Lifesavers: Naloxone training for opioid overdoses continues social work focus on addiction and substance use
Building on previous learning and training opportunities around addiction and substance use, the VCU School of Social Work, the Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health (IRBEH) and Rams in Recovery recently provided a targeted session on how to use a lifesaving medical treatment for opioid overdoses. Nearly 20 social work students and staff […]
From understanding policy process to building community-organizing skills, social work students take the macro plunge
VCU students interested in learning about macro social work practice are getting deep-dive opportunities throughout the 2026-27 academic year. Kimberly Compton, Ph.D., associate professor and director of Macro Initiatives at the VCU School of Social Work, is leading programming, along with M. Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., professor. One series, The Policy Experience: An Immersive Journey from […]
Globetrotting with the School of Social Work: South Africa to Spain, Ghana to South Korea
More than 50 VCU students participated in four School of Social Work-led spring break and summer study abroad trips in 2026. The study abroad programs are: The experience is transformational for students, including one who participated in the spring break program in Spain: “Overall, the study abroad experience totally reshaped my perspective on aging. I […]
#Fulbright: Ph.D. student Aya Caballero’s research journey mixes Jamaican roots, Instagram influence
Aya Caballero’s path to a Fulbright award looked more like an intersection – of her Jamaican roots, her researcher’s eye for recognizing gaps in data and the most 21st century of interactions: an Instagram-driven connection. Caballero, a third-year Ph.D. student at the VCU School of Social Work, will collaborate with researchers at the University of […]
Honoring student excellence for 2025-26
The VCU School of Social Work is pleased to recognize the academic and service excellence of 51 students and one faculty member for the 2025-2026 academic year. Honors include VCU and School of Social Work annual awards, SSW scholarships and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductees; seven students received multiple honors or recognition. Following the ceremony, […]
7 social work students’ research accepted for VCU’s Graduate Research Symposium
Seven graduate students from the VCU School of Social Work had their work accepted for the university’s 29th annual Graduate Research Symposium on April 22. Six of them – two Ph.D. students and four master’s students – are scheduled to present throughout the day. Emma Adcook, M.S.W. student Presentation: Adapting Acuity Scales for Community Partners: […]
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 […]
Research near and far: B.S.W. students presenting at national conferences in Richmond, New Orleans
Seven VCU School of Social Work undergraduate students are honing their research skills this spring. Two students, Nic Stumpo and Regina Marquez, will present as the National Conference on Undergraduate Research comes to Richmond on April 13-15. Stumpo and five other B.S.W. students presented in February at the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors’ […]
Social work faculty and students presenting at SSWR 2026
Seventeen faculty and 11 doctoral students or candidates from the VCU School of Social Work are presenting or having their work presented at the annual Society for Social Work and Research conference in Washington, D.C., Jan. 14-18, 2026. Jamie Cage, Ph.D., associate professor, is the organizer for a symposium on child welfare Friday, Jan. 16, […]
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 […]