Wayne State School of Social Work Dean Phyllis Vroom has announced her retirement, which will take effect Sept. 30, after 42 years at the university.

Vroom, who announced her retirement first at a faculty and staff meeting in June, was appointed dean in 2002 and served as the acting provost and university president for part of 2010. She has also worked at the university as a professor, coordinator of the bachelor’s degree program, coordinator of the master’s degree program and associate dean of the School of Social Work.

As dean, Vroom’s many responsibilities include hiring and firing employees, tenuring, reviewing faculty and staff, managing academic programs and budget, marshaling resources for a visible and reputable school and making sure that students have an effective education in the social work field. These responsibilities are not exclusive to Vroom, though, as she does have staff and faculty members to which responsibilities are mainly delegated. Vroom is also a part of several university and national committees.

“Dean Vroom’s name is synonymous with Wayne State as well as the School of Social Work,” WSU Provost Ronald Brown said in a statement. “Under her leadership, the school has been recognized internationally for the quality of its research, and as a force for social change and community transformation.”

In 2005, Vroom helped develop the school’s doctoral study program. The school admitted its first cohort of students the following year into the Doctor of Philosophy program in social work.

School of Social Work Associate Director Curtis Brahm said he and Vroom worked closely together on financial matters. He also said that they worked to “understand the entire scope of funding available and how best to utilize these resources.”

“I believe Dean Vroom will be remembered not only for her 42 years of dedication to the university, but (also for) the passion she brought to work each and every day,” Brahm said. “More so, she will be remembered for the rare gift of kindness to those who were fortunate to know her if, even for a few minutes.”

Vroom received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WSU and her Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Michigan. Before joining the university, she worked as a social work practitioner and helped troubled adolescents and families throughout Detroit.

According to Vroom, two activist family friends who desired to both change the community and do therapeutic work were what inspired her to study social work. Social work offers those two opportunities, she said.

As soon as she retires, Vroom said, she will travel, learn to play guitar and continue learning Spanish and French. Although she studied Spanish in high school, Vroom also wants to continue studying French because her husband is from West Africa, where French is primarily spoken. Additionally, Vroom said she wants to “de-junk” her house and continue her volunteer work.

“I want to travel around much of Africa, and I want to travel around much of the world,” Vroom said. “As long as I have breath, I want to be traveling somewhere, singing and playing the guitar.”

The search for a new dean will begin in the fall. Until a successor is found, however, School of Social Work Associate Dean Cheryl Waites will serve as the interim dean.

Vroom, who said that Waites is an excellent person for the job, will not miss the long hours and deadlines. The Detroit native will, however, miss working with others to achieve goals set for the school and seeing students graduating and moving on into the field.

“I hope I’m remembered for the fact that we had terrific retention, but most of all for the climate that we were able to set,” Vroom said. “It’s by no means heaven or ideal, but I think people like to work here because they feel that we’re doing things that make a difference and are important.”