Her commitment to understanding the effects of childhood abuse upon adult development and functioning has been a cornerstone of her professional journey.
BRATENAHL, OH, August 16, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Ilga B. Svechs, Ph.D. has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Svechs is professor emerita from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, a graduate school, of Case Western Reserve University. Where she made significant contributions, teaching social work and law school students, courses on human development over the life span; child, adolescent and adult psychopathology; and social work practice. She has been associated with the university from 1972 until 2001 before her retirement to the role as consultant of psychotherapy in private practice. Dr. Svechs also gave lectures in Latvia, Romania and Finland. Her commitment to understanding the effects of childhood abuse upon adult development and functioning has been a cornerstone of her professional journey. Dr. Svechs expertise and dedication have earned numerous national and international awards, including being named the best teaching professor of social sciences at Case Western Reserve University during four different academic years.
Dr. Svechs began her illustrious career in pediatric social services at Metro Health in Cleveland, Ohio from 1964 to 1972. During this time she became supervisor to social workers who focused on social work with sick, neglected and abused children and their parents or caretakers.
In addition to her professional and academic roles, Dr. Svechs has been an active member of several professionally related organizations, including The National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychoanalytic Association and Clinical Social Work Association. These affiliations have provided her with platforms to augment and influence the field of social work.
Dr. Svechs' educational background is extensive and impressive. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and sociology from Calvin University in 1958, followed by Master of Social Work degree from University of Michigan in 1960, and post-graduate studies at Smith College School for Social Work in 1963-1964. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree at Union Institute and University in 1988.
Throughout her career, Dr. Svechs has received numerous awards, recognizing her contributions to higher education of social sciences. In 1989, the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers bestowed her Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Social Work Award. The government of Latvia honored her with the nation's prestigious "Cross of Recognition" in 2010 for her outstanding contribution and health services for the country's orphaned and abused children. She also received an Honorary Doctor degree from Latvia's Academy of Culture in 1992 and Distinguished Alumni Award from Calvin University, her alma mater, in 2012. Dr. Svechs was inducted as an Honorary Member of the American Association of Psychoanalysis in 2014.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Svechs is deeply involved with civic activities. She offers pro bono consultation to community organizations. She is also an accomplished poet, using her creative talents to explore various themes of interest, ranging from love of her country of birth, Latvia, to the long history of roses.
Born in Latvia, Dr. Svechs and her family fled the country to save their lives from communism. She likes to credit her success in education to her father, John Svechs, who ensured that she and her brother would continue writing in Latvian, despite the scarcity of paper and pencils during and after World War II refugee camps, where the family lived from 1944-1949. The Svechs family arrived on legal refugee status from Germany to the United States on August 6, 1949. Dr. Svechs expresses life-long gratitude to Carl and Kathryn Voorhies who provided immense support to her family upon their arrival to the United States.
Dr. Svechs has a rich personal life filled with passions for poetry, classical music, walking on the shore of Lake Erie, and reflections of God's grace in her challenging, but successful life.
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