Omar was the recipient of the Dean’s Outstanding BASW Social Work Award nearly 20 years ago, and he went on to complete his MSW at the University of Michigan. He later returned to New Jersey and served as a researcher with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). For the past 14 years, Omar was also a lecturer in the Rutgers School of Social Work, impacting the lives of countless students. Additionally, he was the founder of Empower Caravan, which is committed to physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

Omar will be remembered for his spirituality, love of learning, positivity, and resilience. He was a poet, author, and artist who drew people in, and he cultivated community through his commitment to social work education and student success. This past summer, Omar visited the Rutgers–Camden and Rutgers–New Brunswick campuses, engaging with students, staff, and faculty in ways that reflected this lifelong commitment. 

Omar’s legacy will live on in the memories of the people he touched.

Rutgers School of Social Work mourns the passing of former dean and longtime professor Dr. Elfriede “Elfi” Galanter Schlesinger, who died peacefully on June 6, 2025, at the age of 96. Born in Vienna in 1928, Dr. Schlesinger fled Nazi-occupied Austria with her mother in 1938 and eventually settled with her family in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Her early experiences as a refugee shaped a lifetime commitment to social justice, education, and advocacy. She earned her Master of Social Work from Columbia University and her Ph.D. from Rutgers School of Social Work.

Over several decades at Rutgers, Dr. Schlesinger served with distinction as both professor and dean, helping to shape generations of social work professionals. She was widely known for co-authoring the influential textbook Ethnic-Sensitive Social Work Practice with Wynetta Devore, a foundational work that advanced culturally responsive social work education and practice. Even after retiring from Rutgers, she continued teaching, researching, and advocating for faculty and retirees. Rutgers School of Social Work honors her extraordinary life and lasting contributions to the field and to the many students and colleagues she inspired.

Rutgers School of Social Work mourns the passing of Professor Emerita Isabel Wolock, who died on May 30, 2025, at the age of 97 in Metuchen, New Jersey. A respected scholar and mentor, Dr. Wolock devoted more than three decades to Rutgers as a professor and director of the Ph.D. program, helping to shape generations of social work scholars and practitioners. Her research focused on children and families and contributed significantly to advancing knowledge and practice in the field of social work.

Even after retiring from Rutgers, Dr. Wolock remained deeply committed to education and mentorship, continuing to advise doctoral students at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Known for her intellectual rigor, thoughtful guidance, and dedication to her students, she left a lasting impact on colleagues and countless doctoral students whose careers were shaped by her mentorship. Rutgers School of Social Work honors her life, scholarship, and enduring contributions to social work education.

Rutgers School of Social Work is deeply saddened to share the passing of longtime faculty member Dr. Jeffrey Longhofer. Along with his life partner, Dr. Jerry Floersch, he was a co-creator of the School of Social Work’s Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program and served as the inaugural director of the Tyler Clementi Center for Diversity Education and Bias Prevention at Rutgers.

Dr. Longhofer was known for his deep engagement with clinical practice, innovative teaching, and wide-ranging scholarship. Throughout his career, he championed social justice and worked to connect theory, research, and practice in meaningful ways for students and practitioners. His work, mentorship, and dedication to the field of social work left a lasting impact on the Rutgers community and beyond.