Reflections on the Legacy of Yeheskel (Zeke) Hasenfeld

Yeheskel “Zeke” Hasenfeld passed away on February 25, 2019 from cancer. A winner of SSWR's Distinguished Career Achievement Award and Fellow in the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, Zeke's contributions to the field of social work and the study of human service organizations, in particular, are immeasurable.

This roundtable provides an opportunity for SSWR members to pay tribute to Zeke, reflect on his many contributions to the field, and consider how his example can serve to advance the rigor and impact of social work scholarship and elevate the training of students. Zeke cared deeply about people and about ideas, and he invested heavily in both through his teaching, mentorship, scholarly pursuits, collegial relationships, and social activism. He left an extraordinary legacy and will be sorely missed.

Zeke was an intellectual force. He was a brilliant thinker, a prolific scholar, and a gifted communicator and teacher. Underlying his work was a deep commitment to civil rights and economic justice and the fair, humane, and respectful treatment of individuals seeking social services and public benefits. In addition to his profound influence in social work, his impact extends to related fields such as public administration, nonprofit management, public policy, sociology and political science. Zeke's scholarly contributions have led to major advancements in the study of organizations and welfare policies. His name is synonymous with the study of human service organizations. Indeed, his pioneering work – first published as an article on “people processing organizations” in the American Sociological Review (1972) – spawned an entire field of study. His contributions have shaped our understanding of the behavior of social service agencies and workers, and the experiences of social service clients. His trenchant analysis of the moral basis and symbolic functions of welfare policy, and the distinctly organizational lens he brought to this work, have made unique and enduring contributions to knowledge. And his work extends to international contexts, including the study of social movement organizations.

Format. The invited participants will deliver brief prepared remarks to open the roundtable. The invited participants include former students and colleagues from across his career. Speakers will focus their remarks on unique aspects of Zeke's contributions and his influence on their scholarship and careers. Reflections will be limited to 5 minutes each to allow time for an interactive discussion of Zeke's legacy, the impact he has had on so many individuals and the field as a whole, and the lessons that are revealed from reflection on his career and his life.

Audience: We envision the roundtable to attract a wide audience of doctoral students, early career, mid-career, and senior scholars. Many of us know Zeke as a close friend, mentor, and colleague. Others did not have the good fortune to know Zeke personally, but have been influenced deeply by his tremendous scholarly contributions. In both cases, the roundtable will provide a venue for reflection, celebration, and community.