ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

MICHAEL BYRD MSW 1973, Ph.D. 2005
Director of the Bureau Community Health and Chronic Disease Prevention
Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)

“Social work (offers) a very broad and diverse field … there are many pathways you can take but social work is a good foundation.”

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If there is one word that epitomizes Michael Byrd’s perspective on the best path to education and professional development it is “diversification” – this insight from a man who has dual undergraduate degrees from the Citadel in Russian and Portuguese, and earned master’s degrees in Social Work (1973) and Public Health (1977), as well as a doctorate in Social Work (2005).

The director of the Bureau of Community Health and Chronic Disease Prevention for the Department of Health and Environmental Control – who started a career at DHEC in 1975 – has also taught on the faculty in the College of Social Work, and is an adjunct faculty member of the South Carolina School of Medicine and School of Public Health.

After leaving the Citadel, Byrd joined the United States Army Reserves where he was given a choice of being a truck driver or a social worker. He admitted he wasn’t good at driving trucks so he chose to be a social worker. He realized how much he enjoyed social work and “needed something to do” and applied for graduate school at the College of Social Work.

“Social work is a very broad and diverse field,” commented Byrd who describes himself as a social worker working in public health. “There are many pathways you can take. You should have a strong reason that you want to go to school in social work in the first place. If you don’t have that you might want to consider another field.”

Byrd’s wife Sherilyn and daughter Caroline also graduated from COSW; Sherilyn in 1975 and Caroline in 2006.

Although Byrd has a background in mental health, he recognized during the evolution of his own career that developing other skills and incorporating them with his social work experience would help him realize the success that he wanted. Today he manages nine different divisions in the statewide program as the result of his multidisciplinary approach.

Dr. Byrd said he enjoyed his experience in the College of Social Work and recognized Dr. Naomi Farber and Dr. Miriam Freeman as his “favorite faculty members … they really made a difference in my life.” He essentially pays that kindness forward as he advises dual degree students in the MSW/MPH program.

“I advise (students) to prepare themselves broadly so if they want to get a job and grow and learn they need to prepare themselves as well with financial knowledge.”

Byrd continues to work closely with the College and encourages collaboration with other University colleges and units, as well as active engagement with the community.

“The College should continue (to maintain) a visible connection with the people and problems in the state.”