Norma Thomas Email & Phone Number

Dr. Thomas received her BA in social work from Penn. State University, MSW from Temple University, and her DSW from the University of Pennsylvania. She was the MSW Program Director at the California University of Pennsylvania from 2007 to her retirement in 2017. She was promoted to full professor in 2014. From 1994-2004 she worked for the Widener University Center for Social Work Education achieving tenure as an Associate Professor, holding positions as Assistant Director and Baccalaureate Program Director. She worked from 1975-1984 for Delaware County Office on Services for the Aging and from 1984-1992 for Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. She was the co-founder and President of the Center on Ethnic & Minority Aging, Inc., Philadelphia, PA from 1995-2008 and is currently an online instructor for the Center for Social Work Education, at Widener University. She is the recipient of many community service awards including most recently 2021, Outstanding Fellow, Pennsylvania State University-Fayette County Campus, the 2016 Dr. Caryl Sheffield Award for Excellence, California University of Pa. and the 2015 Spirit of CARIE Award-Philadelphia, Pa., She currently serves on the Board for the East End United Community Center, Uniontown, Pa., is on the Advisory Board for Penn. State University-Eberly Campus Fayette County, Pa., and GrayHawk Health, Philadelphia, Pa. region, the Board of Aging Well, Harrisburg, Pa., Treasurer of the U. S. Board of Daraja Academy, based in Nanyuki, Kenya, Vice President of the Board for the Thomas Family Cemetery, Hopwood, Pa., member of the Thomas Family Reunion Committee, member of the National Association of Social Workers and the National Association of Parliamentarians-Pa. Chapter, Vice President of the California Univ. Chapter of the Assoc. of Pa. State College and University Retired Faculties and the National Association of Black Social Workers, a member of the American Society on Aging and Co-founder of Story Joy, Inc. She is a licensed clinical social worker in the State of Pennsylvania (LCSW) and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). She is also the co-founder of StoryJoy and co-host of a weekly podcast called Generational Archives.