School Alumni Associations

IU School of Social Work Alumni Association

Alumni Profiles

Lois H. Cole, M.A. in Social Service, 1949

I have fond memories of profs and students at the IU Division of Social Service from l947 when I graduated from IU with an AB in Social Work until I graduated with my Master’s 2 years later. I lived at home as I was a local resident. The biggest “challenge” (as they say today) was writing my thesis under the guidance of Margaret Blenkner. I understand this is no longer a requirement. Actually the discipline required and the need to provide the source and date of anything written has benefited me throughout my life.

My first position was a case worker at the Children’s Bureau in Indianapolis directed by Kerth Hardy. I interviewed prospective adoptive parents and unmarried women, supervised foster mothers, and counseled adoptive parents during an adjustment period. I learned a great deal more about children which was beneficial when I had my own.

After 4 years there, I had married and my husband was transferred by TWA to Cleveland. There I established the school social work program in the Shaker Heights Schools. After a year, I resigned to have children of my own. When my children were teens, I returned to the field to work at Benjamin Rose Institute, a private agency providing in home services to seniors. I was a caseworker and later an administrator of a neighborhood office. After 14 years there, I became a senior and retired! I continued to volunteer at a hospice and organize various projects in church and community that used my skills.

Since my husband was employed by an airline, we had almost free transportation around the world and traveled extensively. My tally is all 7 continents, 38 countries, 10 Canadian provinces and all 50 states. After retirement we settled in an RV resort (we were veteran campers) in Sun City, AZ and I spent 17 winters there until after my husband passed away. Now I live year round in a high rise condo in Cleveland with my dog, Honey. I continue to be active in 10 organizations. One of the most exciting is mentoring a graduate student from Case Western Reserve University, School of Applied Social Sciences, who is in the field of aging. It is very rewarding to be able to influence new young students going into my beloved field.

by Lois H. Cole

See the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations Calendar of Events for upcoming School of Social Work alumni programs.

School of Social Work web site 

IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations contact:
Karen Deery, (317) 274-8959 or kdeery@iupui.edu