Three new faculty members joined the Pitt School of Social Work in fall 2021: Drs. Victor Figuereo, Nev Jones, and Brooke Rawls. Learn more about the new faculty and their research on the Pitt Social Work website.

On Nov 11th/12th, Pitt assistant professor Nev Jones will be co-leading an invited workshop on lived experience involvement in early intervention in psychosis research as part of the international IEPA Early Intervention in Mental Health conference. Registration and more information.

BASW student (and BASW Club President) Ellyana Gomez has created a cookbook addressing food justice that was highlighted at WVU. The cookbook is featured in the Food Justice in Appalachia exhibit at WVU until June. The virtual exhibit can be found here. Gomez does have a blog/website where people can find updates about the book and even become a partner for book donations to hunger nonprofits at fulltablefullplate.com. Read more.

BASW student Teshiana Smith-Nicols talks to West Virginia Public Broadcasting about volunteering as an advocate to help make changes to how the government deals with foster children as they approach their 18th birthday, like help with housing assistance and health care. Listen here.

Alumna and MSW Program-Johnstown adjunct instructor, Erika Brosig was recently featured in Lifetime's Aly Raisman: Darkness To Light, a three-hour documentary special, which reveals the tumultuous journey to healing from the perspective of sexual assault survivors. Watch here.

Doctoral Alumna Kess L. Ballentine and Doctoral Candidate Jihee Woo published a new article using SEM to examine how emotional labor and work-family interaction affect well-being among practicing social workers. Read the article here: Structural Equation Model of Emotional Labor, Work–Home Interaction, and Well-Being | Social Work Research | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

MSW alumnus Wayne Edmonds went to Notre Dame in autumn 1952 from the western Pennsylvania coal town of Canonsburg. He became the first Black player to earn a Monogram in football. He majored in sociology and, after graduation, went on to earn a master’s degree in social work at the University of Pittsburgh. He had a long and highly successful career in social work, education, and physical fitness. Read more about his legacy at Notre Dame.

From October 20 – November 20, Pitt Social Work is running its internal United Way campaign to try to reach our school-wide goal of $12,000 in pledged donations to the United Way. We are profiling a handful of Social Work staff and faculty who supported area organizations through United Way last year to inspire our Pitt SW community to give generously this year and help us meet our goal. Read about Vince Burns, Fiscal and Human Resources Manager at the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center