The N.C. Piedmont District of the National Association of Social Workers has named Dr. John Rife its Social Worker of the Year, recognizing his outstanding leadership and service to the profession.

Professor Rife is chairman of the Department of Social Work at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He currently serves as secretary of the board of directors for the N.C. chapter of NASW.

UNCG welcomed Rife to the faculty in 1991. He has served as an assistant and associate professor of social work, director of undergraduate studies in social work, and director of the Joint Master of Social Work program.

He led the undergraduate social work program from 1997-2005, a period that included reaccredidation by the Council on Social Work Education. Among his recent recognitions are the Outstanding Faculty Member Award in 1997 and the Gladys Strawn Bullard Award in 2001.

Rife’s research and practice interests include the social and economic impacts of unemployment and income deficiency upon older workers, families and the homeless. He has written more than 206 publications, including articles, presentations, reports, chapters, book reviews, grants and the book “Employment of the Elderly” (1995).

Rife received his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1976 from Hanover College. He completed a master’s degree in social work at Indiana University in 1979 and a master’s degree in public administration at Ohio State University in 1986. Ohio State awarded him a doctorate in social work in 1987.