Jensen-Crawford recognized with major honor
Leigh Jensen-Crawford
The director of Student Counseling Services at Mississippi State is receiving statewide recognition for major contributions to the social work field.
At its annual conference last Wednesday [March 25] in Biloxi, the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers will formally present Leigh Jensen-Crawford with the 2015 Social Work Lifetime Achievement Award.
She has led the university department since 2010 and, since 2004, the campus' Assessment and Testing Services. She previously was sexual assault services director, student counseling services clinical social worker and counselor, and an adjunct faculty member in the social work academic program.
Demonstration of ongoing and outstanding leadership and contributions to the positive image of social work through advocacy, social policy, education, research, publications, exceptional practice, program development and administration are among award-selection criteria.
"I was surprised and honored to be nominated and selected for this award, which is a tremendous honor," Jensen-Crawford said.
"I have had opportunities that I never expected to have in policy and implementation on violence against women in our community, churches, at MSU and statewide," she said, noting that the MSU program "continues to be a model program for the state and nation for sexual assault prevention, advocacy and response."
Jensen-Crawford also said having "a part in training and mentoring the next generation of social workers and counselors and working with student interns and young professionals has been meaningful and rewarding for me."
She expressed appreciation for the continued support of family, friends and colleagues, citing in the latter group MSU social work professor Adele Crudden, social work instructor Jada Johnson and retired social work program director Margo Swain.
"Through her personal and professional activities, Dr. Jensen has touched the lives of thousands of social work clients and professionals," Crudden said. "All have the most positive comments about her high ethical standards, supervisory and clinical skills, and the impact she has had on their lives.
"She continues to work hard daily to change society on the individual level and through her impact on policy and service delivery," Crudden added.
In 2013, the campus President's Commission on the Status of Women recognized Jensen-Crawford's contributions with a Professional Woman of the Year Award.
A Jackson native, she holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Middle Tennessee State University, master's of social work from the University of Southern Mississippi and doctorate in social work from the University of Alabama.
In addition to the National Association of Social Workers and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, she is a member of Starkville's Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, where she has served in numerous leadership positions over the years.
Along with participation in Tupelo's Race for the Cure program, Jensen-Crawford has volunteered with the North Carolina-based Cleft Palate Foundation and Virginia-based Operation Smile.
Learn more about the MSU Student Counseling Services at www.health.msstate.edu/scs/faq.php; about NASW's Mississippi chapter at http://naswmschapter.org.
Discover more about Mississippi's flagship research university at www.msstate.edu or www.meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, pinterest.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.
Sasha Steinberg | Public Affairs
