Richard Boettcher

Richard E. Boettcher, PhD
Professor Emeritus

boettcher.1@osu.edu

Education
PhD - University of Minnesota
MSW - Washington University in St Louis
BA - Augustana College

Teaching Interests
Problem solving theory and practice
Management of Human Service Organizations
Organizational Theory and Behavior
Ethics

Recent Publications
Journal of Community Practice, 16, 2, 2008. "An Evaluation of a Community Collaboration Approach to Psychosocial Rehabilitation." 

ACOSA Update, Vol 21(3), Spring/Summer 2008. "Who Should Mind the Store?" 
Psychosocial Rehabilitation  

Biographical Information
Professor Richard E. Boettcher has been a member of the faculty of the Ohio State University College of Social Work since 1983. He was appointed Dean of the College in 1983 and served two terms in that capacity until 1993 when he returned to full-time teaching, research and service in the College. Dr. Boettcher graduated Magna Cum Laude, from Augustana College (South Dakota) in 1957 and earned the MSW with Honors in Research from Washington University in St. Louis in 1959. He practiced social work in the U.S. Army for three years as Director of Operations and Supervisory Therapist for a the Mental Health Service, APG, Maryland. In 1962 he became Director of Lutheran Social Services in Sioux City, Iowa where he practiced child welfare social work for four years. He joined the faculty of Sociology and Social Work at the University of South Dakota as an Assistant Professor in 1966 and in 1968 he commenced full-time study for the Ph.D. in Social Work at the University of Minnesota, which he received in 1970 with Special Honors from the Faculty in Sociology, his minor field of study. In 1969 Dr. Boettcher was appointed Associate Professor at Western Michigan University where he assisted in the development of a new School of Social Work. In addition to teaching and research he served WMU at various times as Director of Admissions, Director of Research and Chair of Clinical Practice and was promoted to Professor with tenure in 1972. In 1976 he became Professor and Director of the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri where he remained until his appointment to Ohio State University as Professor and Dean in 1983. During Dr. Boettcher’s tenure as Dean, the Ohio State University College of Social Work realized a number of significant benchmarks which were attributed to Dr. Boettcher’s leadership by the OSU Provost. These accomplishments, noted by the Provost, included: An increase in College enrollment from 460 to 710 students; the development of MSW advanced standing and part-time program options; acquisition of over one million dollars in external training and research grants; an 85% increase in the College endowment funds; the opening of two branch MSW programs on the Lima and Mansfield OSU campuses; the initiation of an Honors Option and selective admissions for the BSSW program. Faculty publications in referred journals reached the status of second in the country among all schools of social work and the College was rated 11th in the country by the Gorman Rating Service during Dr. Boettcher’s tenure as Dean. In addition, during Dr. Boettcher’s Deanship, the College’s faculty affirmative action goals were met such that the percentage of female regular tenure-track faculty moved from 20% to over 50% and minority faculty from 10% to over 25%. Dr. Boettcher led the College through two successful accreditations, and he secured $5.5 million for a new 20,000 square foot addition to Stillman Hall, which was completed in 2000. Also during his tenure as Dean, Dr. Boettcher conceptualized and initiated two College events which have enjoyed continuous popularity since their inception in the 1980’s: The O’Leary Lecture Series and the National Symposium on Doctoral Research in Social Work. Dr. Boettcher has served on a number of professional and community boards including the Accreditation Commission of the Council on Social Work Education, The Board of Directors of Ohio National Association of Social Workers, The Epilepsy Foundation of Central Ohio Board, Youth Advocate Services Board, The Columbus International Program Board, Southside Learning and Development Center Board, and The Board of Directors of the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration, among others. Upon returning to the faculty in 1993, Dr. Boettcher resumed teaching in the area of social administration. He designed and developed two popular new courses for the College namely, “Resource Acquisition for Human Service Organizations,” and “Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work Practice.”