Sharon McKay, MSW, RSW

Sharon McKay, Professor Emerita and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Work (1990-2000) is active in the fields of child welfare and social work education. Her research interests are child welfare issues and strains; northern social work practice; and the purpose, role and leadership of social work as a profession in today’s society.

Sharon is founding member and steering committee chair of the Prairie Child Welfare Consortium (PCWC), a tri-provincial and northern multi-sector, mainstream and Aboriginal network working together since 2001 to develop and improve education, training, service delivery, research and policy to support vulnerable children, youth and families (see http://cat.uregina.ca/spr/pcwc/html for further information).   She has served as President, Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (2003-05), and Director, Board of Accreditation, CASSW (2001-03).  She is an Honourary Life Member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Sharon serves as a member of the Education Committee, Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers and represents the Faculty of Social Work as a member of the Saskatchewan Partnership for Children and Youth.  Her practice career includes experience in Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain in the fields of child welfare and mental health.  She served on the social work faculty of Lakehead University (1975-90) prior to her appointment to the University of Regina.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta and a Master of Social Work degree from Smith College, Northampton, Mass.