Board Member Found Her Calling in Social Work

Boardroom

By Paul R. Pace

Dafna Berman first heard of NASW when she was studying for her BSW at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“Even in a faraway country, NASW and social work were interchangeable,” Berman said. “I always held NASW in high regard.”

Berman, MSW, MBA, now serves as director of Region VIII (Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin) on the NASW national board.

“Looking back to my BSW self, I would probably not believe it,” she said of her current position.

Berman’s inspiration to serve on the national board was a natural progression from years of volunteering her time with the NASW Wisconsin Chapter. She started as a representative of the Southeast Wisconsin branch and eventually became chapter president.

“It’s a huge privilege to serve on the national board,” said Berman, who works as a psychotherapist at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin.

“I am in awe of being in the room with the other really great professionals who are board members,” she said. “It’s a very humbling experience to be together with longtime leaders and academics in social work.”

Berman said she’s looking to learn from the other board members who are filling her in and telling her how things are done. “In a nutshell, I have learned there is so much to learn,” she said.

Berman always has been interested in why people do what they do. “In high school, I was very interested in sociology, but my mother said you need a profession and suggested social work.”

“I became very passionate about the advocacy (part of social work) and taking an active role in making the world a better place,” Berman said.