Jessie Timmons, an instructor at the School of Social Work and an alumna of its MSW program, was appointed as the new president of the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW) in July.

Established in 1971, the PSCSW offers professional resources to promote specializations in clinical social work practice. It has more than 800 members working in psychiatric hospitals, private practice, family agencies, and other settings.

Timmons first became involved with the organization in 2012. Since then, she has served as a member at large, a subcommittee coordinator and as chair of the Development of New Professionals Committee. Timmons is also a practicing licensed clinical social worker in Philadelphia.

As president, she plans to make the PSCSW as inclusive as possible. Her first steps are helping the PSCSW focus on more social justice issues and addressing and lessening the impact of institutional racism on the organization. “The organization has been very supportive of me as a clinical social worker,” said Timmons. “I want to help expand it to be a professional home for and supportive of other clinical social workers who struggle to find a place for themselves after they leave grad school.”