Konopka, Gisela

Social worker, educator; interviewee married Erhardt Paul Konopka.

From the description of Reminiscences of Gisela Pieper Konopka : oral history, 1980. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 86158301

Educator, social worker, author. University of Minnesota School of Social Work and Center for Youth Development, 1947-1978.

From the description of Gisela Konopka records, 1945-1994. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62688201

Gisela Konopka, Staatsexamen degree, University of Hamburg (1933); Master in Social Service Administration, University of Pittsburgh (1943); Doctor of Social Welfare, Columbia University (1957). Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor (1947-1978); Coordinator, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (1968-1970); Special Assistant, Vice President of Student Affairs (1969-1972); Director, Center for Youth Development and Research (1970-1978); Professor Emeritus of Social Work and Director Emeritus of Center for Youth Development and Research (1978-2003) at the University of Minnesota. Psychiatric Group Worker, Pittsburgh Child Guidance Clinic; Clinical Field Instructor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh; Lecturer, School of Social Work, Carnegie Institute of Technology (1943-1947).

Gisela Konopka was born in Berlin, Germany, February 11, 1910. She earned the Staatsexamen (degree) in Education, History, Philosophy, and Psychology from the University of Hamburg in 1933. She served in resistance movements in Germany and immigrated to Austria in 1937, where she studied nursery school and kindergarten work. In 1938, Dr. Konopka settled in France following the invasion of Austria and then immigrated to the United States in 1941. She earned a Master in Social Service Administration with a specialization in social group work from the University of Pittsburgh (1943) and a Doctor of Social Welfare from Columbia University (1957).

After positions in child guidance and social work, Dr. Konopka was appointed Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Minnesota in 1947. She was promoted through the academic ranks to become a full Professor in 1956. Her career at the University of Minnesota included administrative positions as Coordinator for the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs and Special Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

In 1970, Dr. Konopka was named Director of the newly created Center for Youth Development and Research, which sought “to bring together knowledge and skills from various disciplines, professions, and experiences to better understand and work with youth.” She continued in her role as Director of the Center and as Professor of Social Work until her retirement from the University in 1978, when she was named Professor Emeritus and Director emeritus. Following retirement, she continued her work through the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health.

She was a world-renowned researcher, teacher, and advocate known as a moving force behind innovative methods of practice and research in social work and youth services. Dr. Konopka was a sought-after speaker and consultant to numerous national and international youth development and social service organizations. The many honors she received included the first Distinguished Alumnus Award from the School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh (1968); Highest Meritorious Medal given by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany in recognition of her work on behalf of rebuilding German social services after World War II (1975); University of Minnesota School of Social Work Alumni Association Social Worker of the Year Award (1977); A.A. Heckman Community Services Lecture Award (1986); “Gisela Konopka Day” proclaimed by the Governor of the State of Minnesota (May 24, 1990); and Certificate of Outstanding Merit from the University of Minnesota Board of Regents on the occasion of her 90th birthday for her distinguished service to the University (2000).

Gisela Konopka died December 9, 2003, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

From the guide to the Gisela Konopka papers, 1929-1998, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])