(Posted September 13, 2004)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Robert Reilly, professor of social work and sociology at Juniata College, was named Charles A. Dana Professor of Social Work and Sociology at the Juniata College opening convocation Monday, Sept. 30

Reilly is one of five Dana-supported professors at Juniata. The Charles A. Dana Foundation specifies that the recipient of the supported professorships be a faculty member of outstanding teaching ability and scholarly attributes.
"Bob Reilly has been a driving force in Juniata liberal arts education," says Juniata College President Thomas R. Kepple. "He epitomizes our mission to ensure great teaching, and has continued to be an active voice for students and faculty throughout his time here."

Reilly joined the Juniata faculty in 1974 after working as a graduate intern at the Lackawanna County Prison in Scranton, Pa. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1971 from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa. He went on to earn a master's degree in social work in 1974 from Marywood University in Scranton, Pa.

He is currently the field coordinator of the social work program. He came to the college as an instructor and was promoted to assistant professor in 1976. He was promoted to associate professor in 1981 and was appointed full professor in 1987.

He received the Beachley Distinguished Professor Award in 1991.

He also has been active in the Huntingdon community for 30 years, serving two terms on the Huntingdon Area School Board and as a founding member of Huntingdon House. He also has served on the boards of Huntingdon County Children's Services, Head Start, and the Tri-County Community Action Agency. He received the Huntingdon House Service Award in 1987 and received the Head Start Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 1986. In 2004 he received an award from the V-Day organization for his work with nonviolence toward women and families. Currently he is on the board of Habitat for Humanity.

His teaching interests center on social work practice, social policy criminology, and American families. He also recently helped conceive and team-teach a new course in oral history which documented the stories of Juniata's African-American alumni.

Reilly has been very active at Juniata as well. He has been a faculty representative for the board of trustees and faculty and institutional committees. Currently, he serves on the Personnel Evaluation Committee, the college's Strategic Planning Committee, the Enrollment Management Committee and the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion.

He has served as faculty adviser for several Juniata student clubs, including Habitat for Humanity, The Juniatian student newspaper, Juniata Outreach, the Equestrian Club, Women's Rugby and Phi Alpha, the social work honor society.

He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy of Certified Social Workers and the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. He also is a licensed social worker in Pennsylvania.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.