Ph.D. student Samuel Ochinang’s finds spot at intersection of military service, social work
VCU School of Social Work Ph.D. student Samuel Ochinang grew up in a military family and has found his calling at the intersection of social work and serving as an active-duty Army major with the Medical Service Corps. “My journey in the Ph.D. program, along with my position, will improve my technical and managerial skills […]
Meet Jae Lange: ‘So proud to be fighting alongside my team and my community, fighting to end homelessness’
Jae Lange says they were a social worker long before a job or degree made it official. “I was born one, and I will die one,” says Jae, a first-generation student in the B.S.W. Program who also is a direct service specialist for a grant-funded project administered by the School of Social Work. Marsha and […]
Frank Baskind leaving strong social work legacy after 32 years at VCU
Frank Baskind, Ph.D., followed two legends as dean of the VCU School of Social Work in 1991. Three decades later, his legacy shows he was every bit the powerhouse that Elaine Z. Rothenberg and Grace E. Harris were. Baskind will retire this summer as professor and dean emeritus in the School of Social Work, a […]
Cultural Achievement Ceremonies are full of social work vibes in 2024
The VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs’ six Cultural Achievement Ceremonies each spring are celebrations of students’ hard work on their journey to graduation and an affirmation of their cultural identities. And this year, there were strong social work vibes with four of the events, as five School of Social Work M.S.W. students and one […]
Tales of 2024 social work graduates
VCU School of Social Work’s Class of 2024 featured a diverse mix of graduates and areas of interest. Here are highlights from a few of our newest alumni: Child welfare advocate Angela-Marie Rone earns a second social work degree Growing up in Yorktown, Virginia, she became interested in child welfare based on the experiences of friends who […]
Honoring student excellence for 2023-24
The VCU School of Social Work is pleased to recognize the academic and service excellence of more than 100 students for the 2023-2024 academic year. Honors include participation of students who were recognized for their pursuit as applicants for prestigious scholarships and fellowships through VCU’s National Scholarship Office; VCU and School of Social Work annual […]
Naomi Reddish, Amanda Long presenting at national conference on systems transformation
The VCU School of Social Work’s Naomi Reddish, M.S.W. , and Amanda Long, M.S.W., are presenting at the 2024 National Title IV-E Roundtable (conference) in Burlington, Vermont. The National IV-E Roundtable for Child Welfare Training and Education is an annual gathering of representatives from public and tribal child welfare agencies and their university partners. Reddish […]
B.S.W. student Austin Ezzard wins VCU’s signature award for cross-cultural relations
B.S.W. student Austin Ezzard is one of two student winners of the Tristen Sloane Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment, announced in April as part of VCU’s Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME). Along with Ezzard, other winners are: Ezzard is a graduating senior who received a number of awards during the 2022-2023 year, and […]
Research Weeks 2024 presentations: Social work student researchers and faculty mentors
Five VCU School of Social Work graduate students, two undergraduates and four faculty mentors are part of nine research presentations sponsored by the university as part of Research Weeks 2024. Graduate Research Symposium 9-11:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, April 24Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballrooms Assessing the Impact of Race, Ethnicity and English-Speaking Status on Traffic Stop Outcomes […]
Kia J. Bentley burnishes legacy with new textbook edition, FSU alumni award
Even in retirement, Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., is continuing to build on her 35-year career as a social work educator, one that culminated in her being named the VCU School of Social Work’s first Distinguished Career Professor by VCU’s Provost in 2022. This past fall, the fifth edition of Dr. Bentley’s textbook, The Social Worker […]