2025 Council on Social Work Education conference presentations
As the Council on Social Work Education‘s 70th Annual Program Meeting opens in Denver on Oct. 23, 2025, the VCU School of Social Work is proud to recognize our faculty and student scholars who are presenting or participating. Friday, Oct. 24 Building knowledge, building connections: How Child Welfare Addiction Fellows are changing practice and outcomes 12:30-1 […]
Gina Chowa, UNC scholar, will speak on advancing global social development
The VCU School of Social Work welcomes Gina Chowa, Ph.D., M.S.W., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a presentation Friday, Oct. 10, titled “Advancing Global Social Development: Youth, Gender, and Community-Engaged Research Across Contexts.” The session will be in-person at the Academic Learning Commons 3100 from noon-1:30 p.m. ET. Please RSVP […]
‘Steadfast advocate’: Alex Wagaman wins one of VCU’s inaugural awards for community excellence
Praised as someone who “creates safe spaces where people can learn and grow” and as a “steadfast advocate with a gentle presence,” Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., was honored with one of VCU’s inaugural Excellence in Community Engagement Awards in May 2025. Wagaman, an associate professor in the School of Social Work, received her award in the […]
Office of Field Education names 2025 community award winners
The VCU School of Social Work is pleased to announce the six recipients of its 2025 Office of Field Education Community Partner Awards. The keynote speaker was Lenise Mazyck, M.S.W., LCSW, whose topic was “Grow Your Own Way: My Journey Through Burnout and Transformative Growth.” Outstanding New Field Instructor Award Alum Kim Close-Jensen (M.S.W.’97), social […]
From service to research: Student-led volunteerism turns into presentation at national social work conference
VCU’s Bachelor of Social Work Student Association led a yearlong community service initiative that earned three of its student officers a trip to Las Vegas for a national conference in the spring semester. Seniors Joey Kniceley and Julia Stodard, who graduated with their B.S.W. degrees in May, and junior Autumn Matusiak participated in the Association […]
Ph.D. student Lisa Borntrager’s 1st-place award highlights 12 social work students’ research presentations
First-year Ph.D. student Lisa Borntrager‘s poster presentation was awarded first place in the Social Sciences, Business and Education category of VCU’s Graduate Research Symposium in April – one of 12 VCU School of Social Work students who participated in student research events across two days. Borntrager’s presentation was titled “Does Trauma Type Matter When Evaluating […]
Honoring student excellence for 2024-25
The VCU School of Social Work is pleased to recognize the academic and service excellence of 90 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Honors include VCU and School of Social Work annual awards, SSW scholarships and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductees; 17 students received multiple honors or recognition. VCU awards Black History in the Making […]
Quarterly faculty research and service news: April 2025
The VCU School of Social Work is proud to recognize the following accomplishments from our faculty through April 2025. Research Awards & Proposals Daniel Baslock, Ph.D., assistant professor, has submitted two grant applications: Nicole Corley, Ph.D., associate professor, received a VCU Global Learning Program Development Award to support a virtual exchange program this spring between […]
Social Work, Policy and Politics: Transformative policymaking
The VCU School of Social Work held its annual event, Social Work, Policy and Politics, on March 27, 2025, featuring an all-alumni panel and moderator to break down how macro, mezzo and micro social work can intertwine to promote imagination that shapes local policies and promotes community healing. This year’s subject was Futuring for Transformative […]
Getting to know new social work faculty for 2024-25
The VCU School of Social Work has five faculty who started their first full academic year with the school in fall semester. They include three tenure-track faculty with a focus on research and two teaching faculty who are also school alumni. Daniel Baslock, Ph.D. Assistant professor Position before joining VCUSSWI was a Ph.D. student at […]