Lynne Healy's (b. 1947) career-defining role was as faculty member in the University of Connecticut, School of Social Work from 1978-2015. She was promoted to professor in 1992 and granted the university's highest title, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor, in 2012. Her education led to a BA, Asian Studies, Brown University; MSW, community organization, University of Connecticut; PhD, Rutgers University. Practice roles included work as a family casework assistant, a social caseworker in child welfare services, and director of a community information and referral service. Leadership roles include: board of directors, secretary, vice president and human rights roles in IASSW; poverty and social development advocacy as IASSW representative with the UN; and international and national roles with NASW and CSWE. Publications include books on human rights, international social work, social service management, and shorter works on ethical and practice issues in social work.

When did you receive the award and on what basis? What has it meant to you?

I only received it two days ago! However, I had been informed several months before. It is an extremely meaningful award for several reasons, but obviously because it bears Katherine Kendall's name. Also, because it is an honour that IASSW gives for contributions to international social work education, it is an important career recognition.

While it is personally rewarding that your colleagues think you deserve this, I am at a stage in my career where things to put on my CV do not matter. My university and school of social work were impressed and pleased about the award. The greatest honour is to be recognized by your colleagues in your field and in the association.

Then it is important because of the personal connection I had with Katherine Kendall. In the future, there will be Kendall awardees who will be removed from that. We have a connectedness that future professional scholars will only have by reading about it. I remember a conversation with Katherine. She was reflecting that she had personally known every president of the IASSW except Alice Salomon. She connected back to 1949 or 1950, and so these periods of history are passing away.