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 […]
Annual Report 2022: Celebrating 105 years as an uncommon community cornerstone
The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work marked its 105th year in social work education in 2022, celebrating its history and the unlimited opportunities the future holds. The school’s Annual Report for the 2021-22 academic year highlights uncommon and exceptional students, faculty, alumni and community partners. Among those highlights: Art of Black motherhood Assistant […]
December M.S.W. graduate Brittany Watson finds her path as a doula
Brittany Watson will graduate Dec. 10 with her Master of Social Work degree, having focused on the clinical concentration through the M.S.W. Program online format. Her plans are to expand her birth doula business to offer more services to expecting parents and newborns. It’s the culmination of a career change after she earned two B.S. […]
Congratulations to 2022 VCU Alumni Stars Kimsey, Yeatts
Disrupted by COVID, the VCU Alumni Stars celebration skipped a year, but the wait was worth it for two School of Social Work graduates. The recently biennial recognition returned for the first time since 2019, and Karen Elizabeth Kimsey (M.S.W.’96/SW; Cert.’96/HP) and Emily Yeatts (B.A.’09/WS; B.A.’09/WS; Cert.’09/WS; M.S.W.’12/SW; M.P.H.’12/M; Cert.’12/GPA) were both honored Sept. 29 […]
Celebrating 105 years by serving our communities, starting Oct. 27
As the VCU School of Social Work recognizes our 105th anniversary this October, we are celebrating through 105 Moments of Service to the local communities we hold dear. Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, we’ll be providing opportunities for community service, and encouraging all members of our school family to join with us, or to engage […]
Panel discussion: A social work lens on the political landscape of election season
The VCU School of Social Work, with support from the C. Bernard Scotch Fund, presented Social Work, Policy and Politics: The Landscape Ahead of November, a panel discussion on Oct. 13. Social work plays a key role in the political process, promoting voter participation and meaningful engagement to advocate for and with populations that face […]
Statement on ASWB licensure pass rate data
Dear social work community, We are writing following the release of Social Work licensure pass rate findings from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). We have been actively listening, reading and processing the impact of these findings on our profession, and engaging in thoughtful dialogue about how to best support our graduates and students […]
2 VCU alumni added to state Board of Social Work
Two VCU School of Social Work alumni have recently been appointed to the state Board of Social Work under the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Denise Purgold (M.S.W.’97/SW), LCSW, and Sherwood Randolph Jr. (B.S.W.’08/SW; M.S.W.’10/SW), LCSW, M.Div., BC-TMH, join the nine-person board, which has regulatory responsibilities for the profession, including licensure and licensure supervision. They […]
Social work field director Shenita Williams sweeps dissertation honors
Shenita Williams, Ph.D., not only became the new director of field education at the VCU School of Social Work this summer, she also has swept two honors for her dissertation as a doctoral student in the VCU School of Education. Dr. Williams, who joined the School of Social Work in the spring and became field […]
Social work alum elevates brunch to a networking concept connecting thousands
VCU School of Social Work alum Melissa Mason (B.S.W.’15/SW; B.S.’15/H&S) is putting her VCU degrees to work in a nontraditional way, partnering with childhood friend Lillian Jackson to create a digital platform to help women of color connect and build relationships over brunch. Brown Skin Brunchin’ was born of necessity when Jackson moved to Las […]