Title: Professor Emerita
Company: Case Western Reserve University
Location: Bratenahl, Ohio, United States
Ilga B. Svechs, PhD, professor emerita at Case Western Reserve University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in social sciences.
Growing up in Latvia during World War II and the Cold War, Dr. Svechs overcame many challenges and broke down barriers to become an esteemed professor in the field of social sciences. In 2001, following a professional life of nearly 40 years, she retired from her position as a professor of social sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Since then, Dr. Svechs has held the title of professor emerita at the same institution. Beginning at Case Western Reserve University in 1972, she built a lasting reputation as a knowledgeable, kind and attentive teacher at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.
Before starting her career in academia, Dr. Svechs contributed for almost a decade as the head of pediatric social work for the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital. Starting there in 1963, her responsibilities in this role exposed her to the effects of childhood trauma on adult development – experiences that would prove essential in informing her social sciences work. Even after moving on from social work, Dr. Svechs continued volunteering at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital.
In order to achieve the level of success she showcased, Dr. Svechs relied on a strong academic foundation, beginning with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and sociology from Calvin University in 1958. In 1960, she obtained a Master of Arts in social work from the University of Michigan. Subsequently, Dr. Svechs completed a postgraduate degree at Smith College’s School for Social Work in 1963. Her education culminated in earning a PhD from the Union Institute & University in 1988. Dr. Svechs is particularly proud of becoming the first Fulbright scholar to be sent to Latvia after the fall of the Soviet Union.
As a commitment to her field, Dr. Svechs was active with several industry-related organizations. Throughout her professional life, she has been a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychoanalytic Association, and the Clinical Social Work Association. In addition to her primary vocation, Dr. Svechs gained recognition as a published poet. Her work has been featured by the Smith College Journal, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, and the Latvian Academy of Culture.
Well-regarded for her accomplishments, Dr. Svechs has been lauded by numerous sources. She was named the best teaching professor of the year by Case Western Reserve University four times and was given an honorary doctorate and the Distinguished Alumni Award by Calvin University. In 2010, Dr. Svechs was presented with the Cross of Recognition by the Latvian embassy. This prestigious civilian honor with hundreds of years of history was granted in recognition of her important contributions to Latvian education, particularly in working with the country’s Academy of Culture to introduce courses on social ethics and child and adult psychopathology after the end of a regime that had forbidden those subjects from being taught.
Beyond her academic work, Dr. Svechs enjoys classical music and reading poetry. Though she has retired from teaching full-time, she remains devoted to supporting the evolving understanding of government systems and democracy in the classroom. In the future, Dr. Svechs hopes to continue advocating for democracy development. She firmly believes that learning the theory behind democracy has the power to impact people’s lives.
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