Social work’s McGinnis finds outlet for ‘Rage’ in verse
The fatal shootings in Monterey Park, California, in January – less than two weeks after a 6-year-old Newport News elementary school student shot their teacher – felt personal to VCU School of Social Work Assistant Professor Hollee McGinnis, Ph.D. Dr. McGinnis was celebrating the Lunar New Year when she learned of the shootings in California, […]
Panel discussion ‘Where Do I Belong? Black Faces Navigating White Spaces’
The VCU School of Social Work’s Office of Student Success was pleased to present a panel discussion with the Brothas in Social Work Collective on Feb. 15: “Where Do I Belong? Black Faces Navigating White Spaces.” The session is available on YouTube. Please check it out to get the perspectives of panelists James Bell III, D.S.W.; Christopher Scott, M.S.W., CSWA; and VCU […]
Grand Challenges for Social Work selects Ph.D. student Kemmerer for 1 of 13 national awards
VCU School of Social Work Ph.D. student Aaron Kemmerer, M.S.W., got emotional when he learned he had won a highly competitive national award on a subject that is deeply personal. “When I got the news, I cried,” says Kemmerer, who was selected for one of 13 national Grand Challenges for Social Work doctoral dissertation/capstone project […]
Social work associate professor Gattis’ fashion line mixes business with creativity
A business partnership formed after a chance meeting with a couple in Ghana, and now Maurice Gattis, Ph.D., associate professor at the VCU School of Social Work, has a fashion line called Fort Mosé 1738 that carries a line of contemporary West African fashions. Fort Mosé 1738 refers to the first free Black community in […]
NASW statement on ASWB licensing exam
Dear VCU School of Social Work community, If you have not already reviewed it, I want to draw your attention to the NASW news release from Feb 3, 2023. This news release outlines NASW’s stance on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing exam and the Social Work Interstate Compact Legislation. I would also […]
Ph.D. student Kemmerer wins doctoral fellowship from Grand Challenges for Social Work
The Grand Challenges for Social Work has selected VCU School of Social Work Ph.D. student and alum Aaron Kemmerer (B.A.’12/CHS; M.S.W.’20/SW) as one of 13 social work doctoral students to earn a national fellowship. Kemmerer’s research falls under the “end homelessness” category, one of 13 Grand Challenges subject areas supported by the GCSW, which champions […]
Meet the 2022-23 social work Ph.D. cohort
The VCU School of Social Work’s Ph.D. Program welcomed five new students for the Fall 2022 cohort. They are Victoria Cashio, M.S.W., LCSW, BCD Jeffrey Ciak, M.S.W. Katie Kim, M.S.W., LMSW Reem Shawkat, M.A. Ya-Li Yang, M.S.W. Why did you choose VCU School of Social Work for your Ph.D.? Victoria: As a military student, there […]
Statement, resources in advance of Tyre Nichols-Memphis video release
Dear SSW community, Dr. Aaron J. Hart, VCU vice president for student affairs, has outlined resources (below) to our community during this time as we await the release of video around the death of Tyre Nichols. I ask that as you process your feelings that you reach out for support. Be sensitive and mindful to […]
Tips to go dry in January and beyond, or to indulge safely
Though we are already a few days into 2023, many are still working to shore up New Year’s resolutions and healthier lifestyles in general. One popular idea is to practice Dry January, “a time when people take a break from drinking and examine their relationship with alcohol,” as described by the director of the National […]
Social work faculty, students, alumni presenting at SSWR 2023
Nearly 50 VCU School of Social Work faculty, students and alumni have had presentations accepted or are serving in other roles such as moderating special interest groups or roundtables at the Society for Social Work and Research 2023 conference in Phoenix, Jan. 11-15, 2023. In total, there are 63 presentations or sessions involving someone with […]