February 14, 2022
Pitt School of Social Work Weekly E-blast
Social Work alumni’s donation ensures fellowship will continue
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work alumni Jim (SOC WK ‘73) and Noel (SOC WK ‘74) Browne have been supporting the Browne Leadership Fellows Program since 2011. With their new gift of $1 million dollars, the fellowship is now fully funded and will continue to support students with an interest in social and economic justice for years to come. Read more.
‘Not their first worry’: How pandemic learning loss impacts foster youth already facing challenges
Research Associate Professor Mary Beth Rauktis wrote a first-person essay for Public Source about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected foster kids and their education. Read the full essay on the Public Source website.
New to Pitt: For Rawls, the desire to teach has always been strong
Brooke Rawls always thought of herself a teacher as she managed social workers in various healthcare settings, most recently UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

Now that she is a teacher — starting as a faculty member in the School of Social Work in June — she still keeps her hand in social work practice, working occasional weekend shifts back at Magee. Read more.
Supporting Black Students across the Education Sciences
Associate Dean for Diveristy, Equity, and Inclusion James Huguley will be a panelist for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans (WHIEEAA) housed at the U.S. Department of Education in the upcoming virtual roundtable titled Black Voices in Education Research: Supporting Black Students across the Education Sciences on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. The event is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. Register here.
ICYMI: Haben Girma Lecture
Celebrate CRSP 20th! Florence Gibbs Momeyer Endowed Lecture featuring Haben Girma (Only available for viewing by University of Pittsburgh community members). Watch here and read the University Time's recap of the lecture here.
Why did you become a social worker?
Social Work Month is just around the corner and we'd like to highlight our faculty, students, and alumni on our social media platforms! So take one minute and answer the question--"Why did you become a social worker?" Start survey now.
Racial Equity Consciousness Institute: Enrollment Open
The Racial Equity Consciousness Institute is a seven-session series of immersive engagement modules that takes a systems thinking approach to analyze the complexity and pervasiveness of racism, and reflect on what participants can do, individually and collectively, to advance racial equity in their communities. The institute begins February 15th, enroll now!
Community Engaged Scholarship Forum: Advancing Community Resilience
The University of Pittsburgh Community Engaged Scholarship Forum (CESF) elevates, celebrates, and reflects on collective approaches to community-engaged scholarship through the development of sustainable partnerships that build deep, reciprocal processes to achieve mutually beneficial, community-identified priorities. It is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022 from 12pm-8pm EST. Register here.
Upcoming Events
  • February 15, 2022: Supporting Black Students across the Education Sciences w/ Dr. James Huguley. 2-3:30pm. Register here.

  • February 16, 2022: Pitt MSW Field Placement Information Session. 5-6pm. Register here.

  • February 16, 2022: Career Workshop: Effective Job Interviewing – In-person & Virtually. 6-7pm. Register here.

  • February 18, 2022: Continuing Education: Shame and Body Image. 9am-12pm. Register here.

  • February 21, 2022: Pitt MSW Curriculum-Specific Information Session. 5-6pm. Register here.

  • February 22, 2022: Pitt MSW Fellowship Information Session. 5-6pm. Register here.

  • February 23, 2022: 5th annual joint Baker Fellowship and LEND Interprofessional (Virtual) Symposium. 12-3:30pm. Register here.

  • February 23, 2022: Career Workshop: UPMC “Meet And Greet” Mary E. Veihdeffer, MSW, LCSW. 12-1pm. Register here.

  • February 25, 2022: Continuing Education: Evidence-Based Interventions for Challenging Behaviors. 10am-12pm. Register here.

  • February 25, 2022: Continuing Education: Successful Implementation of Behavioral Interventions. 1-3pm. Register here.

  • February 28, 2022: Continuing Education: Seeing Clearly Through a Trauma Lens: Tour of the Healing Rivers Project (In Person Training). 8:30am-12pm. Register here.


For a complete listing of upcoming events please visit the
Please share our e-blast with your contacts and send any story ideas to shm87@pitt.edu.