New faces: Social worker returns to alma mater

Chris Reid is right back where he started his career in social work more than 30 years ago.~

A new field learning specialist in the school of social work, Reid earned his BSW here in 1977 and is now looking forward to helping both students and faculty members fulfil their academic potential.

“It feels good to have come full circle,” said Reid, an avid kayaker and yoga enthusiast, “but over the years, I’ve always maintained an active relationship with the university.”

After graduating, Reid’s first job out of school was working with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto in the rough-and-tumble Regent Park area.

“That was quite an eye-opener for a country boy from Harrow,” said Reid, who met the woman who would eventually become his wife here when they were both studying social work.

He concentrated on child welfare and integrated community living for the developmentally delayed and eventually earned his MSW from the University of British Columbia in 1988. He came back to Windsor in 1986 and began working as a family service worker at the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society and eventually worked his way up to a management position.

He hopes his wealth of experience will be a valuable resource as he finds placements for undergraduate students in their third and fourth year as well as acting as a conduit between faculty members seeking out new research opportunities and local agencies that require research.

“We have some people here coming from out of town who may not know how the systems work locally, so I can certainly help them with that.” he said. “I see it as enhancing a mutually beneficial relationship between the university and the field.”

He’s very interested in diversity issues and will take part in a pilot project with school of social work, the international student centre and Kelly Sheardown in the student counselling centre, which aims to develop more interaction between domestic and international students, many who may be at risk for anxiety and depression.