Award-winning student artwork celebrates radical hope, resistance for Social Work Month
Two VCU School of Social Work B.S.W. students were honored for artwork they created for a competition to celebrate Social Work Month in March with the theme of Art as Radical Hope and Resistance. The winners, Jae Lange and CaL Luck, received prizes in acknowledgment of their time and creative efforts for this project. The […]
A ‘Shakespearean sprite’ and a ‘giant’: Remembering the lives of Jane Reeves, Marilyn Biggerstaff
They both came east, to Richmond and VCU, in the 1970s. They overlapped at the School of Social Work for approximately 23 years. In their final years, they both resided at the Cedarfield Retirement Community in Richmond. And when they passed away earlier this year, only 29 days separated the deaths of Jane Reeves and […]
Alum’s book spotlights workplace attunement; new textbooks focus on anti-racist research, school social work practice
VCU School of Social Work alum Nidhi Tewari learned a deeply personal – and disappointing – lesson about workplace culture, used it to develop a philosophy of care and fine-tuned her message speaking in front of Fortune 500 companies. This month, the culmination of her knowledge is being published in the book “Working Well: How […]
Social Work, Policy and Politics: Practicing in polarized times
The VCU School of Social Work’s annual macro-focused event, Social Work, Policy and Politics returns March 19, 2026, with an alumni panel focused on the “Big P” of policy – federal, state, and local – and how it intersects with clinical practice, advocacy and the values that unite us. Watch an archived video of our […]
Quarterly faculty research and service news: November 2025
The VCU School of Social Work is proud to recognize the following accomplishments from our faculty and staff through November 2025. Honors Kyeongmo Kim, Ph.D., associate professor, has been named a 2025 fellow by the Gerontological Society of America, in the Social Research, Policy and Practice Section. Research awards Yifan Lou, Ph.D., assistant professor, has […]
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 […]
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 […]
‘Massey saved my life’: Meet alum – and cancer survivor – Melissa Weaver
VCU School of Social Work alum Melissa Weaver (B.S.W.’99; M.S.W.’06) is supporting the institution that helped save her life. The Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center provided treatment when Weaver was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She tells Richmond TV station WTVR that she underwent a double mastectomy, 16 chemotherapy treatments and 35 radiation sessions. “The […]