Lori Thomas
Social work fellowship provides writing refuge
Writing her dissertation was a long and challenging journey for School of Social Work 2008 doctoral graduate Lori Thomas. With a part-time job at a local nonprofit organization and an adjunct teaching position in the school, Thomas found little time to devote to her dissertation.
Thomas began working on her dissertation, which addresses the practice of lobbying by religious groups in Virginia, in spring 2006. At Virginia Supportive Housing, where she was project coordinator for Greater Richmond Housing First, Thomas developed a program to help those who experience chronic homelessness and serious mental illness. Because she was so dedicated to her work with the school and Virginia Supportive Housing, Thomas often had difficulty focusing on her dissertation.
“Quite often, when I sat down to analyze, think and write, my mind was racing with program start-up issues and lesson plans from these other aspects of my life,” she said.
In November 2007, Thomas was given the chance of a lifetime when she learned that she had been chosen as the first recipient of the McGrath Morris Fellowship in the School of Social Work. The fellowship was created in fall 2007 by VCU alumna Patty Morris (M.S.W. ’03; Ph.D. ’05) and her husband, James McGrath Morris, a writer.
“James and Patty imagined creating an important refuge for writers, and now our doctoral students are the beneficiaries of that most generous reality,” said School of Social Work Associate Dean Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D. “It offers time to make sense of all that their dissertation experience has taught them.”
The fellowship provides a two-week writing retreat for a student of social work in the process of writing his or her dissertation as well as a $1,000 stipend to cover travel and other expenses. The residency takes place at the Morrises’ casita in Tesuque, N.M., near Santa Fe.
The casita, a small guesthouse on the Morrises’ property, is a peaceful adobe-style cabin with a beautiful view of the Jemez Mountains; in other words, a perfect place to get away from the daily stressors that make it difficult to focus on a dissertation.
As writers themselves, the Morrises understand the importance of the opportunity they are offering. James Morris has spent some time at a writer’s colony to focus on his work. A portion of Patty Morris’ dissertation — an analysis of social work as defined by Abraham Flexner’s 1915 speech “Is Social Work a Profession?” — appears in the March 2008 issue of the Social Service Review.
“One of the reasons I wanted to start the fellowship was because, in looking back at the process of my dissertation research, I realized that my most productive and creative moments were when I was able to get away from my family and the routines and responsibilities of daily life,” Patty Morris said.
She also pointed out that she had received such incredible support from the School of Social Work that she wanted to give something back.
During the retreat, the student in residence is required to give a presentation on his or her dissertation to a group of people, selected by the Morrises, who are knowledgeable in the topic and can provide useful feedback. Thomas was nervous about this part of the retreat, but she said it proved to be a helpful learning experience.
“It was probably one of my richest intellectual experiences in the Ph.D. program — a real gift,” Thomas said.
In addition to this opportunity to discuss her work and gain insight from their different perspectives, Thomas also spent time with the Morrises during her stay at the casita. They shared most evening meals and went on hikes together. The Morrises, she said, made sure her stay was pleasant and intellectually rewarding.
This year, the Morrises doubled their initial commitment of $1,000 in expense money so two students could take advantage of this opportunity.
“There were two students who the selection committee couldn’t decide between so we decided to provide the opportunity to both,” Patty Morris said.
One of these students, John Cagle, has returned from his two weeks at the casita. While he described the home as a charming cottage in a breathtaking location, Cagle said that the most inspirational part of his stay was meeting the Morrises.
“They were really fostering creativity more than the environment,” he said.
For more information about making a donation to the School of Social Work, contact Ike Tucker, assistant director of the VCU Foundation, at (804) 828-6491 or witucker@vcu.edu.