[{"id":5445,"date":"2026-04-15T13:47:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5445"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:00:15","slug":"a-shakespearean-sprite-and-a-giant-remembering-the-lives-of-jane-reeves-marilyn-biggerstaff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2026\/04\/15\/a-shakespearean-sprite-and-a-giant-remembering-the-lives-of-jane-reeves-marilyn-biggerstaff\/","title":{"rendered":"A \u2018Shakespearean sprite\u2019 and a \u2018giant\u2019: Remembering the lives of Jane Reeves, Marilyn Biggerstaff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when they passed away earlier this year, only 29 days separated the deaths of <strong>Jane Reeves<\/strong> and <strong>Marilyn Biggerstaff<\/strong>, whose tenures at the School of Social Work touched four different decades and represented a combined 51 years of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jane, the longtime B.S.W. Program director who worked at the school from 1978-2001, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legacy.com\/us\/obituaries\/timesdispatch\/name\/jane-reeves-obituary?id=60590495\">passed away Jan. 6<\/a>. Marilyn, who served from 1977-2005 and retired as a full professor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiacremate.com\/obituaries\/richmond-va\/marilyn-biggerstaff-12738746\">passed away Feb. 4<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"596\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Ladies-Aid-Society-2025-1024x596.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Ladies-Aid-Society-2025-1024x596.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Ladies-Aid-Society-2025-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Ladies-Aid-Society-2025-768x447.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Ladies-Aid-Society-2025-1536x895.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Ladies-Aid-Society-2025-2048x1193.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>The &#8220;Ladies Aid Society&#8221;: From left, standing, Mary Secret, Mary Katherine O\u2019Connor, Marcia Harrigan, F. Ellen Netting, Elizabeth Cramer, Ann Nichols-Casebolt, Marilyn Biggerstaff, Kia Bentley, Sarah Kye Price and Pam Kovacs. From left, seated, Randi Buerlein, Bev Koerin,&nbsp; Jaclyn Miller, Melissa Abell, Jane Reeves and Amy Rosenbloom.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The two were members of \u201cThe Beach Group\u201d and the \u201cLadies\u2019 Aid Society,\u201d made up of former women faculty from the school who regularly traveled to the Outer Banks and who, closer to home, celebrated each other\u2019s promotions, retirements and birthdays.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJane and Marilyn\u2019s passing reminds us that our school has been shaped by many remarkable individuals who came before us,\u201d says <strong>Humberto Fabelo<\/strong>, Ph.D., associate professor, who joined the School of Social Work in 1995. \u201cWhile it is always difficult to say goodbye, their lives invite us to pause and reflect with gratitude on how profoundly their contributions \u2013 and those of so many others over the school\u2019s 109-year history \u2013 have brought us to where we are today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs current stewards of this community, we carry both the privilege and the responsibility of honoring Jane\u2019s and Marilyn&#8217;s legacy. It is now our role to build upon their foundation, to care for and strengthen the school, and ultimately to pass it on to the next generation in as strong \u2013 or stronger \u2013 a condition than we received it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Jane-Reeves-far-right.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Jane-Reeves-far-right.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Jane-Reeves-far-right-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Jane Reeves, far right, with Bev Koerin, left, and Humberto Fabelo, second from left. <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Jane earned her M.S.W. from Simmons College in Boston and moved to Virginia from Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1972 with her husband, Bill, and their children. She handled field placements for B.S.W. students before becoming the program\u2019s director.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOn a personal level, both of these women were impactful in my own journey as an academic and especially as the B.S.W. Program director who followed in Jane&#8217;s shoes \u2026 she left such big shoes to fill I was never sure I&#8217;d measure up,\u201d Fabelo says. \u201cJane was always a source of encouragement and celebrated all the accomplishments of the B.S.W. Program and especially our wonderful students, who were an inspiration to her and many others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Marilyn-Biggerstaff-group-photo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Marilyn-Biggerstaff-group-photo.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Marilyn-Biggerstaff-group-photo-300x211.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Marilyn Biggerstaff, center, with colleagues.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Biggerstaff, a faculty emeritus with the school, earned her D.S.W. at the University of Southern California and moved to Richmond to start her career at VCU. She taught in both the M.S.W. and Ph.D. programs, served in leadership with national social work education organizations and was involved in international projects. In 2019, she made a gift to create the school\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2020\/11\/11\/essential-for-the-future-biggerstaffs-gifts-support-doctoral-research\/\">Dr. Marilyn A. Biggerstaff Fund for Doctoral Student Research<\/a>, an annual award that goes to a current Ph.D. student in the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some additional recollections from current members of the VCU community and former colleagues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kristin Hopkins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>M.S.W. admissions assistant and longtime SSW staff member<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJane was literally like a ray of sunshine \u2013 she exuded such positivity and had eyes that literally twinkled (sometimes in a mischievous way)! She would enter and leave the shared Student Services office with a flourish. Even if you had missed seeing her, she left an electricity in the room that could be felt \u2013 you just knew she had been there even if you didn&#8217;t see her. With her short hair and twinkling eyes, she always reminded me of a Shakespearean sprite \u2013 always up to something, but full of goodness \u2026 you could feel it brewing beneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMarilyn was someone who could talk to anyone and would always make you feel at ease in an instant. She had such a quiet strength about her \u2013 bold in nature but so gentle in spirit. And she was so funny \u2013 not in an over-the-top kind of way, but just in a matter of fact kind of way. She would often stop into the office, just to say hello and see how we were doing. She saw everyone as individuals and never saw any division between roles and titles, faculty and staff, etc. The one thing that sticks out the most is her love for her dogs \u2013 she would often tell us stories about her dogs. I&#8217;m 99% sure she had a couple of West Highland White Terriers. Marilyn was genuine warmth and kindness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bev Koerin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Faculty emeritus &amp; 1974 M.S.W. graduate<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have fond memories of going to the Outer Banks, N.C., with Jane, Marilyn and four other social work faculty friends for long weekends over 17 or so years. \u2026 I worked more closely with Jane as B.S.W. director and member of a university committee on undergraduate rules and regulations. She was a strong advocate for students in both of those roles. Jane and I co-authored a couple of articles about B.S.W. education and made presentations at two B.S.W. program directors&#8217; conferences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">F. Ellen Netting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Faculty emeritus<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAfter Marilyn retired, she joined a studio acrylic painting class with (former faculty member) Mary Katherine O\u2019Connor and me. The three of us donated about 50 paintings to The Span Center (formerly Senior Connections). As a resident of Cedarfield, she hit the ground running in getting involved in their community, acting with Radio Players, crafting beautiful fused-glass pieces, painting acrylic landscapes, pressing flowers, and volunteering in the gift shop. She volunteered at The Span Center in multiple ways, donating both time and money.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJane was the B.S.W. Program director when I arrived at the School in 1993. She was one of the most elegant and kind persons one could ever meet. Because I was doing B.S.W. advising, she was always available whenever I needed help. She, too, moved to Cedarfield and became a welcomed part of that community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sarah Kye Price<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Vocations minister for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia; former faculty member and associate dean&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI would like to share the joy that I had in sharing a connection with Jane Reeves, even though we didn\u2019t work together at the School of Social Work at the same time. She reached out to me during my own transition from the school and into full-time ministry as an Episcopal priest. Jane was married to an Episcopal priest and saw immediately the connections between the roles both for promoting healthy systems of care and providing for the biopsychosocial well-being of those with whom we are changed to care. It was lovely to feel \u2018seen\u2019\u201d by someone who could appreciate both roles. I value her connection with me through that shared understanding of vocation.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mary Riddick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Senior director of medical philanthropy and alumni relations, VCU; former SSW development director&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There is so much that could be said about Dr. Marilyn Biggerstaff, but it all comes down to this: She lived a life of profound intention. She loved fiercely, fought on the frontlines for those without a voice and remained unshakable in her commitments, no matter the cost. While I will cherish our talks, I will most of all remember the example of the life she lived.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">James Romanik<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Executive director of development, VCU College of Humanities &amp; Sciences; former SSW development director<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Dr. Marilyn Biggerstaff was a giant. As a social worker and leader, she was passionately committed to her community and those whom she served. She was a tireless advocate and always refocused efforts to center mission. As a person, she was kind and funny with a profound generosity of spirit. I will miss her wit, her smile and her unfailing ability to call things exactly as she saw them.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Jane Reeves will be sorely missed. She had a deep love for her family and friends and an abiding commitment to her community. Jane gave years of service to the School of Social Work and forged the B.S.W. Program into the pillar it is today. She didn&#8217;t seek recognition \u2013 only the knowledge that her work touched the lives of countless students across the years. Her passing is a loss for everyone who knew her.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Amy Strite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>President &amp; CEO, Span Center, &amp; 1990 M.S.W. graduate&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith deep gratitude, we remember Dr. Marilyn Biggerstaff and the many ways she strengthened The Span Center. Marilyn invested generously in the people of The Span Center through her philanthropic giving, the art she so freely shared, and the time she gave as a volunteer. She also gave of her wisdom, personally teaching and guiding leadership development through education and training that enriched both staff and the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn many ways, Marilyn served as a thoughtful and strategic voice, encouraging reflection, growth, and strong leadership. We are, without question, a stronger organization because of her generosity, her teaching and her belief in our work. While we mourn her death, we remain profoundly grateful for the legacy she leaves behind.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":852,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5],"tags":[870,227,226,178,558,867,868,231,869,46],"class_list":["post-5445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-facstaff","tag-amy-strite","tag-bev-koerin","tag-f-ellen-netting","tag-humberto-fabelo","tag-james-romanik","tag-jane-reeves","tag-kristin-hopkins","tag-marilyn-biggerstaff","tag-mary-riddick","tag-sarah-kye-price"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/852"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5445\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5437,"date":"2026-04-10T10:48:56","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5437"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:51:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:51:36","slug":"research-near-and-far-b-s-w-students-present-at-national-conferences-in-richmond-new-orleans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2026\/04\/10\/research-near-and-far-b-s-w-students-present-at-national-conferences-in-richmond-new-orleans\/","title":{"rendered":"Research near and far: B.S.W. students presenting at national conferences in Richmond, New Orleans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Seven VCU School of Social Work undergraduate students are honing their research skills this spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two students, <strong>Nic Stumpo<\/strong> and <strong>Regina Marquez<\/strong>, will present as the <a href=\"https:\/\/ncur.secure-platform.com\/2026\/\">National Conference on Undergraduate Research<\/a> comes to Richmond on April 13-15. Stumpo and five other B.S.W. students presented in February at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bswpdonline.org\/event-list\">Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors&#8217; annual conference <\/a>in New Orleans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically, B.S.W. student researchers participate each spring in the VCU Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research &amp; Creativity. But this year, they will be among an expected 4,000 undergraduate student presenters as VCU hosts NCUR at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Established in 2011, NCUR is the flagship conference for the&nbsp;Council on Undergraduate Research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cVCU continues to expand access to transformative, research-supportive learning experiences that prepare our graduates to address complex questions and challenges in a global society,&#8221; says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news.vcu.edu\/article\/vcu-to-host-national-conference-on-undergraduate-research-this-month\"><strong>Herbert Hill<\/strong>, Ed.D.<\/a>, assistant vice provost of undergraduate research and creative inquiry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NCUR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>April 13-15<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Regina-Marquez.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Regina-Marquez.jpg 700w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Regina-Marquez-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Regina-Marquez-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Regina Marquez<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Presentation:<\/strong> <em>Associations between Black &amp; Latine Caregivers\u2019 Academic Socialization and Children\u2019s Academic Self-Efficacy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Description:<\/strong> &#8220;My research focuses on how caregivers\u2019 academic socialization practices influence children\u2019s academic self-efficacy, particularly among Black and Latine families. My RA colleague and I have been working hard in creating a poster to have an understanding of how messages about education, perseverance and navigating barriers shape children\u2019s confidence in their academic abilities. I was drawn to this topic because of the important role family support plays in children\u2019s educational outcomes, especially within communities that may face structural challenges in school settings.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Presenting:<\/strong> 2:15-3:05 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, Exhibit Hall A<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Nic-Stumpo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Nic-Stumpo-1.jpg 700w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Nic-Stumpo-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Nic-Stumpo-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Presenting in New Orleans<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nic Stumpo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>(Stumpo made the same presentation at the conference in New Orleans.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Presentation:<\/strong> <em>From Clinical Interaction to Socio-ecological Environment: Belongingness in Healthcare for Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse Individuals<\/em><br><br><strong>Description: <\/strong>&#8220;In short, the focus of my research is to holistically understand the health care experiences of transgender, nonbinar, and gender-diverse individuals of varying temperaments, statuses and intersectional identities. As a trans person, I recognize the challenging relationship that my community has with seeking and accessing medical care, whether or not the purpose is for gender-affirming interventions. Additionally, the members of my community are as diverse as our experiences. My aim is to conceptualize a guiding framework for the development, evaluation and implementation of health care provision that meets the needs of my entire community.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Presenting:<\/strong> 2:15-3:05 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, Exhibit Hall A<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors&#8217; annual conference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Feb. 25-28<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Fuller.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Fuller.jpg 700w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Fuller-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Fuller-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Presenting in New Orleans<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Matthew Fuller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Presentation:<\/strong> <em>From Stress to Disconnection: Minority Stress, Relational-Cultural Theory, and Suicidality Among Queer Adolescents<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Description: <\/strong>&#8220;My research focuses on understanding how minority stress and relational disconnection shape psychological distress and suicidality among queer adolescents. I am particularly interested in how stigma\u2011based stressors such as discrimination, internalized stigma and anticipated rejection undermine connection and contribute to elevated suicide risk. I was drawn to this topic because queer youth continue to face disproportionately high rates of distress and suicidality, and I wanted to explore how both structural oppression and relational experiences influence their well\u2011being.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/BPD-group-presentation-Kristyn-Autumn-ELena-Laila.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/BPD-group-presentation-Kristyn-Autumn-ELena-Laila.png 700w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/BPD-group-presentation-Kristyn-Autumn-ELena-Laila-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/04\/BPD-group-presentation-Kristyn-Autumn-ELena-Laila-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Presenting in New Orleans, from left, Autumn Matusiak, Kristyn Broadwater, Elena Diaz and Laila McGlone<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kristyn Broadwater, Elena Diaz, Laila McGlone &amp; Autumn Matusiak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Presentation:<\/strong> <em>\u201cRichmond to RVA\u201d: How Historical Discriminatory Housing Policies Have Perpetuated Unethical Change to Marginalized Communities<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Description: &#8220;The BSW Student Association&#8217;s research focused on the historical impacts of gentrification in Richmond and how the effects of past discriminatory policies persist today, negatively impacting marginalized members of the community. Attending the BPD conference was a great opportunity to hear social workers speak on the importance of social work as a profession, and what we can do to make change at the B.S.W. level. Our team&#8217;s general interests include food insecurity, the disproportionate effect of punitive discipline on marginalized groups and the educational discrimination that children with disabilities face. It was a wonderful experience to learn what social work students nationwide are passionate about and hear them spread awareness about their social issues.&#8221; <strong>\u2013 Laila McGlone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8217; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,9],"tags":[830,865,864,866,861,862,735,863],"class_list":["post-5437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-research","category-students","tag-autumn-matusiak","tag-elena-diaz","tag-kristyn-broadwater","tag-laila-mcglone","tag-national-conference-on-undergraduate-research","tag-nic-stumpo","tag-poster-symposium-for-undergraduate-research","tag-regina-marquez"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5437"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5437\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5431,"date":"2026-03-16T12:11:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T16:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5431"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:11:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T16:11:56","slug":"alums-book-spotlights-workplace-attunement-new-textbooks-focus-on-anti-racist-research-school-social-work-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2026\/03\/16\/alums-book-spotlights-workplace-attunement-new-textbooks-focus-on-anti-racist-research-school-social-work-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Alum&#8217;s book spotlights workplace attunement; new textbooks focus on anti-racist research, school social work practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>VCU School of Social Work alum <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nidhitewarilcsw\"><strong>Nidhi Tewari<\/strong><\/a> learned a deeply personal \u2013 and disappointing \u2013 lesson about workplace culture, used it to develop a philosophy of care and fine-tuned her message speaking in front of Fortune 500 companies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This month, the culmination of her knowledge is being published in the book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/788782\/working-well-by-nidhi-tewari-msw-lcsw-foreword-by-amy-cuddy\/\">\u201cWorking Well: How to Build a Happier, Healthier Workplace Through the Science of Attunement,\u201d<\/a> (Penguin Random House) as she hopes to \u201cscale impact\u201d by sharing her ideas more broadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Nidhi-Tewari-1024x550.jpeg\" alt=\"Portrait of Nidhi Tewari in an office space.\" class=\"wp-image-5432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Nidhi-Tewari-1024x550.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Nidhi-Tewari-300x161.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Nidhi-Tewari-768x413.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Nidhi-Tewari.jpeg 1284w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Nidhi Tewari (M.S.W.&#8217;14), a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, and a new author.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tewari (M.S.W\u201914) is one of five people with ties to the school who have authored, edited and\/or co-authored chapters for new books, including two social work education textbooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c \u2018Working Well\u2019 is deeply informed by social work principles,\u201d says Tewari, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who has spoken at TEDWomen and TEDNext, and has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post and Forbes, among others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt delves into both the macro and micro factors that influence work culture and organizational dynamics, and it acknowledges that individual behaviors cannot be addressed without simultaneously changing the system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tewari became a caregiver when her best friend was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer, then experienced the deterioration over time of support from her workplace leaders and colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey were initially supportive and understanding, but after a couple of months, the good graces ended,\u201d she says. \u201cI was told to compartmentalize my grief, and when I struggled to function at my usual, high-performing level, accommodations were not offered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tewari characterizes this disconnect as \u201cmisattunement, or a lack of one\u2019s ability to be deeply aware of, responsive to and aligned with the emotional and interpersonal dynamics of colleagues, clients and the organizational environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d worked for a variety of organizations ranging from for-profit to nonprofit to government agencies, and they had a common thread: well-meaning leaders lacking the skills to adequately support their teams, and teams that were too exhausted to support one another,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI knew that there had to be a better way to work.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tewari partnered with an industrial and organizational psychologist, <strong>Mallory McCord<\/strong>, Ph.D., of Old Dominion University, to study the workplace in regard to flexibility, reading cues, self-regulation and collaboration.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe found that attunement was correlated with improved outcomes in each of the aforementioned domains,\u201d she says. \u201cConversely, misattunement negatively impacted those same outcomes. It was evidence that attunement is not just good for work culture. It\u2019s good for the bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy hope is that readers will go on the journey of becoming more in tune with themselves before learning how to tune into others. Self-leadership precedes organizational leadership, so reflecting on the way that our unique experiences inform how we show up at work is essential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tewari says her M.S.W. degree from VCU \u201claid the foundation for my career. I learned the clinical skills needed to become a successful trauma-focused therapist, and my coursework deepened my understanding of how trauma shapes human behavior. I practiced explaining and defending my ideas, which came in handy while writing this book, and my professors emphasized the importance of advocating for systemic change, which is a central theme in Working Well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cAn Antiracist\/Anti-oppressive Framework for Social Work Research\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/adrienne-baldwin-white.html\"><strong>Adrienne Baldwin-White<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the school, has published the textbook <a href=\"https:\/\/titles.cognella.com\/an-antiracist-anti-oppressive-framework-for-social-work-research-9798823395618?srsltid=AfmBOoq_3Y-hDPdfqDp6-QBsJA4JJ8nCc2d6ScqeFftru1dkKf-HurWg\">\u201cAn Antiracist\/Anti-oppressive Framework for Social Work Research\u201d<\/a> (Cognella Publishing) with colleague <a href=\"https:\/\/directory.ssw.umaryland.edu\/employee-detail\/ting-laura\/r\/recIiW45NAyOSRroO\"><strong>Laura Ting<\/strong><\/a>, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland School of Social Work. The book is applicable for students studying social work at the bachelor\u2019s, master\u2019s and doctoral levels.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"285\" height=\"285\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Adrienne-Baldwin-White.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Adrienne Baldwin-White\" class=\"wp-image-5434\" style=\"width:198px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Adrienne-Baldwin-White.jpg 285w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Adrienne-Baldwin-White-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Adrienne Baldwin-White, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is important to the profession of social work and social work education to have anti-racist\/anti-oppressive research,\u201d says Baldwin-White, who decided to expand a manuscript for the <em>Journal of Social Work Education<\/em> into a book after a journal reviewer\u2019s recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt that moment I began to seriously consider writing a textbook,\u201d Baldwin-White says. \u201cAn important value of social work is working for social justice. All aspects of social work must reflect that, including research. I realized during the process of teaching students in research methods that the anti-racist\/anti-oppressive framework is missing. And there was no clear guidance on how to create that type of class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis textbook can make that process of education a little easier for instructors to ensure that students understand how to do and recognize anti-racist\/anti-oppressive research. This textbook can also be good for professors who are trying to modify and change their own research strategies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cEmerging Trends in School Social Work Practice: Responding to Rapid Change in Educational Ecosystems\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/M.-Annette-Clayton-PhD-MSSW-IMG_1251-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of M. Annette Clayton\" class=\"wp-image-5433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/M.-Annette-Clayton-PhD-MSSW-IMG_1251-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/M.-Annette-Clayton-PhD-MSSW-IMG_1251.jpg 386w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>M. Annette Clayton (Ph.D.\u201908)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Alum <strong>M. Annette Clayton<\/strong> (Ph.D.\u201908) is one of four editors for the textbook <a href=\"https:\/\/global.oup.com\/academic\/product\/emerging-trends-in-school-social-work-practice-9780197777190?cc=us&amp;lang=en&amp;\">\u201cEmerging Trends in School Social Work Practice: Responding to Rapid Change in Educational Ecosystems\u201d<\/a> (Oxford University Press) and co-authored two chapters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alum <strong>Jennifer Murphy<\/strong> (Ph.D.\u201923), assistant professor at the University of Texas-Arlington School of Social Work, and <strong>Chanda Bass<\/strong>, a VCU social work adjunct faculty member and social worker in Chesterfield County, also contributed co-authored chapters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI consider it to be a \u2018must read\u2019 for school social work practitioners, especially those who are in leadership roles as it helps them to identify and discuss how to respond to salient emerging trends and the rapid changes that are occurring in their PreK-12 educational ecosystem,\u201d says Clayton, also a VCU social work adjunct faculty and recently retired from Virginia Wesleyan University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEach chapter in the book incorporates case vignettes that are based on real practice experiences and are written in a way to provide \u2018food for thought\u2019 for soon-to-be practitioners. The vignettes were selected to illustrate the application of strategies discussed in that chapter. The vignettes can also be used to facilitate discussions about germane considerations (e.g., educational equity, legal issues, social justice, ethical practice standards) associated with each of the emerging trends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn the final analysis, we want the reader to consider how each emerging trend is acknowledged, interpreted and\/or addressed using our social work frame of reference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VCU School of Social Work alum Nidhi Tewari learned a deeply personal \u2013 and disappointing \u2013 lesson about workplace culture, used it to develop a philosophy of care and fine-tuned her message speaking in front of Fortune 500 companies.&nbsp; This month, the culmination of her knowledge is being published in the book \u201cWorking Well: How [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":852,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,4,5,8],"tags":[536,631,199,859,252,595,860,858,384,488,857],"class_list":["post-5431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni","category-community","category-education","category-facstaff","category-research","tag-adrienne-baldwin-white","tag-anti-oppression","tag-anti-racism","tag-chanda-bass","tag-jennifer-murphy","tag-m-annette-clayton","tag-nidhi-tewari","tag-publication","tag-research","tag-school-social-work","tag-textbook"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/852"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5431\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5425,"date":"2026-03-12T14:26:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T18:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5425"},"modified":"2026-03-25T17:28:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:28:12","slug":"social-work-policy-and-politics-practicing-in-polarized-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2026\/03\/12\/social-work-policy-and-politics-practicing-in-polarized-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Work, Policy and Politics: Practicing in polarized times"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The VCU School of Social Work&#8217;s annual macro-focused event, Social Work, Policy and Politics returns March 19, 2026, with an alumni panel focused on the \u201cBig P\u201d of policy \u2013 federal, state, and local \u2013 and how it intersects with clinical practice, advocacy and the values that unite us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch an archived video of our panel discussion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Social Work, Policy &amp; Politics: Practicing Policy in Polarized Times\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/72B7afy0NeU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our panel includes moderator <strong>Allison Gilbreath<\/strong> (B.S.\u201911, M.S.W.\u201916) and panelists <strong>Maryn Campbell <\/strong>(B.S.W.\u201918, M.S.W.\u201920), <strong>Stephanie Lynch<\/strong> (B.S.\u201910, M.S.W.\u201913) and <strong>Erin Trimmer<\/strong> (B.I.S.\u201922, M.S.W.\u201925).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a moment marked by political polarization and shifting policy landscapes, social workers are navigating increasingly complex terrain. This dynamic event invites clinicians, policymakers, alumni, retired and emeriti faculty, and current practitioners to come together for a rich, intergenerational conversation about what it means to practice social work policy today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the nuts and bolts of current legislative practice to the emotional and ethical challenges of taking action, this gathering leans into the struggle and seeks pathways forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re 10 years into practice or newly retired, this is a space to connect, reflect and walk away with a renewed spirit of action. Let\u2019s explore how we practice policy together \u2013&nbsp;and how we build a future rooted in shared values, collaboration and care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About our panelists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" data-id=\"5426\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Allison-Gilbreth-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Allison-Gilbreth-headshot.jpg 400w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Allison-Gilbreth-headshot-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Allison-Gilbreth-headshot-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Allison Gilbreath<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" data-id=\"5427\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Maryn-Campbell-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Maryn-Campbell-headshot.jpg 400w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Maryn-Campbell-headshot-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Maryn-Campbell-headshot-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Maryn Campbell<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Allison Gilbreath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Allison is the senior director of policy and programs at Voices for Virginia\u2019s Children. She leads the organization\u2019s child welfare policy work as well as the implementation of advocacy programs, elevating policy conversations across all policy areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allison created Voices\u2019 foster care policy network, a group comprised of partners, direct service providers, families and youth who create a foster care unified agenda each year. She also helped to create the first-ever bipartisan foster care caucus with the Virginia General Assembly. Together, with the network and foster care caucus, she successfully led the charge in creating the kinship financial assistance program during the 2020 General Assembly session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allison came to Voices after several years of working on behalf of children and families, most recently at Prevent Child Abuse Virginia. She was included on Style Weekly\u2019s 40 under 40 in 2019 and has presented at several national and state conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University, and completed the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maryn Campbell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Maryn graduated from VCU in 2020 with a dual degree: Master of Social Work in administration, planning and policy practice, and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management. Maryn is currently a policy analyst for Legal Aid Justice Center, but has previously served as outreach director, chief of staff and legislative assistant for Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, in the House and the Virginia General Assembly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maryn is passionate about making government accessible, perfecting grilled cheese sandwiches and learning how to do nothing. She lives in Richmond with her husband, their sneaky 10-month-old, two chaotic dogs and a troublesome cat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" data-id=\"5428\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Lych.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Lych.jpg 400w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Lych-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Lych-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Stephanie Lynch<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" data-id=\"5429\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Erin-Trimmer.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Erin-Trimmer.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Erin-Trimmer-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2026\/03\/Erin-Trimmer-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Erin Trimmer<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stephanie Lynch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Stephanie serves as the executive director of Virginia\u2019s Kids Belong, a nonprofit organization dedicated to dramatically improving outcomes for kids in Virginia\u2019s foster care system. She also serves as the director of government relations for one of the nation\u2019s largest Medicaid providers, Sevita, overseeing 44 states and working on efforts to expand access to neuro and developmental disability services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She previously served as the director of government affairs, strategy &amp; development for Good Neighbor, where she oversaw strategic operations, growth and legislative initiatives for one of the largest private mental health and developmental disability services providers in the commonwealth. Her focal areas included, behavioral health transformation, innovations for intellectual and developmentally disabled populations, value-based purchasing, and behavioral health home efforts for complex care patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before her role at Good Neighbor, Stephanie represented the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations at the Virginia Association of Health Plans (VAHP), which represents all nine of Virginia\u2019s health insurance operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Erin Trimmer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Erin&nbsp;is a community organizer and housing justice advocate currently working as a legislative session aide in the office of Delegate Rae Cousins. She is passionate about connecting people to information that empowers them to create change in their communities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The VCU School of Social Work&#8217;s annual macro-focused event, Social Work, Policy and Politics returns March 19, 2026, with an alumni panel focused on the \u201cBig P\u201d of policy \u2013 federal, state, and local \u2013 and how it intersects with clinical practice, advocacy and the values that unite us. Watch an archived video of our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[290,826,725,856,557,229],"class_list":["post-5425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni","category-community","tag-allison-gilbreath","tag-erin-trimmer","tag-macro-social-work","tag-maryn-campbell","tag-social-work-policy-and-politics","tag-stephanie-lynch"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5425"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5425\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5409,"date":"2025-11-11T11:57:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5409"},"modified":"2026-01-15T11:28:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T16:28:17","slug":"social-work-faculty-and-students-presenting-at-sswr-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2025\/11\/11\/social-work-faculty-and-students-presenting-at-sswr-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Social work faculty and students presenting at SSWR 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.org\/2026-conference-home\/\">Society for Social Work and Research conference<\/a> in Washington, D.C., Jan. 14-18, 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jamie Cage<\/strong>, Ph.D., associate professor, is the organizer for a symposium on child welfare Friday, Jan. 16, featuring five presentations and including recent Ph.D. graduates <strong>Victoria Cashio<\/strong> and <strong><strong>Jen\u00e9e Lee<\/strong><\/strong>. <strong>Hyojin Im<\/strong>, Ph.D. associate professor, is the organizer for a symposium on Black and African diaspora focused-research on Sunday, Jan. 18, featuring three presentations and including <strong>Daniel Baslock<\/strong>, Ph.D., assistant professor, and recent Ph.D. graduates <strong>Muna Saleh<\/strong> and <strong>Nicole Campbell<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Presentations include 12 with faculty as first author, eight with Ph.D. candidates or students as first author and seven with recent Ph.D. graduates as first author.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All sessions are being held at the Marriott Marquis Washington. D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62091.html\">Examining the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences Due to Discrimination on Young Children&#8217;s Social-Emotional Development<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jamie Cage,<\/strong> Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; Chin-Chih Chen, Ph.D., VCU; Fa Zhang, Ph.D. VCU; Yaoying Xu, Ph.D., VCU; Yuyan Xia, Ph.D., University of Kentucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1:30-3 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Adolescent and Youth Development \u2013 Trauma Exposure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60306.html\">Food Insecurity, Stigma, and Mental Health Among College Students<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Youngmi Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D. VCUSSW professor; <strong>Karen Chartier<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor; <strong>Shiela Martinez<\/strong>,.B.A., VCUSSW M.S.W. student; Spit For Science Working Group, VCU<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1:30-3 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Adolescent Development &#8211; Nutrition assistance and food insecurity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60750.html\">The Measurement of Race\/Ethnicity in Social Determinants of Health Literature: A Scoping Review<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Demeisha Carlton-Brown, M.S.W., University of North Carolina; David French, M.S.W., UNC; <strong>Trenette Clark Goings<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; UNC; Caroline Evans, Ph.D., UNC; <strong>McKenzie Green<\/strong>, Ph.D.,&nbsp; VCUSSW assistant professor; Lorraine Dean, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1:30-3 p.m., Capitol, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Adolescent and Youth Development &#8211; The Innovative and Strategic Prevention in Racial and Ethnic Disparities (INSPIRED) Lab Presents: Combatting Health Inequities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62266.html\">Participatory Blackout Poetry As Qualitative Method for Understanding Perceptions and Strategies of Violence Prevention Among College Students at Risk for Sexual Violence<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rose Miola,<\/strong> LCSW, M.T.S., VCUSSW doctoral student; <strong>Adrienne Baldwin-White<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1:30-3 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Adolescent Development &#8211; Gender-Based Violence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62434.html\">Age-Friendly Environment and Aging in Community Among Older Adults in Puerto Rico<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kyeongmo Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:15-4:45 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Aging Services and Gerontology &#8211; Housing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61896.html\">Conceptual Model of Refugee Family Dynamics: A Study with Sri Lankan Tamils<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Miriam Kuttikat,<\/strong> Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; <strong>Marianne Lund<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral student<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:15-4:45 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: History &#8211; Forced migration and internal displacement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62196.html\">Gender and Sexuality Identity Support in Collegiate Recovery Programs Lowers Depression for LGBTQ+ Participants, Which Is Related to Increased Recovery Capital<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kyle Hull, VCU; <strong>Rebecca Smith<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW Research instructor; <strong>Ya-Li Yang<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral student; <strong>Mer Francis<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:15-4:45 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviors &#8211; Addictive Behaviors and Co-Occurring Problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60161.html\">&#8220;I Internalized a Lot&#8221; Racialized Pathways to Depression Symptoms Amongst Biracial-Black Girls and Young Women<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>McKenzie Green<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor; Andryce Clinkscales, Ph.D., Texas A&amp;M University; <strong>Aya Caballero<\/strong>, M.A., VCUSSW doctoral student<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:15-4:45 p.m., Marquis BR 13, ML 2&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Adolescent and Youth Development Flash Talk Session<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><a name=\"Friday\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friday, Jan. 16, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61377.html\">Blended Payments and Treatment Completion<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Daniel Baslock<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:45-11:15 a.m., Liberty BR O, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Mental Health &#8211;&nbsp; Organizational and Provider Factors in Mental Health Settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60721.html\">Strength in Connection: How Social Well-Being and Identity Shape Suicide Risk Among Veterans<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Samuel Ochinang<\/strong>, M.S.W., LCSW, VCUSSW doctoral student; <strong>Ya-Li Yang<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral candidate; <strong>Youngmi Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:45-11:15 a.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Military Service Members, Veterans and Their Families &#8211; Military and veteran programs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61032.html\">Determinants of Healthcare Utilization By Older Refugees in the United States: A Modified Andersen Model Approach<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Muna Saleh<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Ohio State University; <strong>Hyojin Im<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; <strong>Kyeongmo Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; <strong>Denise Burnette<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2-3:30 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Immigrants and Refugees &#8211; Immigrant health and mental health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61379.html\">Implementing Virtual Reality Job Interview Training in Prison-Based Employment Readiness Programs: A Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>James Merle, University of Utah; Matthew Smith, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Meghan Harrington, University of Michigan; Brittany Ross, University of Michigan; Julia McClellan, University of Michigan; Lady Perez Musan, M.S.W., University of Michigan; Camille Quinn, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Daphne Brydon, Ph.D., LMSW, University of Cincinnati; Jennifer Johnson, Ph.D., Michigan State University; <strong>Gary Cuddeback<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW dean and professor; Morris Bell, Ph.D., Yale University; Brian Friedman, Michigan Department of Corrections; Pamela Kryscio, Michigan Department of Corrections; Aaron Suganuma, LMSW, Washtenaw County (Michigan) Sheriff&#8217;s Office; Justin Smith, Ph.D., University of Utah<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2-3:30 p.m., Marquis BR 14, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Crime and Criminal Justice &#8211; Social Work Science and Transformative Change in Criminal Justice and Community Mental Health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61060.html\">Parenting across Generations: Exploring the Influence of Maternal Parenting and Drinking on Emerging Adults&#8217; Mental Health and Parenting Practices<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ya-Li Yang<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral candidate; <strong>Youngmi Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor; <strong>Samuel Ochinang<\/strong>, M.S.W., LCSW, VCUSSW doctoral student<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2-3:30 p.m., Commonwealth Marquis BR 6, ML 2&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviors &#8211; Family, Workplace, and Community<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Session16396.html\">An RCT of Virtual Reality Job Interview Training in a Prison-Based Employment Readiness Program<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Matthew Smith, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Meghan Harrington, University of Michigan; Brittany Ross, University of Michigan; Camille Quinn, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Lady Perez Musan, M.S.W., University of Michigan; Daphne Brydon, Ph.D., LMSW, University of Cincinnati; Jennifer Johnson, PhD, Michigan State University; <strong>Gary Cuddeback<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW dean and professor; Justin Smith, Ph.D.,&nbsp; University of Utah; James Merle, University of Utah; Jane Burke-Miller, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Chicago; Neil Jordan, Ph.D., Northwestern University; Morris Bell, Ph.D., Yale University; Brian Friedman, Michigan Department of Corrections; Pamela Kryscio, Michigan Department of Corrections; Aaron Suganuma, LMSW, Washtenaw County (Michigan) Sheriff&#8217;s Office<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2-3:30 p.m., Marquis BR 14, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Crime and Criminal Justice &#8211; Social Work Science and Transformative Change in Criminal Justice and Community Mental Health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60307.html\">Emerging Adult Unmet Mental Health Needs: Identifying Patterns of Barriers to Mental Health Service Utilization<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jennifer Murphy<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; University of Texas-Arlington; <strong>Leah Bouchard<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; James Bell Associates; <strong>Jeff Ciak<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral candidate; Tasha Pelletier, University of Texas-Arlington<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:45-5:15 p.m., Marquis BR 14, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Mental Health &#8211; Mental Health Flash Talk Session 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61107.html\">Self-Perceptions of Aging and Advance Care Planning: Longitudinal Evidence from a National Panel Study<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rita Hu, Ph.D., University of Chicago; <strong>Yifan Lou<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:45-5:15 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Aging Services and Gerontology &#8211; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62690.html\">Who Counts As Support?: Community Scope, Social Capital, and Stress Coping Among Somali Refugee Youth in Urban Kenya<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hyojin Im<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:45-5:15 p.m., Marquis BR 9, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Immigrants and Refugees &#8211; Youth Resilience and Institutional Navigation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Session16411.html\">Toward Balancing the Educational Scale: A Multi-Faceted Viewpoint Towards Understanding and Supporting the Educational Stability of Students in Foster Care<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Symposium organizer: <strong>Jamie Cage<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3:45-5:15 p.m., Congress, ML 4&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Child Welfare (5 sessions below)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61476.html\">A Poetic Narrative Story of Serenity: &#8220;the Girl Who Grew&#8221;<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong><strong>Jen\u00e9e<\/strong><\/strong> Lee<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney\u2019s Office; Natalie Goin, Reynolds Community College; <strong>Jamie Cage<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61477.html\">Rooted in a School Community: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective of Educational Stability for Students in Foster Care<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Victoria Cashio,<\/strong> Ph.D., VCUSSW alum; <strong>Jamie Cage<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; Claudia Lee, B.A., George Mason University; Margaret Poandl, M.A., VCU: Antonio Giles, B.S.W., VCU; Jaylynn Floyd, B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst; Antionette Stroter, Ph.D., Virginia Department of Education; <strong><strong><strong>Jen\u00e9e<\/strong><\/strong> Lee<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney\u2019s Office<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61478.html\">Exploring the Impact of Educational Instability on Students in Foster Care: A Qualitative Multi-Stakeholder Perspective<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Claudia Lee, B.A., George Mason University; Jaylynn Floyd, B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst; <strong>Jamie Cage<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; <strong>Victoria Cashio,<\/strong> Ph.D., VCUSSW alum; Margaret Poandl, M.A., VCU; Antonio Giles, B.S.W., VCU; <strong><strong><strong>Jen\u00e9e<\/strong><\/strong> Lee<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney\u2019s Office; Antionette Stroter, Ph.D., Virginia Department of Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61480.html\">Systemic Barriers to Educational Stability and Success for Students in Foster Care: A Qualitative Multi-Stakeholder Perspective<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret Poandl, M.A., VCU; <strong>Jamie Cage<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; <strong>Victoria Cashio,<\/strong> Ph.D., VCUSSW alum; Claudia Lee, B.A., George Mason University; Jaylynn Floyd, B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst; Antonio Giles, B.S.W., VCU; <strong><strong><strong>Jen\u00e9e<\/strong><\/strong> Lee<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney\u2019s Office; Antionette Stroter, Ph.D., Virginia Department of Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61482.html\">A Public Health Approach Toward Supporting the Educational Stability and Experiences of Students in Foster Care: Utilizing Participant Advice and Recommendations<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Antonio Giles, B.S.W., VCU; <strong>Jamie Cage<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; <strong>Victoria Cashio,<\/strong> Ph.D., VCUSSW alum; Claudia Lee, B.A., George Mason University; Jaylynn Floyd, B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst; Margaret Poandl, M.A., VCU; <strong><strong><strong>Jen\u00e9e<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <strong>Lee<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney\u2019s Office; Antionette Stroter, Ph.D., Virginia Department of Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Session16842.html\">Black and African Diaspora Focused-Research Flash Talk Session<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>McKenzie Green<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>5:30-7 p.m., Liberty BR I, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Black and African Diaspora Focused-Research &#8211; Flash Talk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62665.html\">Identity Matters: Navigating the Trade-Offs and Challenges of Quality Housing for Black Women Renters<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong><strong>Jen\u00e9e<\/strong><\/strong> Lee<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney\u2019s Office<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>5:30-7 p.m., Liberty BR I, ML 4&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Black and African Diaspora Focused-Research &#8211; Flask Talk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><a name=\"Saturday\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper61612.html\">Strengthening Competence for Working with Families Affected By Addiction: A Preliminary Assessment of a Fellowship for Child Welfare Professionals<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Katie N. Kim<\/strong>, LMSW, VCUSSW doctoral candidate; <strong>Mer Francis<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor; <strong>Naomi Reddish<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW assistant professor; <strong>Amanda Long<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW coordinator for community engagement; <strong>Kristen Van de Riet<\/strong>, LCSW, VCUSSW alum &amp; Chesterfield County (Virginia) Mental Health Support Services; Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., University of Texas; <strong>Karen Chartier<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>8-9:30 a.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Child Welfare &#8211; Child Welfare Services, Systems, and Workforce<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60944.html\">Development and Pilot Testing of a Novel Art-Based Community Intervention for Reducing Bias Toward LGBTQ+ Latine People of Central Texas<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jacob Goffnett<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor; Andres Navarro, Southwest Texas State University; Kelly Clary, Southwest Texas State University; <strong>Paola Rold\u00e1n, M.A.<\/strong>, VCUSSW alum;&nbsp;<strong>Angela Matijczak<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; <strong>Marianne Lund<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral student<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:45-11:15 a.m., Treasury, ML 4&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Research Design and Measurement &#8211; Arts-Based Research Methods As Tools for Healing and Resistance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper59349.html\">How Does Neighborhood Fertility Support Policy Shape Fertility Intentions?: Evidence from a Multi-Level Analysis in South Korea<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Young Sun Joo, Ph.D., Myongji University, Seoul, Korea; <strong>Youngmi Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:45-11:15 a.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Communities and Neighborhoods &#8211; Neighborhood indicators\/effects and community health\/well-being<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper63170.html\">Assessment of the Undergraduate Health Social Work Curriculum: Identifying Areas for Improvement<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sugarmaa Myagmarjav, Ph.D., Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences; Undarmaa Tumurbaatar, M.P.H., MNUMS; Nansalmaa Khaidav, M.A., MNUMS; Nadmidtseren Gombodorj, M.P.H., MNUMS; Altanchimeg Davaajav, M.P.H., MNUMS; <strong>Zoljargalan Gantumur<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral student<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4-5:30 p.m., Monument, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Research on Social Work Education &#8211; Flash Talk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62935.html\">Housing, Behavioral Health Services, and Disability Rights: A Narrative Policy Analysis of California&#8217;s Proposition 1<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jeff Ciak<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral candidate; Shannon Pagdon, B.A., University of Pittsburgh<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4-5:30 p.m., Liberty BR K, ML 4&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Disability &#8211; Emerging Topics on Disability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper59348.html\">A Spatial Analysis of Neighborhood-Level Fertility Rates and Policy Incentives in South Korea<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Young Sun Joo, Ph.D., Myongji University, Seoul, Korea; <strong>Youngmi Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor; Seon Kyeong Ahn, M.S.W., Ewha Womens University, Seoul, Korea<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4-5:30 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: International Social Work and Global Issues &#8211; Global Social Work Agenda<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62500.html\">A Systematic Review of Blended Payment Financing Strategies for Behavioral Healthcare<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Liliana Morales<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral student; Zisu Liao, M.A., VCU; <strong>Daniel Baslock<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4-5:30 p.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Organizations and Management &#8211; Funding, Contracting, and Accountability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><a name=\"Sunday\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62914.html\">A Multi-Year Analysis of Buprenorphine Availability in Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment Programs<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rayelle Ross<\/strong>, M.S.W., LCSW, VCUSSW doctoral student; <strong>Daniel Baslock<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>8-9:30 a.m., Mint, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviors &#8211; Screening, Access, and Attitudes on Substance Use Services and Treatment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60660.html\">Social Support and Organizational Commitment: Testing a Mediating Effect of Career Aspiration<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sooyeon Jang<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral student; <strong>Youngmi Kim<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>8-9:30 a.m., Marquis BR 6, ML 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category: Work and Work-Life Policies and Programs &#8211; Work\/family intersection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Session16245.html\">Intersecting Injustices: Structural Barriers to Care for Black Immigrants and Refugees in the U.S<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Symposium Organizer: <strong>Hyojin Im<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; discussant: Asli Yalim, Ph.D., University of Central Florida<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:45-11:15 a.m., Capitol, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Black and African Diaspora Focused-Research (3 sessions below)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60620.html\">Beyond Cost: Racialized Barriers to Healthcare Access Among Black Refugees in the United States<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hyojin Im<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor; <strong>Daniel Baslock<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60613.html\">Health After Resettlement: Predictors of health status and primary care utilization among Somali refugees living with chronic illness<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Muna Saleh<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Ohio State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60612.html\">Understanding Identity Based Discrimination: Immigrant Women of African Descent&#8217;s Experiences in Social and Human Service Agencies<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nicole Campbell<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW alum &amp; Old Dominion University; <strong>Hyojin Im<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW associate professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper60342.html\">Examining Cultural Differences Around Gender Based Violence Among Marginalized Students<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adrienne Baldwin-White<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor; <strong>Rose Miola<\/strong>, M.S.W., VCUSSW doctoral student<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>9:45-11:15 a.m., Liberty BR N, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Gender-Based Violence &#8211; Gender-Based Violence in Children, Teens, and College Students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/Paper62880.html\">Household Adversity and Mental Health Access: The Impact of Parent and Healthcare Provider Communication on Unmet Needs Among Children<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Christina Huerta<\/strong>, Ph.D., VCUSSW assistant professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monument, ML 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cluster: Adolescent and Youth Development &#8211; Youth-Parent Relationships and Well-Being<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SSW alumni presenters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CLeah%20Bouchard%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Leah Bouchard<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;22)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJohn%20Bricout%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJohn%20Bricout%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">John Bricout<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;98)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJohn%20Cagle%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJohn%20Cagle%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">John Cagle<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;98)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7Cnicole%20campbell%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Nicole Campbell <\/a>(Ph.D.&#8217;24, M.S.W.&#8217;20)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CVictoria%20Cashio%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Victoria Cashio<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;25)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CY.%20Joon%20Choi%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Y. Joon Choi<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;11)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CTrenette%20Clark%20Goings%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Trenette Clark Goings<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;08)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CAnna%20Cody%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Anna Cody<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;20)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJames%20Forte%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">James Forte<\/a> (Ph.D.\u201990, M.S.W.\u201978)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CMegan%20Gandy%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Megan Gandy<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;15)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJohn%20Gyourko%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">John Gyourko<\/a> (M.S.W.&#8217;20)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CLeanne%20Heaton%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Leanne Heaton<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;10)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7Cjenee%20Lee%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Jen\u00e9e Lee<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;25)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CMichael%20Massey%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Michael Massey<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;17)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CAngela%20Matijczak%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Angela Matijczak<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;24)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CSusan%20McCarter%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Susan McCarter<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;97)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CDavid%20McLeod%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">David McLeod<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;13)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJennifer%20Murphy%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Jennifer Murphy<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;23)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CNathan%20Perkins%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Nathan Perkins<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;09)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CSuzanne%20Pritzker%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Suzanne Pritzker<\/a> (M.S.W.&#8217;03)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CPaola%20Roldan%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Paola Rold\u00e1n<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;25)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CMuna%20Saleh%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Muna Saleh<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;25)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CSara%20Schwartz%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Sara Schwartz<\/a> (M.S.W.&#8217;01)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CJennifer%20Shadik%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Jennifer Shadik<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;14)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CLaura%20Swan%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Laura Swan<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;21)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CMartell%20Teasley%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Martell Teasley<\/a> (M.S.W.&#8217;96)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CVeronica%20Timbers%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Veronica Timbers<\/a> (M.S.W.&#8217;06)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CCamie%20Tomlinson%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Camie Tomlinson<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;23)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CKristen%20Van%20de%20Riet%2C%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Kristen Van de Riet<\/a>, LCSW (M.S.W.&#8217;09)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sswr.confex.com\/sswr\/2026\/webprogram\/start.html#srch=words%7CKeith%20Watts%7Cmethod%7Cand%7Cpge%7C1\">Keith Watts<\/a> (Ph.D.&#8217;21)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,11,8,9],"tags":[536,741,352,814,818,817,55,372,56,534,45,618,700,252,50,619,853,47,59,815,696,537,535,396,584,141,816,739,697,698,854,855,139,617,621,819,51,801],"class_list":["post-5409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni","category-facstaff","category-publications","category-research","category-students","tag-adrienne-baldwin-white","tag-amanda-long","tag-angela-matijczak","tag-aya-caballero","tag-christina-huerta","tag-daniel-baslock","tag-denise-burnette","tag-gary-cuddeback","tag-hyojin-im","tag-jacob-goffnett","tag-jamie-cage","tag-jeffrey-ciak","tag-jenee-lee","tag-jennifer-murphy","tag-karen-chartier","tag-katie-kim","tag-kristen-van-de-riet","tag-kyeongmo-kim","tag-leah-bouchard","tag-liliana-morales","tag-marianne-lund","tag-mckenzie-green","tag-mer-francis","tag-miriam-kuttikat","tag-muna-saleh","tag-nicole-george","tag-rayelle-ross","tag-rebecca-smith","tag-rose-miola","tag-samuel-ochinang","tag-shiela-martinez","tag-sooyeon-jang","tag-trenette-clark-goings","tag-victoria-cashio","tag-ya-li-yang","tag-yifan-lou","tag-youngmi-kim","tag-zoljargalan-gantumur"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5409\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5410,"date":"2025-11-10T15:51:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5410"},"modified":"2025-11-10T15:51:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:51:54","slug":"quarterly-faculty-research-and-service-news-november-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2025\/11\/10\/quarterly-faculty-research-and-service-news-november-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Quarterly faculty research and service news: November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The VCU School of Social Work is proud to recognize the following accomplishments from our faculty and staff through November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"64\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/04\/achievement-1-75.png\" alt=\"Achievement badge with gold star\" class=\"wp-image-5113\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/kyeongmo-kim.html\">Kyeongmo Kim<\/a>, Ph.D., associate professor, has been named a 2025 fellow by the Gerontological Society of America, in the Social Research, Policy and Practice Section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2024\/12\/funding.png\" alt=\"Hand holding a dollar sign\" class=\"wp-image-4902\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research awards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/yifan-lou.html\">Yifan Lou<\/a>, Ph.D., assistant professor, has received three grants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Funding through National Institute on Aging&#8217;s Interdisciplinary Network on Rural Population Health and Aging (INRPHA) for the project Beyond Geography: Health and Social Contextual Determinants of Rural-Urban End-of-Life Care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funding through\u00a0 Borchard Center Foundation of Law and Aging for the project Harmony in Decision-making: Balancing Individual Rights and Family Roles in Advance Care Planning among Chinese Americans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funding through The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation for project Breaking the Silence on Pain: Chinese Caregivers\u2019 Needs and Barriers in Home-Based Hospice Care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Funding for the <a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/uncommon-strengths\/child-welfare-initiatives\/child-welfare-stipend-program--community-impact\/\">Title-IV Child Welfare Stipend Program at VCU<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/uncommon-strengths\/child-welfare-initiatives\/consortium-for--resource-adoptive-and-foster-family-training-crafft-and-mutual-family-assessments\/\">Consortium for Resource Adoptive and Foster Family Training<\/a> initiatives has been renewed\u00a0 for FY26, including $290,000 earmarked for CWSP students. The team has also received approval from the sponsor and\u00a0 VCU IRB to move forward with program evaluation of these two initiatives statewide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><\/ol>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2024\/12\/article.png\" alt=\"Presentation on a screen\" class=\"wp-image-4904\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Publications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/daniel-baslock.html\">Daniel Baslock<\/a>, Ph.D., assistant professor, has had a publication accepted: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/41204646\/\">\u201dBlended payment models and care transitions: Analysis of a statewide payment reform\u2019s impact on transitions in care and care termination from outpatient substance use treatment\u201d<\/a> in the journal <em>Substance Use and Misuse<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/karen-g-chartier.html\">Karen Chartier<\/a>, Ph.D., professor, has published three articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/22\/11\/1604\">&#8220;Drinking motives and alcohol consumption among Asian American college students: The moderating role of alcohol-related facial flushing&#8221;<\/a> in the <em>International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health<\/em>. In conjunction with the Spit for Science Working Group.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/20008066.2025.2565060\">&#8220;Parent PTSD, social support, and differential associations with facets of anxiety sensitivity&#8221;<\/a> in the <em>European Journal of Psychotraumatology<\/em>. In conjunction with the Spit for Science Working Group.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00127-025-02904-5\">&#8220;Combining family history and alcohol screening measures to identify emerging adults at risk of not being in education, employment, or training (NEET)&#8221;<\/a> in the journal <em>Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/maurice-n-gattis.html\">Maurice Gattis<\/a>, Ph.D., associate professor, has published <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/00957984251371496\">\u201dMental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors and Service Utilization of Black College Students\u201d<\/a> in the <em>Journal of Black Psychology<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/mckenzie-n-green.html\">McKenzie Green<\/a>, Ph.D., assistant professor, has published <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/jora.70084\">\u201cExamining racial identity invalidation and well-being among Biracial adolescents using the identity capital model\u201d<\/a> in the <em>Journal of Research on Adolescence<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/christina-huerta.html\">Christina Huerta<\/a>, Ph.D., assistant professor, has published <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/41160363\/\">&#8220;Navigating Terminology in Latino Research: Evolution, Challenges, and Strategies for Discoverability&#8221;<\/a> in the <em>Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/traci-l-wike.html\">Traci Wike<\/a>, Ph.D., associate professor, has published <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/12\/7\/829\">\u201cChild maltreatment and the mediating effects of bullying victimization on school engagement among South Korean youth in orphanages and a national sample\u201d<\/a> in the journal <em>Children<\/em>. Other authors include former faculty member <strong>Hollee McGinnis<\/strong>, Ph.D., and doctoral alumni <strong>Sunghwan Cho<\/strong> (Ph.D.&#8217;23) and <strong>Sunny Kim<\/strong> (Ph.D.&#8217;24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2024\/12\/presentation.png\" alt=\"Presenter pointing to screen while four audience members watch\" class=\"wp-image-4905\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Presentations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note: In some cases, presenters did not attend and were represented by their colleagues\/co-authors.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/qasarah-bey-spencer.html\">Qasarah Bey Spencer<\/a>, Ed.D., assistant professor in teaching, presented \u201cTransforming Resistance into Strategy\u201d at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) Inclusion Summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/cassie-desena-jacobs.html\">Cassie DeSena-Jacobs<\/a>, D.S.W., assistant professor, will be presenting &#8220;Developing de-escalation guidelines for library public services: A VCU Libraries and Social Work partnership&#8221; at the 2025 Virtual Back in Circulation Conference on Nov. 14, 2025. Co-presenters are VCU library colleagues <a href=\"https:\/\/www.library.vcu.edu\/about\/staff\/#\/staff\/hooker-loftan\">Loftan Hooke<\/a>r, M.L.S., and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.library.vcu.edu\/about\/staff\/#\/staff\/gariepy-westmoreland-laura\">Laura Gariepy<\/a>, Ph.D. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/maurice-n-gattis.html\">Maurice Gattis<\/a>, Ph.D., associate professor, presented &#8220;Narratives From Staff at an LGBTQIA+ Shelter: Applying Ecological Systems Theory to Homelessness Intervention in Cape Town, South Africa,&#8221; at the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions conference, University of Free State, Bloemfontein South Africa. Other authors included doctoral alum <strong>Aaron Kemmerer<\/strong> (Ph.D.&#8217;24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/christina-huerta.html\">Christina Huerta<\/a>, Ph.D., assistant professor, and <a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/rayelle-ross.html\">Rayelle Ross<\/a>, M.S.W., doctoral student, presented \u201cDiscrimination and forgone healthcare among Latinx adolescents: Disparities by healthcare type and primary language\u201d at the American Public Health Association annual meeting, Washington, D.C.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/naomi-sutton-reddish.html\">Naomi Reddish<\/a>, M.S.W., assistant professor, collaborated on the presentation \u201cDigital Bonds: Harnessing Technology for Normalcy, Relationship Resilience and Health Equity in Foster Youth,\u201d at the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Vilnius, Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"68\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/04\/service-1-75.png\" alt=\"A hand holding three gold stars\" class=\"wp-image-5112\" style=\"width:75px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/maurice-n-gattis.html\">Maurice Gattis<\/a>, Ph.D., associate professor, served on the review panel for Fulbright U.S. Scholar applicants in social work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The VCU Child Welfare Stipend Program team and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/dannita-trice.html\">Dannita Trice<\/a><\/strong>, M.Ed., alumni engagement officer,\u00a0held a speed mentoring event that included more than 20 students and nine mentors. The event brought together seasoned, emerging and curious child welfare practitioners (alumni, community partners and students) to discuss topics important to child welfare practice and further explore interest and depth of understanding about this area of practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CWSP team members are <a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/amanda-long.html\">Amanda Long<\/a>, M.S.W., coordinator of community engaged child and family well-being initiatives; <a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/naomi-sutton-reddish.html\">Naomi Reddish<\/a>, M.S.W., administrator of community engaged child and family well-being initiatives; and <a href=\"https:\/\/socialwork.vcu.edu\/directory\/people\/daniela-sanzetenea.html\">Daniela Sanzetenea<\/a>, M.S.W., CWSP coordinator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5,11,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-facstaff","category-publications","category-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5410\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5403,"date":"2025-10-20T10:45:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T14:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5403"},"modified":"2025-10-21T11:19:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:19:58","slug":"2025-council-on-social-work-education-conference-presentations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2025\/10\/20\/2025-council-on-social-work-education-conference-presentations\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Council on Social Work Education conference presentations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cswe.org\/\">Council on Social Work Education<\/a>\u2018s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friday, Oct. 24<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building knowledge, building connections: How Child Welfare Addiction Fellows are changing practice and outcomes <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>12:30-1 p.m. MT<\/strong><br><em>Sheraton Plaza, Concourse Level &#8211; Plaza Court 5<\/em><br>Paper presentation: VCUSSW assistant professor <strong>Mer W. Francis<\/strong>, Ph.D.; VCUSSW doctoral candidate <strong>Katie Kim<\/strong>, LMSW; VCUSSW professor <strong>Karen Chartier<\/strong>, Ph.D.; VCUSSW assistant professor <strong>Naomi Reddish<\/strong>, M.S.W.; VCUSSW staff <strong>Amanda Long<\/strong>, M.S.W.; VCUSSW alum <strong>Kristen Van de Riet<\/strong> (M.S.W.&#8217;09); and University of Texas&#8217; Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advancing Social Work Education: LEND and Interprofessional Training for Disability-Inclusive Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>12:30-1 p.m. MT<\/strong><br><em>Sheraton Plaza, Lobby\/Street Level &#8211; Director&#8217;s Row I<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Panel: Pei-Chiang Lee, M.S.W., moderator, University of Texas at Austin. Kristin L. Berg, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Chicago; VCUSSW associate professor <strong>Matthew Bogenschutz<\/strong>, Ph.D.; Eleanor Powell, M.S.W., University of Illinois-Chicago; Sandy Maga\u00f1a, University of Texas-Austin; and Leslie Jackson, M.S.W., contributor, University of Texas-Austin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saturday, Oct. 25<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Incorporating Lived Experience of Psychiatric Disabilities into Mental Health Practice Courses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4:15-5:15 p.m. MT<\/strong><br><em>Sheraton Tower, Mezzanine Level &#8211; Gold<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interactive workshop: VCUSSW doctoral candidate <strong>Jeffrey Ciak<\/strong>, M.S.W.; and VCUSSW assistant professor <strong>Mer W. Francis<\/strong>, Ph.D.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the&nbsp;Council on Social Work Education\u2018s 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8,9],"tags":[741,618,50,619,853,62,535,740,206],"class_list":["post-5403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-facstaff","category-research","category-students","tag-amanda-long","tag-jeffrey-ciak","tag-karen-chartier","tag-katie-kim","tag-kristen-van-de-riet","tag-matthew-bogenschutz","tag-mer-francis","tag-naomi-reddish","tag-rebecca-gomez"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5403\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5395,"date":"2025-09-24T10:42:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5395"},"modified":"2025-11-06T15:03:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T20:03:36","slug":"gina-chow-unc-scholar-will-speak-on-advancing-global-social-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2025\/09\/24\/gina-chow-unc-scholar-will-speak-on-advancing-global-social-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Gina Chowa, UNC scholar, will speak on advancing global social development"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The VCU School of Social Work welcomes <a href=\"https:\/\/ssw.unc.edu\/employees\/gina-chowa\/\">Gina Chowa<\/a>, Ph.D., M.S.W., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a presentation Friday, Oct. 10, titled \u201cAdvancing Global Social Development: Youth, Gender, and Community-Engaged Research Across Contexts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The session will be in-person at the <a href=\"https:\/\/map.vcu.edu\/?id=2114#!m\/866218?share\">Academic Learning Commons<\/a> 3100 from noon-1:30 p.m. ET. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSeQLhoRueEctHMAscDX89mHHnNBDXNv6nxmgH6piksRF-gmqA\/viewform?usp%3Ddialog&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1759523678471093&amp;usg=AOvVaw2mLuWHaIB4KyUdp4X8hkmx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Please RSVP by Oct. 9<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/mwk_jsngT6SGKcuIcFjBxw#\/registration\">register to watch on Zoom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Presentation archive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"VCU Social Work - Gina Chowa - Advancing Global Social Development\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mA7RjDVJ40o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Chowa is the Johnson-Howard-Adair Distinguished Professor and associate dean for global engagement at UNC\u2019s School of Social Work. She is also the founding director of the Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI) Center, established in 2017 to advance research, policy and practice that promote economic security, youth development and social protection worldwide. Informed by more than two decades of research and practice, Dr. Chowa\u2019s work sits at the intersection of economic security, workforce development, social protection and financial inclusion, with a particular focus on marginalized populations in the Global South.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her presentation, Dr. Chowa will discuss innovative approaches to youth employability and economic security, with a particular focus on longitudinal studies in South Africa and Ghana. She will examine the opportunities and barriers young people face in preparing for work and achieving economic mobility in resource-limited settings, highlighting lessons that inform both policy and practice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1WE9Hg0YNMp1EUIuldFuvuca-4BDMwMAH\/view?usp=sharing\">Learn more<\/a> about Dr. Chowa&#8217;s book, Global Social Work<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her presentation will also focus on research with adolescent girls and young women, including a USAID-funded study on mental health outcomes in Burundi and systematic reviews of financial inclusion in low- and middle-income countries. These studies underscore the critical role of gender-responsive interventions in advancing global development and addressing inequities faced by young women.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"235\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/Gina-Chowa-200px.jpg\" alt=\"A person in a red coat and scarf holds a book that reads Global Social Work.\" class=\"wp-image-5396\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Gina Chowa, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In addition, Dr. Chowa will share insights from her community-engaged work in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, where she and her collaborators are investigating the social dimensions of conservation and building locally driven solutions to pressing social issues in a fragile ecological context. This work illustrates how global research can be adapted to protect vulnerable populations while supporting sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, Dr. Chowa will reflect on the current funding environment for global social work and development research, addressing both the challenges and opportunities of securing resources for international collaboration. She will offer practical strategies for navigating funding restrictions, sustaining global partnerships and ensuring that research remains ethical, inclusive and responsive to the needs of communities worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Chowa has served as principal investigator on large-scale, multi-country studies funded by organizations such as USAID, the World Bank, Ford Foundation and MasterCard Foundation. These include the Siyakha Youth Assets study, the YouthSave Ghana Experiment and the USAID-funded Burundi Adolescent Girls and Young Women Mental Health study. She has also piloted innovative interventions such as <em>AssetsAfrica<\/em> in Uganda and <em>Chuma na Uchizi<\/em> in Zambia, which demonstrated how improving livelihoods can strengthen the health outcomes of people living with HIV.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her scholarship has appeared in leading interdisciplinary and social work journals, including <em>Children and Youth Services Review<\/em>, <em>International Your<\/em>, <em>Journal of Family and Economic Issues<\/em>, and <em>Journal of Socio-Economics<\/em>. She is also the editor of <em>Global Social Work: Preparing Globally Competent Social Workers for a Diverse and Interconnected World<\/em> (Springer, 2024).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 \u201cAdvancing Global Social Development: Youth, Gender, and Community-Engaged Research Across Contexts.\u201d The session will be in-person at the Academic Learning Commons 3100 from noon-1:30 p.m. ET. Please RSVP [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[849,850,848,846,847,635,851,852],"class_list":["post-5395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-education","tag-burundi","tag-galapagos-islands","tag-ghana","tag-global-development","tag-social-development","tag-south-africa","tag-uganda","tag-zambia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5395\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5388,"date":"2025-09-09T15:36:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T19:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5388"},"modified":"2025-10-12T13:17:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T17:17:02","slug":"steadfast-advocate-alex-wagaman-wins-one-of-vcus-inaugural-awards-for-community-excellence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2025\/09\/09\/steadfast-advocate-alex-wagaman-wins-one-of-vcus-inaugural-awards-for-community-excellence\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Steadfast advocate\u2019: Alex Wagaman wins one of VCU\u2019s inaugural awards for community excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"453\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/Wagaman-Award-with-nominators-final.jpg\" alt=\"A group of five people stand with two in the center holding an award. In the background are graphics that say VCU Division of Community Engagement and &quot;Unwavering.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-5390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/Wagaman-Award-with-nominators-final.jpg 680w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/Wagaman-Award-with-nominators-final-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., center, with, from left: Kade Goldin, social work Ph.D. student; Dez Barnette of Advocates for Richmond Youth; social work alum E&#8217;laine Williams (B.S.W.&#8217;17) of Advocates for Richmond Youth; and Pat Popp, state coordinator for Project HOPE-Virginia.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Praised as someone who \u201ccreates safe spaces where people can learn and grow\u201d and as a \u201csteadfast advocate with a gentle presence,\u201d <strong>Alex Wagaman<\/strong>, Ph.D., was honored with one of <a href=\"https:\/\/community.vcu.edu\/dce-news-events\/events\/2025ceawards\/\">VCU\u2019s inaugural Excellence in Community Engagement Awards<\/a> in May 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wagaman, an associate professor in the School of Social Work, received her award in the category Community-Engaged Research Partnership, which \u201ccenters dignity, equity and advocacy through long-standing partnerships with marginalized communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI want to express my deep appreciation for those who have been in this work with me from the time I came to Richmond, and all those they represent. We do not do this work alone!\u201d says Wagaman, whose work focuses on youth populations who are unhoused or experiencing housing instability.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The colleagues who nominated Wagaman represent her history of collaboration at the local, state and national level, and those peers celebrated her consistent ability to incorporate youth with lived experience as partners and leaders through a participatory action research model.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAlex intentionally partners with community organizations and individuals with lived expertise to enhance a particular knowledge base, build relationships and develop policy or practice recommendations,\u201d says social work Ph.D. student <strong>Kade Goldin<\/strong>, a collaborator and nominator for the award. \u201cAlex establishes shared decision-making practices by cultivating connections and agreements with team members, making space for everyone\u2019s input and waiting to move forward until all partners have weighed in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One longtime partner is <strong>Patricia A. Popp<\/strong>, Ph.D., the state coordinator for Project HOPE-Virginia, the commonwealth\u2019s Program for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Her collaboration goes back to around 2013, when they worked together on the Governor\u2019s Coordinating Council on Homelessness, Interagency Partnership to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness. Popp, who is also a clinical associate professor in the William &amp; Mary School of Education, remembers finding common ground with Wagaman around a more inclusive definition and perspective on those experiencing homelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI knew I had an ally in those meetings, making it easier to push for changes and strengthening partnerships with higher education that continue to this day,\u201d says Popp, who was also a nominator.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Popp and Goldin hailed Wagaman\u2019s ability to make room at the table for youth to engage authentically and share their views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAlex creates safe spaces where people can learn and grow,\u201d Popp says. \u201cHer ability to engage diverse participants in communities to work together and learn from each other is powerful. Social justice, equity and inclusivity are always evident. We need this in our communities and at all levels. Her work has a direct and indirect impact on young people experiencing homelessness that can improve their lives and ability to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wagaman, says Goldin, is \u201cfocused on lifting everyone\u2019s voice \u2026 As someone who witnesses Alex in meetings across sectors, she remains authentically herself, a steadfast advocate with a gentle presence, always communicating the importance of intentionally including young adults and amplifying their expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among Wagaman\u2019s major projects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Collaborating with youth &amp; researchers from five states and Project-HOPE, which administers the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, to <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/2025\/09\/social-work-project-sees-an-invisible-population-homeless-unaccompanied-youth\">design a research study on high school-age students in Virginia who are categorized as both experiencing homelessness and being unaccompanied<\/a> (without a parent or guardian). A vision grant from the Spencer Foundation will enable the researchers to expand their work to a larger multistate team.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Working as a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/2024\/08\/vcu-youth-homelessness-expert-m-alex-wagaman-is-tapped-for-federal-advisory-role\">special advisor with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness<\/a> on a youth homelessness plan and helping develop the National Youth Advisory Group. NYAG serves as the central leadership for the National Youth Homelessness Partnership, an initiative funded by the Raikes Foundation and housed at VCU.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Co-creating <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/2024\/09\/youth-shared-housing-program-that-serves-richmond-could-be-a-model-far-beyond-it\">Marsha and Marian\u2019s Neighbors<\/a>, a youth shared-housing project, with social work colleague Maurice Gattis, Ph.D., associate professor, and youth with lived experience. The evidence-based, co-designed intervention, supported with more than $2 million from the Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grants, served 40 Richmond households with individuals ages 18-24 who identify as LGBTQIA+, pregnant and\/or parenting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helping secure a spot in the <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/social_work_faculty_help_richmond_secure_national_award_to_end\">Grand Challenge initiative from A Way Home America<\/a>, along with Gattis, to find solutions to end homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color. Richmond was one of 10 cities selected nationwide.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serving on a national team to develop a <a href=\"https:\/\/truecolorsunited.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/LGBTQ-Youth-Homelessness-Research-Agenda-_-Final.pdf\">research agenda on LGBTQ+ youth homelessness<\/a> in partnership with True Colors United.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Co-founding <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/Richmond_youth_who_have_faced_homelessness_and_housing_instability\">Advocates for Richmond Youth<\/a>, a participatory action research team focusing on ending youth homelessness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"453\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/Wagaman-Excellence-in-CE-Award-group-shot.jpg\" alt=\"A group of seven people standing with awards. In the background are graphics that say VCU Division of Community Engagement and &quot;Unwavering.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-5389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/Wagaman-Excellence-in-CE-Award-group-shot.jpg 680w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/Wagaman-Excellence-in-CE-Award-group-shot-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., third from left, with other VCU recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Community Engagement Awards.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Praised as someone who \u201ccreates safe spaces where people can learn and grow\u201d and as a \u201csteadfast advocate with a gentle presence,\u201d Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., was honored with one of VCU\u2019s inaugural Excellence in Community Engagement Awards in May 2025. Wagaman, an associate professor in the School of Social Work, received her award in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,3,4,5],"tags":[110,68,845,127,842,695,409,754,843,109],"class_list":["post-5388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awards","category-community","category-education","category-facstaff","tag-advocates-for-richmond-youth","tag-alex-wagaman","tag-dez-barnette","tag-elaine-williams","tag-excellence-in-community-engagement-awards","tag-kade-goldin","tag-lgbtq-youth","tag-marsha-and-marians-neighbors","tag-patricia-popp","tag-youth-homelessness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5388"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":5379,"date":"2025-09-08T17:04:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T21:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/?p=5379"},"modified":"2025-09-08T17:04:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T21:04:42","slug":"office-of-field-education-names-2025-community-award-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/2025\/09\/08\/office-of-field-education-names-2025-community-award-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Office of Field Education names 2025 community award winners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Group-680px.jpg\" alt=\"A group of seven people pose standing together. \" class=\"wp-image-5380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Group-680px.jpg 680w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Group-680px-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Attendees at the 2025 awards ceremony.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mazycklb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lenise Mazyck<\/a>, M.S.W., LCSW, whose topic was &#8220;Grow Your Own Way: My Journey Through Burnout and Transformative Growth.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outstanding New Field Instructor Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alum <strong>Kim Close-Jensen (M.S.W.\u201997)<\/strong>, social worker, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcps.edu\/\">Fairfax County Public Schools<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Criteria:<\/strong>&nbsp;A field instructor new to the role (within one to two years) this academic year who should be recognized for exceptional field education.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outstanding Field Instructor Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brandon Foster<\/strong>, therapist, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vwu.edu\/campus-life\/counseling-services\/meet-our-counselors.php\">Virginia Wesleyan University<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Criteria:<\/strong>&nbsp;A field instructor who should be recognized for exceptional field education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"510\" data-id=\"5381\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Brandon-Foster-340px.jpg\" alt=\"Person stands smiling and holding a glass award.\" class=\"wp-image-5381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Brandon-Foster-340px.jpg 340w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Brandon-Foster-340px-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Brandon Foster<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"510\" data-id=\"5382\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Madison-340px.jpg\" alt=\"Person stands smiling and holding a glass award.\" class=\"wp-image-5382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Madison-340px.jpg 340w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Madison-340px-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Madison Woodroof<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outstanding Task Supervisor Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alum <strong>Grace Dowdy (B.S.W.\u201921, M.S.W.\u201923)<\/strong>, community reentry advocate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oarric.org\/\">OAR of Richmond <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Criteria:<\/strong>&nbsp;A task supervisor who should be recognized for exceptional support to field education.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Amy Rosenblum Field Instructor Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alum <strong>Madison Woodroof (B.S.\u201914, M.S.W.\u201917)<\/strong>, basic needs program coordinator, <a href=\"https:\/\/semss.vcu.edu\/\">VCU Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Criteria:<\/strong>&nbsp;A field instructor with at least five years of service in the role, excellence in teaching\/supervision of students, and ongoing collaboration with the School of Social Work. Amy Rosenblum is a former assistant director of field instruction who retired in 2005 after 25 years with the VCU School of Social Work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"510\" data-id=\"5383\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Partner-Award-340px.jpg\" alt=\"A person hands an award to a second person. \" class=\"wp-image-5383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Partner-Award-340px.jpg 340w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Partner-Award-340px-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Recognizing the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"510\" data-id=\"5384\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Speaker-340px.jpg\" alt=\"A speaker stands with a microphone at a podium that reads UMFS.\" class=\"wp-image-5384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Speaker-340px.jpg 340w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Speaker-340px-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Speaker Lenise Mazyck<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Field Liaison of the Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Glenda Blake<\/strong>, VCU SSW community-embedded faculty member<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Criteria:<\/strong>&nbsp;A liaison that has demonstrated exceptional student teaching, agency coordination, and overall support to field education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outstanding Community Partner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vbcf.org\/\">Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Criteria:<\/strong>&nbsp;An agency or organization that should be recognized for providing exceptional field education opportunities for our students through targeted community impact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"510\" data-id=\"5385\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Q-and-Jazmyn-340px.jpg\" alt=\"Two people standing together\" class=\"wp-image-5385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Q-and-Jazmyn-340px.jpg 340w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Q-and-Jazmyn-340px-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Qasarah Bey Spencer, left, M.S.W. Program director; and Jazmyn Porter, director of field education<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"340\" height=\"510\" data-id=\"5386\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Odera-340px.jpg\" alt=\"A person sitting with clasped hands and smiling.\" class=\"wp-image-5386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Odera-340px.jpg 340w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/534\/2025\/09\/OFE-Odera-340px-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Stephanie Odera, B.S.W. Program director<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 &#8220;Grow Your Own Way: My Journey Through Burnout and Transformative Growth.&#8221; Outstanding New Field Instructor Award Alum Kim Close-Jensen (M.S.W.\u201997), social [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1626,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,10,3,4],"tags":[834,841,123,836,835,833,832,549,838,504,839,837,840],"class_list":["post-5379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni","category-awards","category-community","category-education","tag-brandon-foster","tag-fairfax-county-public-schools","tag-field-education","tag-glenda-blake","tag-grace-dowdy","tag-kim-close-jensen","tag-lenise-mazyck","tag-madison-woodroof","tag-oar-of-richmond","tag-outstanding-community-partner-award","tag-vcu-strategic-enrollment-management-and-student-success","tag-virginia-breast-cancer-foundation","tag-virginia-wesleyan-university"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1626"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5379\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/social-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]