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Dear SSW alumni,
We often think of our student life cycle — from admission to course of study and field education to graduation — as a pipeline, constantly replenishing and reinvigorating the profession of social work. That pipeline, I am thrilled to report, continues to supply more new graduates as enrollment keeps growing. We start the 2021-22 academic year with slightly more than 1,100 students.
As we welcome more future change agents to our ranks, ensuring that these students are prepared to practice in a complex and challenging environment means providing more supports. That, in turn, means more opportunities for the alumni, donors and friends who comprise our community of champions. Better than anyone, you know that the VCU School of Social Work is a longstanding cornerstone of the university, the community and the profession — and you understand how valuable a degree is regarded among the social work workforce.
How can you support our current and future success? Share your talent and experience in our networks:
Your generous philanthropy continues to sustain us, and a number of giving opportunities can support our ongoing and aspirational initiatives:
- Annual Fund: Provides student stipends and underwrites projects supporting the needs of our most vulnerable populations.
- Faculty Excellence Fund: Establishes infrastructure for faculty and student research in emerging areas affecting vulnerable populations.
- Field Fund: Defrays student cost-of-living expenses and tuition restraints and expands capacity by adding field supervisors for community partners without on-site social workers.
- Pay It Forward Fund: Supports emergency financial assistance to students who face an unexpected life event that could disrupt their academic progress to a degree.
So much of the school’s philanthropic success over the past four years is a credit to Mary Riddick, our director of development. Earlier this month, Mary moved to the College of Humanities and Science as the director of development. Her departure is bittersweet — we are grateful for her leadership and glad she will continue as a VCU colleague. Our mission and good work will continue, building on the strong foundation Mary helped establish.
Stay connected and informed on happenings in the school — subscribe to our blog, which is updated regularly. We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Trina Davis (B.S.’01/H&S; M.S.W.’07/SW) drew on her experience as a sexual assault survivor to start The Chrysalis Society Foundation Inc.
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Field placements are essential to social work education
The Office of Field Education works year-round to find field placements for all our students. With the continued growth of the school, we need your help more than ever. Partnerships “don’t just start and end with the placement of students, but include the creation or expansion of community programming,” says Stephanie Grady Odera, Ed.D. (B.S.W.’04/SW; M.S.W.’06/SW), director of field education. You can help VCU SSW by identifying your organization or an organization you know as a prospective field placement site.
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Field assignments provide irreplaceable real-world experience
Two students share their life-changing stories in their field placements working at the VCU Health adult sickle cell program.
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Associate professor honored for commitment to social justice
Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., was recognized for her advocacy with a VCU Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment.
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Save the date
The C. Bernard Scotch Fund presents the “Social Work and Climate Change: Lessons on Interdisciplinary Response” webinar Oct. 19.
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We Are Why Scholarship information session
Save the date for a WAW info session on Oct. 28 to learn how you can support students interested in working with and for Black Communities.
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To connect
For more than 100 years, the VCU School of Social Work has educated future generations of social work professionals in theory and practice. Sixty-nine percent of our alumni choose to stay in Virginia to live, work and practice. Connect with us and 10,000 alumni making a difference every day.
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University and community news
- Professor Miriam Kuttikat, Ph.D., receives project funding from the university’s Presidential Research Quest Fund
- Ph.D. student named Champion of Accessibility and other student accomplishments
- Former associate professor Basil Gooden, Ph.D., named director of state operations for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Assistant professor Kyeongmo Kim, Ph.D., receives Rising Star award in gerontology research
- VCU Alumni magazine has a new website
- Vee Lamneck (M.S.W.’13/SW), Allison Gilbreath (B.S.W.’11/SW; M.S.W.’16/SW), Emily Clark (M.S.W.’06/SW) and associate professor Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., quoted in Richmond Times-Dispatch
- Associate professor Youngmi Kim, Ph.D., studying VCU student food insecurity
- Katelyn Sallee (M.S.W.’17/SW) named to natural resources position in Northam administration
- ‘Pride: In their own words’ features professor Liz Cramer, Ph.D.
- Connect with the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program
- Dean Beth Angell on Juneteenth and the work still to be done
- The JXN Project aims to tell Black Richmond’s stories ‘truthfully and completely’
- Discussion explores best foster care practices for engaging youth identifying as LGBTQ+
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