to At-Risk youth and families). He wrote more than 80 scholarly works and delivered over 100 presentations worldwide. His honors include an honorary Doctorate of Humanics from Springfield College and recognition as a NASW Pioneer. Colby now resides in southern Vermont with his wife of more than 55 years, remaining an influential voice in social work education and advocacy.
That legacy continues today at Ferrum College, where the Social Work program carries forward Colby’s vision under the leadership of Professor Martha Haley-Bowling ’90, director of the social work program. After completing her B.S.W. at Ferrum College, Haley-Bowling earned an M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Ph.D. from Capella University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a clinical focus that includes trauma, grief and loss, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions such as PTSD, postpartum depression, and anxiety. In 2019 she was selected by the Council of Social Work Education to serve on a national taskforce that developed the Curricular Guide for Substance Use in Social Work Practice.
The Social Work program was fully accredited in its 2025 review by the Council of Social Work Education, a certification process that occurs every eight years. The faculty and students provide a variety of community services off-campus and gain hands-on experience in collaboration with organizations such as the Rescue Mission of Roanoke, where Ferrum students have worked in internships, helped with childcare, and offered workshops on workforce readiness and life skills.
“Our program’s strength comes from the relationships and service experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world impact,” Haley-Bowling said. “This anniversary gives us the opportunity to honor the pioneers who built the program while celebrating the alumni who continue to serve their communities with professionalism and heart. We are proud to mark this milestone and recognize the visionary leadership of Ira Colby, whose commitment established a program grounded in compassion and meaningful impact.”
Ferrum College’s institutional commitment to service further underscores the program’s impact, according to Mirta M. Martin, president of Ferrum College.
“Ferrum College has long been committed to preparing graduates who lead lives of purpose and service,” Martin said. “The 50-year legacy of our Bachelor of Social Work program reflects the dedication of faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have made a lasting difference in communities near and far. We are proud to celebrate this milestone.”
For more information about the event or the Ferrum College Bachelor of Social Work program, visit ferrum.edu.
Black and white photographs from 1978 Ferrum College yearbook, including social sciences faculty, from left to right: Dr. Richard Smith, Dr. Samuel Payne, Mr. Andrew Baskins (seated), Mr. Ira Colby.
