Oral History Interview, Diane Kravetz (1488)

Abstract

Diane Kravetz was born in 1944 in Chicago, Illinois and was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She grew up in a conservative, Jewish home with a very traditional family upbringing..After graduating University of Maryland with a BA, Kravetz attended University of Michigan where she received a Master of Social Work and a PhD in Social Work and Social Psychology. In 1970, Kravetz accepted a position at University of Wisconsin as an assistant professor. Over the next 37 years as a faculty member of the University of Wisconsin, Kravetz took part in many roles around campus. Kravetz was the first elected Chair of UW’s Women’s Studies Program, Chair of the Social Sciences Divisional Committee, Chair of the University Committee and Director of the School of Social Work. Her teaching and research focused on women’s issues in social work and in the field of mental health. She also conducted research on aspects of the feminist movement including feminist service agencies. Kravetz made a profound impact on the creation of curriculum in the beginnings of the Women’s Studies Program. Overall, Kravetz established major contributions at the University of Wisconsin in the fields of Social Work and Women’s Studies often times bringing the two disciplines together.