In Memoriam: Former Rutgers Social Work Dean and Professor Elfriede "Elfi" Galanter Schlesinger
Rutgers University mourns the passing of Dr. Elfriede (Elfi) Galanter Schlesinger, former dean and longtime professor at Rutgers School of Social Work. Dr. Schlesinger passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, at the age of 96.
Born in Vienna on August 24, 1928, Dr. Schlesinger fled Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938 with her mother, eventually resettling in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with her reunited family. Her experiences as a refugee would go on to inform a distinguished career dedicated to social justice, education, and advocacy.
Dr. Schlesinger earned her Master of Social Work from Columbia University and her Ph.D. from Rutgers School of Social Work. Over several decades, she served Rutgers with dedication as both professor and dean, shaping generations of social work professionals. After retiring from Rutgers, she continued to teach at Fordham and Yeshiva Universities and remained active in research and writing.
Among her many contributions to the field, Dr. Schlesinger was widely known for her textbook Ethnic-Sensitive Social Work Practice, co-authored with Wynetta Devore. The work played a pivotal role in integrating cultural and ethnic sensitivity into social work education and practice. She and Devore continued to publish and present on this critical topic, including their 2007 article, “Ethnic Sensitive Social Work Practice: Back to the Future,” in the Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work.
“I knew Elfi since the time I came to Rutgers in 1989,” said Professor Emeritus Raymond Sanchez Mayers, Ph.D., MSW. “I served under her as associate dean and director of the Camden program when she was acting dean. She was best known for her text, Ethnic-Sensitive Social Work Practice, which was an important contribution to the field. It exposed students to key concepts such as ethnic stratification.”
Beyond her academic leadership, Dr. Schlesinger was a strong advocate for retired faculty. She served as chair of the Rutgers AAUP-AFT Retiree Assembly and was honored in 2014 with the Richard Wasson Leadership Award for her service.
At the time of her passing, Dr. Schlesinger was working on a memoir chronicling her early experiences as a Holocaust refugee — a testament to her lifelong commitment to truth, resilience, and remembrance.
Rutgers School of Social Work honors Dr. Schlesinger’s extraordinary life and legacy. She leaves behind a lasting impact on the field of social work and on the many students, colleagues, and communities she inspired.
