Faculty and alumnae among 2023 SWAG Awardees

The class of 2023 of S.W.A.G. Awardees honors several social work alumnae--including faculty member and Director of Community Engagement Aliya Durham. Other Pitt Social Work alumnae who are honored include: Anette Nance, Kiera Mallett, Kimberly Washington, and Tierra L. Thorne. Read more and purchase tickets for the March 2023 event here.

Field Faculty Profile: Alicia Melnick

Learn more about Field Assistant Professor Alicia Melnick, MSW! Alicia’s undergraduate degrees are from Mount Union College in Ohio. She has a BA in Psychology with minors in sociology and theater. She received her MSW from Pitt with a Concentration in DP – Gerontology, where she was in the 2nd cohort of the Hartford Fellowship. She is currently in school for her DSW at Walden University with a concentration in social work education. Read more.

Field Student Profile: Riquel Williams 

Read about MSW student Riquel Williams and her thoughts on her field placement at Manchester Citizens Corporation. As a macro practitioner, she hopes to engage with different systems to build effective and high-performance organizations to build strong communities. Read more.

Special speaker today at noon!

As part of Pitt's School of Social Work's ongoing Anti-Racist Learning Collaborative (ARLC) series, we invite you to: A conversation on reproductive justice with  Sydney Etheredge, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania. Facilitated by Dr. Sara Goodkind.

TODAY AT NOON

2017 Cathedral of Learning or Zoom

A light lunch will be provided.

Panel: The Health and Policy Implications of Building Income Supports for Low-Income Families with Young Children

Professors Sara Goodkind and Jeff Shook have an article coming out in the December 2022 issue of Health Affairs (co-authored with doctoral program alumna Kess Ballentine) entitled “How low-paid parents navigate the complex financial landscape of benefits cliffs and disincentive deserts”. Dr. Ballentine will be presenting on this Thursday, December 8, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern for a virtual briefing event at which selected authors and experts will present their work. They will discuss how policy makers can better understand the drivers of disparities in access to income support programs – including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program – and identify and evaluate innovative strategies to reduce these disparities. Register here.

Alumna joins Pitt’s Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement in a new director role

The University of Pittsburgh’s Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement has named MSW alumna Dan’Talisha Deans (SOC WK ’12G) its inaugural director of development for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). In the new position, her core responsibility is to facilitate fundraising and programming that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion at Pitt and within the communities the institution serves. Additionally, she will be a content expert and thought leader on general DEIB engagement. Read more.

MSW alumnus speaks about his life-changing experiences

Johnnie Geathers, MSW, LSW shared inspirational tips and strategies for balancing the demands of Greek life, leadership, community service, and self-care with members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.’s Gamma Alpha Tau Zeta Chapter in November. Reflecting on an undetected medical emergency that resulted in his hospitalization, Geathers recounted the devasting effects of experiencing 3 seizures in his sleep in 2018. Unable to care for himself, work, or fulfill his leadership role with Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., he returned home to recover. His reflections were equal parts cautionary tale and call to action as service, leadership, and scholarship are foundational principles of Greek life. Moreover, Geathers emphasized how this experience informs his clinical approach to social work practice. Geathers is flanked by many Pitt alumni including MSW alums LaDina Anderson Strothers (2012), Stephanie Davis (2008), and Dr. Aliya Durham (2002).

Winter Donation Drive led by MSW student

MSW student Hadar Re’em is currently in Professor Danny Rosen's Human Behavior in the Urban Environment class and as part of the "Improve Your City" assignment for the course is running a winter donation drive in partnership with Street Medicine at Pitt. Support our neighbors that sleep outside this winter by donating supplies you are giving to someone that

lives in our community. Donations accepted through Friday, December 16th. The collection box is in the Social Work lounge on the 23rd floor of the Cathedral of Learning (Room 2306).

Looking for vendors: Pitt Social Work Gift Guide

Are you a Pitt Social Work student or alumni who makes or sells products? If so, please let us know! We are creating a Pitt Social Work Holiday Gift Guide and would like to support our community. Send information to shm87@pitt.edu by December 8, 2022. 

2023 Excellence in Social Work Practice Awards

Excellence in Social Work Practice Awards recognize Master’s students in the Pitt School of Social Work who demonstrate exemplary commitment to their social work professional development. The awards are given to students completing specialized study and displaying outstanding potential as social workers. These awards are made possible by the generosity of alumni and friends of the School. Each award carries a small monetary recognition. Read more about the awards and nominate a student today!

Pitt Social Work sponsors holiday toy drive

We are excited to continue supporting our community partners Primary Care Health Services and Alma Illery Medical Center in Homewood as they brings holiday cheer to children ages 4 months through 13 years. From Monday, November 14th through Friday, December 16th, you can grab a gift tag on display in the Dean’s suite to purchase and return wrapped and unwrapped gifts for children. 

Suggested gift items include: books; toys; games; non-flammable jammies; and gift cards. All donations should be placed in the donation collection box—in the Dean’s suite—by 5PM on Friday, December 16.