‘Wild stories, red lipstick and high heels’: Remembering Florence “Flossie” Segal
Florence Z. “Flossie” Segal was a fixture at the VCU School of Social Work from 1968 to 1990, bringing color and light everywhere she went – often in her bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle convertible. She loved jazz and fresh flowers from her garden. She and her husband, Jake, hosted pool parties, holiday celebrations and even wedding receptions […]
Gary Cuddeback named VCU School of Social Work dean
Gary S. Cuddeback, Ph.D., has been named dean of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Social Work, effective Oct. 28, 2024. Cuddeback, who has served as interim dean since July 2023, was named following a national search. “I’m honored by this appointment as I believe there has never been a better time to be part of VCU’s School […]
Katelynn Jarrells, Viola Vaughan-Eden win prestigious alumni honors
VCU School of Social Work alumni Katelynn Jarrells (B.S.W.’16, M.S.W’17) and Viola Vaughan-Eden (Ph.D.’03) have earned prestigious honors this fall from VCU’s Office of Alumni Relations. Jarrells, the program head and associate professor of human services and mental health at Brightpoint Community College, in September was named one of VCU’s 10 Under 10 award honorees […]
2024 Council on Social Work Education conference presentations
As the Council on Social Work Education‘s 70th Annual Program Meeting opens in Kansas City on Oct. 24, 2024, the VCU School of Social Work is proud to recognize our faculty, student scholars and social work alumni who are presenting or participating. CSWE Program Director Academy A special congratulations to two of our program directors who […]
How she found her research: Josselyn Valenzuela
Josselyn Valenzuela began working on a School of Nursing-based project, the Mindful Moms Study, as a B.S.W. student and has continued after graduating in May 2024 and enrolling in the School of Social Work’s M.S.W. Program. Mindful Moms examines mental health – particularly depression – and well-being during pregnancy for both Spanish- and English-speaking participants. The team […]
Spit for Science is a growing data registry for researchers
Led by the School of Social Work’s Karen G. Chartier, Ph.D., associate professor, VCU’s Spit for Science initiative is collecting data for the first time since 2021 – one test tube (of spit) at a time. Spit for Science is the nation’s largest genetic and environmental study of college students with more than 13,000 students […]
Meet M.S.W. student Sha’Dyamond Bond
Sha’Dyamond Bond‘s grandparents were foster parents who adopted children, motivating her interest in becoming a social worker. “Now I’m on the outside looking in and helping others, too,” she says. Sha’Dyamond is participating in the Child Welfare Stipend Program at VCU, and her first field placement is at C2Adopt in Henrico. “It’s going very well. […]
Marsha and Marian’s Neighbors: Youth shared-housing program could be national model
Using “radical imagination,” VCU School of Social Work faculty Maurice Gattis, Ph.D., and M. Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., and their collaborators have developed a youth shared-housing model in Richmond unlike any in the country. “There are just so few evidence-informed, co-designed interventions for this population,” says Dr. Wagaman, who is now serving a one-year term as special advisor […]
Office of Field Education names 2024 community award winners
The VCU School of Social Work is pleased to announce the six recipients of its 2024 Office of Field Education Community Partner Awards. Outstanding New Field Instructor Award Alum Chaniqua Jones (M.S.W.’19), Richmond Behavioral Health Criteria: A field instructor new to the role (within one to two years) this academic year who should be recognized for […]
Alex Wagaman, associate professor, working at federal level to end youth homelessness
Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Social Work, began a one-year contract in May as a special advisor with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. To complement the council’s federal strategic plan, All In, which launched in December 2022, Wagaman will be leading the creation of a population-specific plan for youth homelessness. A key […]