The NASW Texas Awards seek to honor the achievements of NASW Texas members throughout their professional careers, as well as honor the contributions of publicly-elected officials, public citizens, and members of the media whose work upholds the values and mission of social work. Award recipients are nominated by their branches and selected through a review and voting process by the NASW Texas Board of Directors.

Congratulations to the 2024 NASW Texas Award Recipients featured below and to everyone recognized by their local branches for their extraordinary work in our profession.

2024 lifetime achievement award_

Ruth Fagan-Wilen, PhD, LCSW-S

Each year, the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers selects a social worker for this award to celebrate a lifetime of accomplishments. In honoring the Lifetime Achievement Award winner, NASW Texas recognizes the best social work values and accomplishments demonstrated throughout the social worker’s lifetime. Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards demonstrate repeated outstanding achievements, make contributions of lasting impact, exemplify outstanding creativity, and receive recognition beyond the social work profession.

Dr. Fagan-Wilen earned her MSW degree from the Worden School of Social Work at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) in San Antonio. She worked for Jewish Family Services of San Antonio, where she became the Director of Professional Services, supervising all clinical staff and practicum students, and creating and implementing family life education programs for community organizations and groups. She also served as Clinical Director of the Depression Treatment Clinic of San Antonio. Following that, she served as a supervisor at The Casey Family Program in San Antonio and as Acting Division Director. Dr. Fagan-Wilen then started an independent practice and became a board-approved LCSW Supervisor. Later, she became a Clinical Associate Professor at the Worden School, teaching in the inaugural year of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies at OLLU. She earned her doctoral degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin and became an adjunct faculty member at the UT Austin School of Social Work. She developed the Birth Family Continuum Model, which she presented at the Child Welfare Conference in Miami, Florida, and later at trainings across Texas for the Protective Services Training Institute at UT Austin. The model was recognized as a best practice in Social Work Abstracts in 2001. At UT Austin, she developed and led a training and consultation program for adjunct social work faculty, one of the first of its kind in the nation. As a result, she was appointed Adjunct Faculty Liaison/Director. This work was described in an article Dr. Fagan-Wilen and her colleagues published in the journal Social Work Education in 2006. She also served on the inaugural board of My Healing Place (now the Austin Grief and Loss Center) and was a founding member of American Family Group Conferencing, a national organization supporting family group conferencing (kinship care) as an alternative to out-of-home care for children who are abused or neglected. She co-chaired the Community Collaborative on Transitions for Youth in San Antonio, a partnership between the Casey Family Program, PBS Television, and HEB Grocery Stores that funded a regional center for youth emancipating from foster care. She co-wrote the grant that established the Community Transitions Service Center in San Antonio, the first free-standing program for transitioning foster youth in the United States. Dr. Fagan-Wilen was also instrumental in creating the Tri-Faith Alliance in San Antonio, a unique community collaboration among Christian, Muslim, and Jewish groups to foster support and understanding among these communities. She has served on the Austin Hillel Foundation Board, which supports Jewish students at UT. Currently, she is a dedicated Travis County Volunteer Deputy Registrar. Throughout her career, Dr. Fagan-Wilen has received numerous awards for her community service and her contributions to the social work profession. We are proud to present Dr. Fagan-Wilen with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nominated by the Capital Area Branch.

2024 Social Worker of the Year_

Demetress Harrell, MA, LBSW, FAPA

The Social Worker of the Year Award honors a member of NASW Texas who exemplifies the best of the profession’s values and achievements. In honoring the Social Worker of the Year, NASW highlights superb accomplishments in the practice of social work. The Social Worker of the Year demonstrates outstanding leadership, advocates for clients, and takes risks to achieve outstanding results.

Demetress Harrell serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Hospice in the Pines in Lufkin, Texas. She has been with the agency since 1993 and has diligently worked her way up to CEO. One of her greatest achievements has been expanding the agency's services to New Mexico. She is well-acquainted with the diverse needs of the community and understands the unique challenges faced by individuals during the process of death and dying. She demonstrates leadership at the local, state, and national levels, currently serving as an advocate, board member, and professional speaker. As CEO of Hospice in the Pines, Ms. Harrell brings a unique perspective to the hospice industry, incorporating leadership values focused on social justice, environmental change, and diversity and inclusion. She also writes grants and conducts research to ensure the community’s needs, as well as those of the agency's stakeholders, are met. Ms. Harrell advocates for individuals in need of palliative care and hospice services and has authored a book titled Helping Children Cope with Loss. Her leadership, advocacy, and expertise have earned her numerous awards. She was appointed Rotary District Assistant Governor for the region, becoming only the second Black woman to hold this position. She was also featured on the cover of a regional magazine as a woman of distinction. A tireless force of nature, Ms. Harrell represents the social work profession with unsurpassable dedication. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Texas Alzheimer’s Board, the Texas & New Mexico Hospice Organization, and the Texas Non-Profit Hospice Alliance. She is also the Board Executive for Catholic Health Initiative/Common Spirit Hospital and was recently appointed a National Hospice and Palliative Care Ambassador. Ms. Harrell frequently presents at state and national conferences, sharing her expertise in hospice and palliative care. An active member of the NASW Texas Chapter, she serves on various committees and in leadership roles. She has also served on the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Education Board, and her energy and contributions inspire others daily. Her innovation, servant leadership, and ethical standards are unmatched. We applaud her contributions to the profession and are thrilled to present her with the 2024 NASW Texas Social Worker of the Year Award.

Nominated by the Deep East Texas Branch.

2024 Social Work Student of the Year_

Loran Ashley Rhodes

The Social Work Student of the Year Award honors a student member of NASW Texas who is enrolled at least halftime (as defined by their school) in a graduate or undergraduate Social Work Program and has made an outstanding contribution to the goals and mission of the profession. The Social Work Student of the Year demonstrates leadership, a commitment to social justice, the profession of social work, and clients, and the integration of social work knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values.

Loran Ashley Rhodes is a Master of Social Work student at Stephen F. Austin State University and this year's NASW Texas Social Work Student of the Year. During the last two years, Loran has served in various leadership positions, and has been selected to present her research in several conferences. During her first year, she helped to initiate the NASW Branch chapter in her area. Her research was selected for the Graduate Research Conference where she presented on “Disorderly Eating Among Rural Collegiate Athletes”. Loran received the College of Liberal and Applied Arts Outstanding MSW Student of the Year Award in 2023. She also received the 2024 Student Social Worker of the Year for the NASW Deep East Texas Branch, and she was nominated for a leadership award by her peers at the University level. Loran is currently completing her final field practicum on campus in the Nelson Rusche College of Business as a reboot mentor. This is a pilot program in which the Associate Dean of Business contacted the School of Social Work seeking a practicum student to complete a paid internship. Students identified as suspended or on probation, due to academic performance, are referred to Loran for counseling and information and referral services. She is participating in research by identifying specific factors and barriers preventing them from academic success. She has developed survey instruments, administered the surveys and is currently completing data analysis. She is a member of NAMI, Phi Alpha Honor Society and is serving as President of the Graduate Association of Student Social Workers at Stephen F. Austin State University. She is also an iCare Ambassador and works to support students in addressing their health and wellness related concerns.

Nominated by the Deep East Texas Branch.

2024 Public Citizen of the Year_

Sister Pearl Ceasar

The Public Citizen of the Year Award honors an outstanding member of the community whose accomplishments exemplify the values and mission of the profession of social work and who has acted with courage to make a significant contribution to an area or population of concern to the social work profession such as: at-risk or vulnerable populations, quality of life in communities, or social issues.

Sister Pearl Ceasar is the 2024 NASW Texas Public Citizen of the Year. After entering the Congregation, Sister Pearl was sent to teach in an African-American public school in rural Louisiana. She had 22 students. She had already taught in a white upper middle class school where first grade students came to school reading. In Louisiana, she had 11-year-olds in 2nd grade that could not read. She realized at that time how unfair the whole system was and searched for a ministry where the Church and other institutions would address what was happening to families in our country. Sister Pearl found that ministry when she began organizing in San Antonio with Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS). COPS is part of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), a leadership development institute that engages citizens in public life based on their Judeo-Christian and democratic values. For over 40 years she has organized in Texas with IAF organizations. Through this work, hundreds of thousands of families now have clean water and adequate sewers, tens of thousands of adults have been trained and have family wage jobs, hundreds of schools have changed their culture, thousands of immigrants have become citizens and, most importantly, thousands of leaders through their parishes are engaged in the public life of their communities. As Executive Director of COPS’s Project QUEST, Sister Pearl elevated participants’ average annual income from $12,000 to $48,000 post-training and led initiatives that reduced participants’ reliance on welfare programs, saving society over $326 million and contributing an economic impact of $1.67 billion. For every dollar invested in Project QUEST, $19.32 was returned to the community, as validated by a 25-year economic impact report partially funded by the City of San Antonio. In partnership with Project QUEST and using it as a model, the City of San Antonio created the San Antonio Ready to Work (RTW) education and job placement program. In 2020, San Antonio voters overwhelmingly approved the $200 million program, which is funded by a 1/8-cent sales tax. She has truly been an icon in her community as a servant leader that not only recognizes the community's strength, vision, and hope for a better and thriving community, but empowered the people to advocate for better schools, quality housing, access to health care and safe neighborhoods and living wages. By learning to work together for the public good, COPS leaders have been able to work with the businesses, community, elected leaders to make Bexar County a better place for families. During Sr. Pearl's tenure, Project Quest lived its mission created 25 years ago with the vision of strengthening the community's economy with highly qualified employees for in-demand, living wage careers. The program has grown exponentially in every facet. It is evidenced by the countless testimonials, studies and employers that laud the phenomenal impact County-wide. Sr. Pearl Ceasar is a woman of faith and inspires others to embrace their challenges and find solutions that are impactful and life changing.

Nominated by the Alamo Area Branch.

2024 PUBLIC elected official OF THE YEAR_

Judge Shawna Joiner

The Public Elected Official of the Year Award recognizes outstanding service and contributions of an elected official who has shown leadership in the formulation of public policy, particularly policies that affect social justice, health care, education, civil and human rights, and social practice.

Judge Shawna Joiner, 2024 NASW Texas Elected Public Official of The Year, stands up and speaks out for the dignity and worth of all persons, service, social justice, integrity, importance of human relationships, and competence. She has a demonstrated history of working in the Texas Justice Court environment. She is specifically skilled in Criminal and Civil Justice Court law. She is an advocate for victims of Family and Domestic Violence and a Court liaison for truancy court with the local school districts. Judge Joiner has daily interactions with local law enforcement in an effort to provide a stronger and safer community. She is a strong court professional and administrator, Certified Master Clerk, and is now serving as the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, Place 2 in Taylor County. Judge Joiner has also partnered with HSU School of Social Work. She has educated the social work students about her role as Justice of the Peace, and she participated as a panelist for their Love Shouldn’t Hurt event, informing students, faculty and staff, and community professionals on the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships. As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Judge Joiner is bold and passionate when sharing her story and how it impacts the work she does today. She serves as a member the Domestic Violence Coalition and holds many partnerships with community agencies such as the RVCC, Noah Project, and the APD. Judge Joiner also served a 4-year term on the Justice Court Clerk’s Curriculum Committee for the State of Texas under the Texas Justice of the Peace and Constables Association; and she was the guest speaker at the 2024 State Bail Bonds Convention. She also readily shares her faith and trust in the Lord as the source of her strength, joy, and purpose. She proudly attends Beltway South Church in Abilene, TX. Judge Joiner takes every opportunity she can to be a humble and educating voice to those in her community about the work she does and about the social problem of domestic violence.

Nominated by the West Central Texas Branch.