School Alumni Associations

IU School of Social Work Alumni Association

Alumni Profiles

Doris Olson

Doris Olson was born and raised in a small rural community in Montana and she attended school there until she went to college.  She spent most of the summers from 1951 to 1960 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN having surgeries done.  During the early part of this period she was encouraged by her Plastic Surgeon and Protestant Chaplain at Mayo’s to go into social work.  She subsequently took their advice and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1955.

Doris’ first social work job was as a Caseworker for the Hill County Welfare Department in Havre, MT which served the aged, disabled, dependent families, and foster care children.  She then became the Director of Public Welfare for Hill and Liberty Counties where she had administrative, supervisory and direct service responsibilities. 

In 1961, to quote Doris, “It was kind of spur of the moment that I decided to apply for graduate school.  My child welfare supervisor told me she could not provide an education for me and I needed to go on to school.  I applied at several schools in July and got accepted at IU in August.  I really had to scramble.”  Thus, Doris and I became classmates.  Her first year field work placement was in the Indianapolis Public Schools and her second year placement was at the Children’s Bureau.  She fondly remembers Mary Houk, Director of the Division of Social Service, as it was known then, and faculty members Walter Johnson and Linda Chestnut.  And, she became fast friends with another classmate, Harriette Wright, from Bluefield, West Virginia, with whom she has maintained contact over the years.  Upon earning her Master’s Degree from IU in 1963, Doris returned to Montana.

Doris then became a child welfare worker for Deer Lodge, Powell, and Granite Counties in Anaconda, MT where she “developed program in a very resistive area.” Next, she worked as a child welfare supervisor for Yellowstone County in Billings, MT, where she increased the staff from three to six, provided in-depth education to the County Board of Commissioners and general public, supervised staff, and consulted with other departments.  Doris was then the Director of Social Services at the Saint Vincent Hospital in Billings, MT where she developed the first social work department in a private Montana hospital.  She later chose to become a clinical member of the hospital staff for more rewarding experience and a preference for direct services.  She provided direct casework services with emphasis in pediatrics and perinatal services, discharge planning, counseling in adult services, and consultation to hospital and medical staff.  She also served on the Ethics Committee and was a consultant to the Elizabeth Seton Prenatal Clinic.

Doris is a current member of the Billings Child Protective Services Team, and a current, appointed member of the Foster Care Review Committee.   In the past she has served  several organizations such as the Montana Improved Pregnancy Outcome Advisory Committee, the Montana Health Professional Advisory Committee, the Montana Chapter of S.I.D.S., the Rocky Mountain Home Health Agency, the Yellowstone County Health Department,  the Big Sky Hospice, the National Association of Perinatal Social Workers, and the Montana Perinatal Association. 

On a personal note, Doris cared for an elderly friend for many years and she is still the neighborhood resource person for runs to the doctor’s office, hospital, grocery store, etc.  She collects antique clocks and commented in her letter to me that she “can still hear Walter Johnson reminding us not to be late to class.” She loves to go shopping for antiques.  She also collects Scottie dog items and has a Scottie dog named Nessie, as in Loch Ness, who can be a little monster.  Nessie is a rescue dog. Doris also has two cats named Michelob and Kissee.  Doris is in the process of doing some genealogical research on her father’s side of the family.  He was born in Sweden.  She has one brother and she enjoys close contact with him and his family.

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