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Unassuming and disarming, Nicholas F. "Nick" Mazza never aspired to be a university administrator.

"I would joke with my daughter, who still reminds me, 'Why would I want to become dean with all the administrative headaches?'"

But he did. Known for his determination, fairness, impeccable ethics and quiet leadership, Mazza was drafted by faculty colleagues to serve as interim dean of Florida State University's College of Social Work in 2008 after the retirement of its former dean, Aaron McNeece. Two years later, Mazza was appointed to the permanent position.

Now, after a 34-year career at Florida State that includes six years as dean, Mazza plans to step down from the college's top job this summer and retire by year's end.

Over his career, Mazza has built a legacy as an accomplished social worker, educator, poet and scholar specializing in poetry therapy. He also has finished an astounding 34 consecutive Tallahassee Marathons. That's 890.8 miles — not counting miles covered during training — but who's counting?

Since joining the college's faculty in 1981, Mazza has served and chaired nearly every College of Social Work committee, created and chaired the first certificate program (now specialized studies) in family social work — followed by one in the arts and community practice — and was significantly involved in many university committees. He also turned down every request from past deans to serve as a program director or associate dean.

Mazza stepped into the interim post at a time when the university was considering restructuring its colleges. The College of Social Work was one of many academic units facing major budget cuts and the possibility of being merged with other programs. He was determined, however, to maintain the College of Social Work as a free-standing academic unit.

Acting as though he was permanent, Mazza restructured the college, making strides to advance its research, service and support of students. He improved the college's external relations, increased its fundraising and urged a higher level of alumni and community engagement.

By the fall of 2010, the college prevailed as a strong, free-standing unit that received laudatory internal and external reviews — specifically, the FSU Quality Enhancement Review and the Council on Social Work reaffirmation of accreditation.

Because of his leadership, then-Provost Lawrence G. "Larry" Abele appointed Mazza dean in 2010.

Led by his passion for the college, Mazza and Director of Development Colette Podgorski have become very good at telling its story.

"We are a top-notch program that is well-regarded locally, statewide, nationally and internationally in practice, policy, administration and scholarship," Mazza said. "Most of all, we are committed to our students and our mission to the community through service and research that matters. We have reconnected with our alumni and friends, and offered special recognitions for their support and achievements."

Mazza's enthusiasm extends to talking about the profession of social work because it is one of the nation's fastest growing careers, according to U.S. News & World Report, and it leads the pack of "helping professions" as a frontline provider of mental health services.

"In terms of educating the public about social work, we must affirm that it offers professional degrees (the MSW and Bachelor of Social Work, or BSW) and that it serves society well," Mazza said. "In terms of what social workers do, we deal with health and wellness, aging, poverty, mental health, domestic violence, addictions, criminal justice, child welfare, human rights and so much more. Our doctoral students do well, publishing and making national presentations, then getting hired as faculty members by highly regarded academic programs.

"And we emphasize professional standards," he said. "We are proud because we maintain standards of excellence in both the college and the profession."

Since joining the college's faculty, Mazza has met with enthusiasm every opportunity to educate the next generation of social workers, playing an integral part in shaping a college that is student-centered and research-focused.

"When President (Eric J.) Barron said that Florida State needed to be a student-centered institution, I said, 'Amen, I'm all the way on board.' That has always been my commitment," said Mazza, who has not only spent his career encouraging students toward practice and research, but has joined them as a research partner and mentor.

Over his career, Mazza — who holds Florida licenses in clinical social work, psychology and marriage and family therapy — has participated in the research of undergraduate, master's and doctoral students, and estimates that he has served on about 75 dissertation committees across numerous disciplines.

As a faculty member, he maintained a heavy teaching load and continued to teach one course (poetry therapy) in the fall and one in the spring, as well as offer directed individual studies and informal mentoring.

"I try to model what I ask my faculty to do," he said.

In addition to teaching, Mazza maintains an active research agenda and continues to publish articles, chapters and poetry. He continues to serve as editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy, which he founded in 1987, and is the author of the definitive book on poetry therapy, "Poetry Therapy: Theory and Practice." In 2006, Mazza was named Florida State's Patricia Vance Professor of Social Work.

Since becoming dean, Mazza has underscored his — and the college's — commitment to undergraduate research by working with the Division of Undergraduate Studies to create the Social Work Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award, funded by the college.

Mazza also has worked to increase the college's reach into the community.

"We have been successful at becoming a community-engaged program, and we should be," he said. "Obviously, we're committed to serving at-risk, oppressed and vulnerable populations, and building healthy communities."

With wide-ranging programs and institutes, the College of Social Work is working to improve the lives of people through outreach and research.

Mazza created the Arts & Athletics Summer Camp, launched in 2012 with an initial gift from longtime Florida State benefactors Guy and Delores Spearman. The annual camp for 20 local middle-school students, including those with limited social and economic opportunity, teaches and enhances leadership development, academic achievement, socialization and other life skills.

"This is positive youth development," he said. "We've had faculty, staff and student leaders come in from the FSU Athletics Department, the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), art education, music and dance. I lead creative writing sessions called Running with Words and the poetry part (of the program). The kids just love being involved with our artists and athletes."

Through its long-standing Institute for Family Violence Studies, the college has become nationally prominent in keeping families safe with programs such as the Law Enforcement Families Partnership, an online course funded by the Verizon Foundation that works to stem domestic violence within the law enforcement community.

Another point of pride for Mazza is the college's new Florida Institute for Child Welfare, established in 2014 by the Florida Legislature.

With a $1 million award, the college will partner with state and community agencies, law enforcement and other social work higher education programs throughout the state to conduct research that promotes safety, permanency and well-being for children and families who are involved with the state's child-welfare system.

"Historically, we've had a good reputation in child welfare," Mazza said. "The Legislature could have selected any academic program in Florida to house this institute. It speaks well to our reputation and the hard work over the past several years to work with other academic programs and the larger community."

The college also recently received a major award from the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving to offer the Operation Family Caregiver (OFC) program to military caregivers. Offering free, confidential support to family and friends of service members and veterans, the OFC program will aid caregivers in managing difficult transitions and obstacles. This is in keeping with the college's commitment to military service members and veterans, and includes two scholarships — one relating to field placements and the other to research.

Mazza praised various other programs within the college, including its professional development offerings, for the ways in which they support students and alumni.

He characterized the college's pioneering MSW distance-learning program — the country's first — as the model for the nation. Initiated by now-retired Social Work faculty member Janet Berry, the program has gained prominence under the guidance of Craig Stanley, director of the college's MSW program and newly appointed associate dean for academic affairs.

Mazza also pointed to the college's international programs, which have been highly recognized by the Council on Social Work Education. They offer students a wealth of exchange opportunities, field placements and alternative spring break programs. He credits their success to retired Director Patricia Lager, current Director Neil Abell and Associate Professor Dina Wilke. 

Under Mazza's leadership, the college has remained steadfast in its commitment to diversity.

"We've maintained an annual symposium on diversity and have one of the highest percentages of minority students in any FSU program," he said.

As he enters his final months as dean, Mazza plans to continue telling the college's story, which is quickly becoming his legacy. He is also quick to point out that he is — stated in the broadest terms — a family-centered dean who values the importance of family to faculty, staff, students and all those whom they serve.

"Whatever meaningful success I have had in my professional and personal life can be attributed to my children," Mazza said. "They are a part of everything I do."

His daughter, Nicole, who received her BSW and MSW from Florida State, is an elementary school teacher who found her social work education extremely beneficial in working with children and their families. His son, Chris, a former Florida State student, was 21 years old when he died in a car accident in 2005.

"I can think of no greater joy than the birth of my children and my time with them. I can think of no deeper despair than the death of my son. Still, we carry on, honoring the memory of Chris and embracing the future with hope," he said.

Among Mazza's more than 80 articles, chapters and poems and more than 50 national presentations, he says that his poem, "Hope," which was published in the Journal of Humanistic Education and Development in 1998, appears to be his most well-received work:

Hope
is the belief
that one hand
reaching to another
can eventually
touch the moon,
allowing the light
to guide us
through the night

In an article for the college's 2011-2012 alumni magazine, Mazza wrote:
"The fact remains that we will continue to prepare our students to be some of the finest clinical social workers, administrators, researchers, educators, policymakers, community organizers and consultants across the country. We are educating our students to become the leaders of a generation that will advance the art and science of social work. We want our students to be successful, our research to make a difference in improving the lives of others and our engagement in the community to model social work values and ethics. I hope you will join me and the 'family' of the College of Social Work to write the next chapter in our shared story of excellence. It's a tradition. It's a promise."

Mazza is proud that he did his best to keep the promise.

"There are a lot of chapters yet to be added, but if I've helped write one or two, then I'm satisfied."

By Jeffery Seay
15 January 2015