impact Winter/Spring 2020
Boston University School of Social Work
Bridging the Cultural Parenting Gap Connecting the Dots CISWH Takes Public Health Social Work to the Next Level
Championing Policy Change Professor Ha Uncovers Crucial Social Policy Gaps
A Lifetime of Giving Annette Schaffer Eskind (SSW’51)
volume 1, number 1
impact
Winter/Spring 2020
Boston University School of Social Work Dean/Director, CISWH Jorge Delva, PhD Executive Editor Michele Walsh Marketing & Communications Director Senior Editors/Writers Lily Rothman Marketing & Communications Specialist Kristen Walsh KMW Creative Contributors Kelsey Montgomery Marketing & Communications Manager Kate DeForest Assistant Dean, Development Louise Kennedy Senior Writer/Editor, Development Communications Maura King Scully Patricia Murray DiBona Project Manager Kristen Walsh KMW Creative Design Amy Arnpriester A.Design Photography Katherine Taylor Brian Smith Dana Quigley Shawn Read Impact is produced annually by the BUSSW Marketing & Communications team, in conjunction with Development and Alumni Relations. For more information, visit us at bu.edu/ssw Comments or suggestions? Please share your feedback with us: BU School of Social Work Marketing & Communications 264 Bay State Rd. Boston, MA 02215 or bussw@bu.edu Address updates Postmaster: Send address changes to Boston University Gifts and Records 595 Commonwealth Ave, 7th Floor Boston, MA 02215 Boston University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.
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[contents] Features
Departments
#6
1 reflect a message from the dean
Researchers improve resources and support for Asian American parents and caregivers.
1 ponder spotlight question/feedback
# 10
2 changemakers school news
Taking public health social work to the next level.
14, 23 advocates ambassadors and supporters
# 16
20, 26 innovators students and faculty
Bridging the Cultural Parenting Gap
Connecting the Dots
Championing Policy Change Assistant professor Yoonsook Ha fills a unique niche in the U.S.—uncovering gaps in social policies that impact low-income families.
# 18
A Lifetime of Giving From Boston to Nashville, Annette Schaffer Eskind (SSW’51) has made a lifetime of giving back.
22 field alums and agencies 24 community partners and collaborators
28 donors 34 onward
class notes/in memory
Cover photo of Judith Scott and Giles Li: Katherine Taylor
, Photo: Katherine Taylor
reflect
A Note From the Dean IT IS WITH PRIDE that I introduce our newly designed BUSSW magazine, Impact. Its name reflects the influence our students and alumni are having in the world—the ways in which faculty are continuously fostering a better learning environment for students and conducting research that impacts programs and policies in the “real world”—and the continuous commitment of the school’s staff to increase the efficiency and efficacy of operating such a complex organization. We could not be as successful as we are without the extraordinary contributions of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. And speaking of our BUSSW community, on behalf of the entire school I extend my most sincere and heartfelt “thank you” for your contributions that allowed our school to raise over $26 million—nearly 30% more than the school’s initial goal of $20 million. These funds will be utilized to provide much-needed financial assistance to students and to support our learning and research initiatives. Among the support provided is an endowment that allowed for the creation of the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH), which has led to tangible innovation. CISWH has played a leading role in turning a study by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)—entitled “Integrating Social Care into the Delivery of Health Care: Moving Upstream to Improve the Nation’s Health“—into a reality. The report identifies present and emerging strategies for the health sector to address what they refer to as “social care” or the types of services traditionally provided by the human services sectors to meet basic social and economic needs. Additionally, due to my role as CISWH Director and Paul Farmer Professor, I was honored to be invited by the leading health policy journal, Health Affairs, to serve as co-editor of a special issue entitled “Integrating Health and Human Services Sectors” to be published in 2020. Similar to the NASEM report, the publication will examine innovative collaborations between the health and human services sectors that provide a variety of services to meet both the health and social needs of the population. It is intended to stimulate more innovations by both sectors to improve the ways our country can meet our health care needs, reduce health inequities, and improve population health. This provides CISWH and BUSSW with a significant platform to showcase our advanced thinking and research. These initiatives, along with those led by the faculty, students, staff, and alumni, including our extensive community and government collaborations domestically and internationally, are all intended to fulfill the school’s vision—and I am proud to say we are closer to meeting that goal every day.
ponder
Jorge Delva Dean, Director and Paul Farmer Professor, Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health
Spotlight QUESTION: What is the most useful advice you’ve received about your social work career? Email us at bussw@bu.edu, tweet at us @BUSSW, or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/bussw
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changemakers
COLLABORATION
All in for Justice
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During the 2018-2019 academic year, 92 BUSSW faculty, staff, and administrators collaborated on an internal initiative to improve teaching and learning about racial and social justice. After unveiling the project at an interactive school assembly at the start of the fall semester, a committee was formed and soon developed a plan for Social Justice Learning Communities. These communities, or cohorts, have three primary goals:
1. To offer education and training about racial/social justice to all members of the BUSSW community
2. To develop shared organizational language, analytic frameworks, and practice about racial/social justice as applied to social work education 3. To apply the BUSSW shared framework and language to relationships with all members of the BUSSW community in order to improve our instruction and classroom learning environments
Each cohort met monthly for 90-minute sessions to discuss and apply learning materials to current challenges at our school and in their personal lives. Since then, the project has expanded to include:
• Cohort sessions for part-time lecturers, off-campus and online advisors, and facilitators
• A school-wide colloquium held this past fall: Smith College School for Social Work’s 25-Year Antiracism Commitment: What does it mean, how has it been experienced, and what can BUSSW learn from this? • Building Racial and Social Justice at BUSSW: monthly lunch and case consultations open to all community members • Social Justice in and out of BUSSW: a new committee to highlight social justice events in the larger community. Please contact Equity & Inclusion chairs Dawn Belkin Martinez or Ellen DeVoe if interested.
• Evaluation of the curriculum for social justice content
With this project, the hope is that together we will build collective understanding, promote clear communication, develop and analyze strategies for improvement, and identify points of unity and difference within the BUSSW community.
changemakers
In Memory of Beloved Colleague Judith Perlstein, a New Fund Supports Field Education At BUSSW, Judith Perlstein earned many titles. She was an advisor, faculty member, and associate director of Field Education; she was also a friend and leader known for her compassion, exuberant spirit, and dedication to social work education and social justice. During her 25 years at BUSSW—from 1993 to 2018—Perlstein created new field education programs, advising models, seminars, and workshops that enriched the relationships among advisors, students, and field instructors. She was also an avid rower and bicyclist, rowing most spring, summer, and fall mornings on the Mystic River and bicycling to work almost every day from her home in Cambridge. Perlstein was an active member of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the New England Consortium of Graduate Social Work Field Education Directors, and the Council on Social Work Education.
Judith was a pillar in the foundation of The Welcome Project. She cared about people and fought against oppression. She served on the board for 13 years, always ensuring the organization truly represented our constituents. —Ben Echevarria Jr., executive director of The Welcome Project
In 2018, Perlstein passed away from cancer. In her memory, local nonprofit The Welcome Project, where Perlstein served as a board member, initiated the Judith Perlstein Field Education Fund, which provides financial stipends to deserving students during their field placements with a preference for students assigned to The Welcome Project. Established in 1987 in Somerville, Massachusetts, The Welcome Project provides a diverse and creative array of civic engagement opportunities for immigrants and lower-income families. Together, participants help to shape community decisions in Somerville and collaborate on projects that celebrate the rich cultures and voices among the city’s immigrant population. n
Photo: Boston University School of Social Work
For information on how to give to the fund, please visit bu.edu/ssw/ and click the GIVE button.
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changemakers
BY THE NUMBERS ranked
#10
five locations
(out of 262 U.S. graduate schools of social work) by U.S. News & World Report
sssssssssssss
918 21
Bedford / Charles River Campus / Cape Cod / Fall River / Worcester
over 10,000
MSW students PhD students
GRADUATES:
All 50 states and across the globe
During the Campaign for BUSSW… • $26,437,636 RAISED • 2,714 individuals supported the school • $12.5M—SSW’s largest gift ever; created CISWH and the
school’s first-ever endowed professorship in Paul Farmer’s name See page 23 for more on the Campaign.
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Photo: Tony Irving
changemakers
Building Bridges: Q & A with Donor Cassandra Clay About Cassandra Clay (SSW’79): Boston University overseer u Donor u BUSSW professor emerita u Member of Dean’s Advisory Board u BUSSW campaign co-chair u Chair of BUSSW clinical practice department (2005-2009) u Founder of private counseling practice
» How has BUSSW shaped your career and you personally? I feel extremely lucky to have pursued a career in social work, and I’m honored to embrace my identity as a social worker. Every day I am convinced I chose the right professional path. While I started out as a teacher, I had conversations with students about other aspects of their lives and I soon learned that I needed additional training to continue this. I sought guidance from Hubie Jones, well-known social worker, activist, and the newly named dean of BUSSW. Thus, my journey began at BUSSW in 1977. Since then, much of my professional life has been at BUSSW as well—student, field education instructor, professor, and now volunteer as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board. Over the years, the school has provided a place where I could deepen my knowledge and skills in social work theory, leadership development, diversity, equity and inclusion, and research and writing. Since retiring from BUSSW, I’ve continued my career as a social worker through my clinical practice, consulting to nonprofits, coaching first-generation students and professionals, and board service to organizations that focus on housing stability, addiction, and trauma-informed services. I find that the BUSSW emphasis on combining clinical and macro practice skills has been a tremendous asset to all of my work.
» Why has the school played an important role in your philanthropy? Why have you chosen to give back? Social work education changed the trajectory of my life and my hope is that it can do the same for others. We are currently in a place where almost all nonprofit organizations are struggling to survive financially, causing many people to consider where their gifts can have the greatest impact. I believe that education continues to have a significant impact on the profession. More than ever, we need to train people to become social workers, particularly to work in communities whose residents have often been silenced, overlooked, or disenfranchised—and ideally train those who are themselves representatives of those communities. Focusing on physical or emotional health with a rich understanding of the social determinants of health is essential. Given the enormous expense of social work education and the continued low salaries for social workers, the debt incurred by students is another social justice issue that cannot be ignored.
» Why did you choose the Building Refugee and Immigrant Degrees for Graduate Education (BRIDGE) program for your recent gift? I was involved in the early development of BRIDGE under the leadership of the director, Lee Staples. Several of us worked diligently to keep the program afloat, despite minimal funding. We were acutely aware of newcomer immigrant populations in Boston who were being poorly served in traditional health/behavioral health settings. They turned to informal networks and volunteer helpers to assist with transitions to life in this country. We learned that many of these volunteer helpers had been newcomers themselves and had lost their professional careers when they came to the U.S. Encouraging them to consider a social work degree was our goal and thus BRIDGE was born. The success stories are powerful—many of the program’s graduates have gone to become social workers and returned to their newcomer communities to offer knowledge and skills, or now work in larger institutional settings representing the voices of newcomers. Given the louder anti-immigration voices in the country today, the need for the BRIDGE program is even more important. n Find BRIDGE profiles at bu.edu/ssw/bridge-alumni
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Bridging the Cultural Parenting Gap By Kristen Walsh
Researchers improve resources and support for Asian American parents and caregivers
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Photo: Katherine Taylor
From left: Giles Li and Judith Scott on a busy Wednesday at the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, where childcare and youth enrichment programs operate year-round
It has been said that parenting is one of the toughest jobs. Now imagine parenting in a foreign country with a set of family and social values that may or may not align with your native culture, while also facing financial, language, and other barriers. That scenario is not uncommon among Chinese immigrants. “When a person immigrates to another country, it can be challenging to figure out how to balance new values and practices with their own,” says Assistant Professor Judith Scott, who is the daughter of immigrant parents from Jamaica and personally understands the challenges of blending cultures. Scott is partnering with the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), as well as Julia Fleckman, PhD (Tulane University), and Bridget Cho, doctoral student at the University of Kansas, on
a research initiative focused on improving that experience. “One goal of our research is to think beyond Western parenting styles to determine the best ways to support and provide resources to this Asian American population. To do that, we’ll meet with members of the community and listen to their perspectives about parenting practices and the goals they want to achieve for their children.” The research team will conduct focus groups with clients of BCNC, which provides direct services to low-income Chinese families. “By sitting down with the people we serve, we will gain in-depth insight into the different ways both Chinese and American parenting styles are perceived by low-income Chinese caregivers,” says BCNC Chief Executive Officer Giles Li, who is a BCNC key research collaborator along
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“ When a person immigrates to another country, it can be challenging to figure out how to balance new values and practices with their own.” —Assistant Professor Judith Scott
with Director of Programs Yoyo Yau. “That better understanding will help us to offer culturally appropriate, sensitive support for parents, especially those going through hardships.” One of the key components of the research is its focus on low-income Asian American families whose voice, Scott says, is often not heard. “When it comes to Chinese parenting styles, much of the documented research focuses primarily on middle- or upper-income Asian Americans. But very little is known about the influence of physical, social, and cultural contexts among low-income first- and second-generation Chinese immigrant caregivers.” The project is a Research to Action Grant pilot program funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Finding Common Ground
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Most caregivers across cultures share a similar goal: to raise happy, well-adjusted children. However, caregivers from different cultures likely have different approaches to fulfilling this goal. MSW student Carolina Sopper (SSW’20), research assistant for the study, can vouch firsthand. During high school, the Vermont native participated in a year-long study abroad program that allowed her to live in China with a host family and learn Chinese while continuing to earn credits toward graduation. “My American parents considered my successful individuation to be part of their job. They considered doing my own laundry, learning to cook early, and not pinning my identity to external markers of success like grades, to be an integral part of this process,” Sopper says. “My host parents on the other hand, felt that my primary goal was to work hard and do well in school. In China, where entrance to college rides solely on one test at the end of high school, that orientation made sense. They did my laundry and shooed me out of the kitchen when I tried to help with cooking. Every day, my host father would review my homework, correct mistakes, and teach me about Beijing dialects and culture. They praised my diligence and discipline, and felt that I respected them by working hard.” Expressions of love from her host parents included non-verbal acts—serving her favorite food, making sure she was prepared for tests, and placing the best cut
of meat in her bowl. In contrast, her American parents were more likely to express their love by hugging and saying, “I love you.” “In my relationships with both my American parents and host parents, I knew their strong commitment to parenting had my best interests in mind. While the particulars may have been very different, the cadence of family life had similarities. Each family gathered for dinner in the evening and we talked about our days. And both my host mom and my American mom liked to join me for a walk each night after our meal. I really cherished this time for us to connect and learn what was on each other’s minds.”
Partnering Toward Action Sopper’s experience abroad is proof that knowledge strengthens cross-cultural understanding. The research project includes caregivers’ conceptualization of supportive, harsh, and abusive parenting in both their own culture and America. Once data is collected and analyzed from the Chinese caregivers, it will be shared with the participants for reflection. “There are very few opportunities in this country for these parents to just talk about parenting without a mandate or because they are being punished,” Scott says. “Through the focus groups, we want Chinese caregivers to be able to reflect on what other people in the community are saying and encourage them to think about their parenting practice.” When parents share stories and see that others may be struggling, she adds, they are able to gain confidence. Li says that many of the caregivers he interacts with at BCNC want to do the best they can as parents in a new society. “They want their children to have access to all of the same resources that Americans have for their children, yet as immigrants, they are often torn when determining the most appropriate and healthy way to raise their children based on cultural expectations that may differ from their own.” One challenge of the research will come in the form of translation. Scott says that the word “parenting,” for example, does not have a direct translation from American to Chinese. Other words such as “harsh,” “strict,” and “mean” also have meanings that differ from English meanings. Mock focus groups with BCNC staff members will help overcome some of those nuances, which play a role in delivering support services.
Photos: Shawn Read
“Part of the research outcome on a broader level is to help provide data for service providers to understand these nuances so they can better communicate with clients from this population,” Scott says. Data will also guide recommendations for service providers based on what caregivers feel they need. And a policy brief will help develop resources targeted at the influx of immigrants to communities such as Boston’s Chinatown. “Every society places pressure on parents to be fully formed and ready to go from day one, but there is continuous learning as a child grows, and parents should have permission to grow along with their children,” says Li. “At BCNC, we encourage that kind of continual growth among all of the caregivers we see.” Li and his staff will use the study’s findings to make their parenting interventions and programming more culturally relevant to their clients by highlighting the strengths associated with Chinese parenting. He says that BCNC has made it a point to partner with academic institutions to create conversations and knowledge-sharing. “There can never be too much understanding. Nor is there a point where we know everything we need to know about diverse populations in this country.” Scott believes that these kinds of partnerships are what truly bring research to action grants to life. “It is so important for us to understand each other’s practices, values, and beliefs so we don’t automatically judge someone in a negative way or ignore the context of the culture in which their practices were developed.” Increased awareness among providers has far-reaching implications. “The more we know about what caregivers need, the better we’ll be at tailoring effective resources for them,” Scott says. “In turn, caregivers will feel supported and be able to better connect with their child to ultimately help them thrive.” n
At BCNC, recreation spaces and programs like the Parent-Child Literacy Group offer growth and engagement opportunities for children and caregivers alike.
Research assistants collaborating on the Research to Action Grant include: Kendall Johnson, BUSSW doctoral student, 2022 Carolina Sopper, BUSSW MSW student, 2020 Yanyi Weng, BUSSW research assistant Xian Zhang, Tufts University, PhD 9
CONNECTING THE DOTS TAKING SOCIAL WORK AND PUBLIC HEALTH COLLABORATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL By Maura King Scully Design by Kelsey Montgomery
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. HIV/AIDS. SUBSTANCE USE. Public health tackles these problems “downstream,” in doctors’ offices and emergency rooms. Social workers can head these problems off “upstream,” where people are born, grow, live, work, and age. By virtue of their training, social workers intimately understand the interplay between health and social circumstances. These non-medical factors impacting physical and mental wellness, known as the “social determinants of health,” include factors such as poverty, housing, education, and discrimination. The reality is that these complex health issues are neither solely in the domain of social work nor public health—in fact, most will take interprofessional collaboration to solve. That’s where the Boston University School of Social Work’s Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) comes in. Faculty, students, practitioners, and researchers are working to improve health inequities by connecting people and systems across sectors so they can shift the status quo together. The goals of CISWH are far-reaching. The center is dedicated to expanding the impact of social work within health (public and population health, health care, and social determinants) to improve the physical condition and well-being of vulnerable populations both nationally and globally. By collaborating with professionals in public health, medicine, technology, and other relevant disciplines, they can improve outcomes and patient experience, reduce costs, and promote overall health equity and social justice.
Luz López and Joseli Alonzo (center) work with the Superemos Foundation to help provide social and medical services to Nicaraguan women affected by domestic violence. Photo: Rachel Bowers-Sword
TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES + HEALTH CARE In the villages and cities of northern Nicaragua, Luz Marilis López, director of the global health core, and BUSSW graduate students are working with the Superemos Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Estelí, to integrate social work services into medical care provided to women experiencing domestic violence. For the past 15 years, Superemos has partnered with an annual medical brigade led by Dr. Peter Loewinthan of BU School of Medicine and Dorchester House, in collaboration with BU’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and others. Two years ago López joined the inter-professional team and last February, accompanied by Joseli Alonzo (SSW’20), and former CISWH program manager Rachel Bowers-Sword (SSW’17, SPH’17), the team conducted domestic violence assessments during home visits. They also facilitated a workshop focused on family violence and trauma-informed care for faculty and students from the social work and psychology departments at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua. To expand CISWH community partnerships even further, the team met with Ministry of Health officials to discuss their unique medical care needs and how to collaborate with local clinics and providers to improve domestic violence services throughout the country.
The outputs of CISWH are equally expansive: community partnerships, outcomes-oriented research, capacity-building, training, policy analysis, and development. The following four projects are just a few examples of the scope and range of this vital work.
“The trip was an invaluable opportunity for students to learn how to conduct culturally specific assessments, as well as how to work with interprofessional teams.” — Luz Marilis López, CISWH global health core director and and BUSSW clinical professor
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH + ONCOLOGY Nationally, people of color are disproportionately affected by cancer. They die of the disease at higher rates than their white counterparts, and are far less likely to enroll in clinical trials and receive cutting-edge treatments. The reasons for these disparities are multifaceted, with deep historical and political roots. Community engagement can be a powerful tool in breaking down these barriers. It can provide researchers with a more nuanced understanding of patient experiences, priorities, and community conditions, while simultaneously empowering marginalized communities. Last year, researchers at the School of Social Work and Boston Medical Center (BMC) received a $250,000 award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to develop a patient advisory council within cancer care. Led by Linda Sprague Martinez, associate professor and chair of macro practice at BUSSW, and Dr. Marjory Charlot, former director of the clinical care trials program at BMC, with the support of Kelsi Carolan, BUSSW doctoral candidate, and MSW students Carmen Fonseca (SSW’19) and Cyrena Gawuga (SSW’19), the council provides valuable insights from the patient perspective that can be used to formulate solutions and strategies to tackle inequities in cancer care.
“Patients are central to our work, but their voice is often lost in the research process. At BUSSW and BMC, we are committed to finding ways for our patients to lead. They are experts in their lives. Only by partnering with them can we generate and test meaningful solutions.” — Linda Sprague Martinez, BUSSW associate professor and chair of macro practice Kelsi Carolan (far right) works with the patient advisory council to glean insights from their expectations and experiences with oncological care. From left: Donetta Andrews, Joseph Jones Jr., Cheri Clark Photo: Dana J. Quigley
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From left: Student Elizabeth Chalfin (SSW’19, SPH’20); researcher and CISWH Assistant Director Madi Wachman; and Clinical Professor Betty J. Ruth, director of the social work and public health dual degree program Photo: Katherine Taylor
SOCIAL WORK + HIGHER EDUCATION Roughly half of all social workers are employed in health settings—and over the next 10 years, it is projected that number will grow substantially. Understandably, those health social workers need a broad array of skills to enhance their impact, including health promotion, prevention, and other public health social work competencies. Now, thanks to the Advancing Leadership in Public Health Social Work (BU-ALPS) project at CISWH, this workforce has a variety of resources to strengthen their training. First, BU-ALPS provides stipends to students in the BU Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health programs. The grant also supports the development of three important tools: First is a handbook to promote quality improvement in the 46 MSW/MPH programs across the country. Authored by the BU-ALPS team—Principal Investigator (PI) Betty J. Ruth, CISWH director of the social work and public health dual degree program and BUSSW clinical professor; Co-PI Madi Wachman, CISWH assistant director; Co-PI Alexis Marbach, CISWH senior program manager; Jamie Wyatt Marshall, BU-ALPS principal consultant and project director for Group for Public Health Social Work Initiatives; and Nandini S. Choudhury, CISWH research assistant—it features an overview of the history, current strengths, and existing challenges associated with MSW/MPH program education, as well as practical resources such as program guidelines, an advising guide, an integrative seminar syllabus, and alumni profiles. Second, the BU-ALPS team produced a Public Health Social Work Toolkit for social work faculty and practitioners, including content on areas of practice, a public health social work course syllabus, and a resource directory. Finally, BU-ALPS hosted a national summit featuring key public health social work leaders, culminating in a guiding document for the continued revitalization of public health social work within the larger profession.
BU-ALPS is able to pursue this work thanks to funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“By strengthening public health social work, we enable the profession to more adeptly address health inequities and social determinants of health through collaboration across disciplines and sectors.” —Betty J. Ruth, director of social work and public health dual degree program and BUSSW clinical professor
PARENTING SERVICES + HIGHER EDUCATION A small percentage of parents in the U.S.—an estimated 2.3%—have intellectual disabilities, yet their children are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system. While child removal and placement in foster care is sometimes necessary to ensure safety, placement is also associated with negative outcomes for children as they transition into adulthood. How can this be addressed? Right now, there is a lack of data on programs that help parents with intellectual disabilities develop positive parenting skills to keep their children safe at home. CISWH researcher and Assistant Professor Astraea Augsberger wants to change that. Project IMPACT (Improving Parenting Achievements Together), in Westchester County, New York, helps prevent children from entering or re-entering foster care by providing intensive parent training where families need it most—in their own homes.
The team behind Westchester Institute’s Project IMPACT (from left): Dori Helenese, Juana Rosello, Trupti Rao, and Theresa Fitzpatrick Photo: Westchester Institute
Augsberger is examining the efficacy of the program along with Wendy Zeitlin, assistant professor at Montclair State University; Danielle Weisberg, director of the Children’s Advocacy Center and Child Welfare Services at Westchester Institute for Human Development; and Trupti Rao, director of Project IMPACT. The study’s findings will build evidence for parenting programs, while targeting the health inequities associated with race, class, and intellectual disability in the child welfare system.
“Through this academic-community partnership, we aim to raise awareness of the need for specialized services and determine the specific components of Project IMPACT that make it effective in keeping families together.” —Astraea Augsberger, CISWH researcher and BUSSW assistant professor
“With the right kind of support, parents with intellectual disabilities can safely care for their children, reducing rates of out-of-home placement and the poor outcomes that many children experience … We are optimistic that our innovative approach can be replicated in other communities.”
Astraea Augsberger, CISWH researcher and BUSSW assistant professor Photo: Katherine Taylor
— Danielle Weisberg, director of the Children’s Advocacy Center and Child Welfare Services at Westchester Institute for Human Development
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advocates
Q& A
Alumni Association Co-Presidents Interview by Lily Rothman
About Renee Siegel (SSW’15):
Manages the patient and family advisory councils (PFAC) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute u Adjunct faculty member for the social work program at Simmons University u Earned her MSW from BUSSW in 2015 with a focus in macro social work
The program perfectly illustrates our mission to ‘educate social workers in the community and for the community.
Photo: Brian Smith
About Daniel Do (SSW’14):
Social worker specializing in working with communities of color and persons identifying as LGBTQ+ u Completed BU’s dual degree program in social work and public health in 2014 u Currently enrolled in BUSSW’s PhD in Social Work program
advocates
» Why did you choose BUSSW?
Renee Siegel: At the time I applied, I was working on an inpatient psychiatric unit in a clinical capacity and I saw how systems and policy issues influenced how we cared for our patients. I was conflicted about choosing clinical or macro practice for my MSW program, but I really appreciated that BU offered both tracks and the option for taking courses in either. That was a very appealing factor for me, as was the urban mission.
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Daniel Do: The urban mission was also a big draw for me, in addition to the personal outreach I received from faculty during the application process. It showed a level of investment and support I was looking for in a graduate program. BUSSW also has a strong dual degree program [in social work and public health] and I knew that I wanted to practice social work within a clinical environment and combine it with a larger, system-wide public health view. I was also part of City Year [a nonprofit that helps to close gaps in high-need schools by supporting students’ academic and socialemotional development] and was very fortunate to be one of the first recipients of the City Year “Give A Year” scholarship at BU.
» What has been your career focus since graduation?
DD: I have led a few behavioral health care integration projects at community health centers in the area, and now my practice focuses on increasing access to mental health for LGBTQ+ people and people of color, including that intersectional identity. RS: I have been at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since my second-year field placement, where my work centered around patient and family engagement, patient experience, and advocacy. I now manage patients and advisory councils. Within this role, I am responsible for connecting our patient/family community to Dana-Farber staff and senior leadership, as well as leading projects and initiatives that impact the patient experience.
» You both recently started your position as Alumni Association co-president. What are your goals?
RS: We have a lot of very committed alumni who aren’t always as engaged as we would like. There is an opportunity to leverage their collective voice to partner with faculty and school leaders to help improve our programs. The discipline of social work is continuously evolving and as alumni and working professionals, we’re in the field experiencing that evolution. I believe our perspectives can help inform how we’re teaching future generations.
students and alumni of color. I want to explore how we can better support these students in the learning environment and after they graduate—as well as how we can strengthen the connection to current alumni in the area.
» Speaking as alumni leaders, why is supporting BUSSW philanthropically so important?
DD: My philosophy is to donate to funds that will help foster the changes you want to see at BUSSW. Personally, I like supporting the MSW/MPH dual degree program, the BRIDGE program, and the ALANA fund [for students of color], because we all know that graduate school is expensive. If we support student-centered programs, those students will have a more successful experience when they get here. RS: One key reason giving is so important is that, as a profession, social workers need support. Scholarships are vital. One reason I chose BUSSW over a state school is that I was provided with more scholarship funding so it became more affordable. Reflecting back on that, I think about all the connections I made because I was at a school with a great reputation; BUSSW opened the door to Dana-Farber. As a profession, we need to show that there is value in obtaining a degree in social work and that there is a financial return on that investment. The best way we can show that is by continuing to help bright and committed people gain access to our programs and contribute to the field.
» There are many ways alumni can support BUSSW initiatives. What program or cause at the school is most meaningful to you?
RS: As Dan mentioned, diversifying the student population is very important, as well as the faculty. Historically, social work has been a field dominated by white, middle-class women helping communities of color. There is a real opportunity for BUSSW right now to ensure that their programs are accessible and welcoming. There are existing efforts to focus on this, but there’s always room for improvement. DD: For me, the ALANA program is a great way for current students to make meaningful connections with each other. Now that I’m speaking as the Alumni Association co-president, I want to encourage donating to the program. If the school is increasing the number of diverse students, we want to be sure we have the right structure in place to support them, so they can be as successful as they can be in the program. n
DD: I agree. We have a strong voice and I don’t think we’re reaching a large enough segment of the alumni community. For me, one area of personal focus is 15
CHAMPIONING
policy xxxxxxx change
By Patricia Murray DiBona
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Assistant Professor Yoonsook Ha BUSSW fills alaunches new hybrid MSW program in response to community unique niche in the need. By Maura King Scully U.S.—uncovering legislators—28 of whom signed a letter advocating for Who better understands the needs of a community the BU MSW—the School of Social Work launched than social workers trained in that community? This is gaps inthe social the new hybrid program, bringing rigorous curriculum, premise behind BUSSW’s first-ever hybrid program practical research, and field placement opportunities to launched in Worcester. An innovative part-time policies that impact students in Worcester, the city that prides itself as the offering, it combines the best of classroom, field, and “Heart of the Commonwealth.” online learning to students in Central Massachusetts. low-income families. BUSSW was fortunate to tap the expertise of several The new program, launched in the fall semester, started off strong. “We were hoping for 10 students and we started the first cohort with 14,” says Mena daSilva-Clark, assistant dean of off-campus and online programs. “This tells you the need is there. This new hybrid program will address the ongoing need for social work education, field training, and community partnerships throughout Central Massachusetts.” With majors in both Clinical and Macro Social Work Practice—plus two track options—the Worcester hybrid program ensures that each student’s graduate program is specifically tailored to their academic goals and professional experience.
The program perfectly illustrates our mission to ‘educate social workers in the community and for the “Thecommunity. best part is that most of these students have grown up in the Worcester area,” daSilva-Clark says. “They know the community; they know the systems. We’re really excited, and the community is too. The program perfectly illustrates our mission to ‘educate social workers in the community and for the community.’”
community response
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The Worcester hybrid program was born of community need. After Wheelock College’s merger with Boston University in 2018, the existing Wheelock Worcester MSW program was continued only for existing students with a plan to close the program once they graduated. Encouraged by city leaders and state
Wheelock faculty and staff who knew the landscape well, having been involved with the Wheelock Worcester program since it launched in 2011. Hope Haslam Straughan, now clinical associate professor at BUSSW and former dean of the Wheelock School of Social Work, Leadership and Youth, says, “Through this new program, we want to contribute to the innovative initiatives happening throughout the Worcester area to meet the needs of this diverse community. We recognize the engagement of city officials, community leaders, and residents alike in this historic community and look forward to supporting this strong fabric of potential and resilience for Central Massachusetts.” Susan Brostrup-Jensen, campus director for the new program, adds, “Our vision is that we become an integral component of the resources in Worcester, and not just a satellite program housed here. In addition to building collaborations through field placements, we plan to create and participate in opportunities such as community events, trainings, and student projects.”
community impact According to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., the program comes at an opportune time. “Law enforcement, public health, hospitals, schools, and city government in Worcester are working together to fight back against the opioid addiction epidemic affecting everyone in the city. The presence of BU’s social work program can only help. Social workers are key to coping with this scourge,” he notes, working
Y
oonsook Ha knew she had a passion for policy research early on. While an undergraduate student studying social welfare in South Korea in the 1990s, she considered pursuing a clinical social work career inspired by volunteer work she did with children and youth in poverty. But a course in social policy set her on a different path. “I was fascinated by how social policies create a context for people who live in poverty,” says Ha. “Small changes to federal, state, and local policies—affecting resources such as child care subsidies, child support, maternal leave, and homeless shelters—make a big difference to the people who need them. My early introduction to the power of policy change set the parameters for my career.” After receiving her master’s degree in social welfare at Seoul National University in 1999, Ha began exploring universities that offered a new perspective. She chose to study abroad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning an MSW and a doctorate in social welfare. She became a faculty member at the University of South Carolina next, before joining BUSSW as an assistant professor in 2011.
According to Ha, although 17 million American children are eligible for child care subsidies, only 8% use them. “My research is focused on uncovering the reasons why.” In the past, changes related to employment, family members, or residence were reported in person to a Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency. In 2014, the Child Care and Development Block Grant made significant improvements, including allowing changes by email or phone and providing a three-month grace period for parents seeking new employment. “These were actually very significant policy changes,” says Ha, who is investigating how they affect stability in children’s subsidy use and care arrangements.
Mentoring Matters
On the local level, Ha engages directly with vulnerable populations, especially those not utilizing resources for which they are eligible. She wants to understand their needs and barriers to access within a community context— ideally finding practical solutions to remove those barriers. Her current work involves collaborating on a community-engagement study with Dr. Lucy Marcil, a pediatrician with Boston Medical Center (BMC) and co-founder of BMC’s StreetCred program, which provides free tax services to families eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). “Though the EITC is the most impactful anti-poverty policy, 20% of eligible families don’t claim the benefit on their taxes,” says Ha. The pilot study, funded by the Boston University Initiative on Cities, will investigate why through a partnership with Epiphany, an independent school for children of economically disadvantaged families in Boston.
Though Ha admits her immigration to the U.S. as a young woman was daunting, she says her professors and colleagues provided immeasurable support. “My mentor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison pushed me intellectually in every way possible—teaching me to think critically and helping me develop research and presentation skills. At the University of South Carolina, my mentor helped me navigate the professional world in academia, focused my research, and was a major source of support and friendship.” Ha returns the favor as a research mentor for doctoral social work students at BUSSW and early career researchers and students nationwide.
Photo: Brian Smith
Policy Action = Accessibility
Most of Ha’s research uses quantitative data. She studies large-scale federal and state data sets to find barriers to safety-net benefits and ways to eliminate the disparities— ultimately improving the wellbeing of low-income families. “Not many social workers focus on this area,” she says, likening her work to that of public policy economists. Over the last decade, her research has been awarded more than $3.3 million—primarily in child care policy. Most recently, she received a $1.6 million grant to investigate the linkage between child care policies and child developmental outcomes. Since 2013, Ha has been a principal investigator with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, evaluating changes in the child care subsidy policy with a grant from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Although 17 million American children are eligible for child care subsidies, only 8% use them. Community Advocate
Government Agency Partnerships Ha says strong connections with government agencies are crucial to policy research success. “It takes a long time to build relationships with government agencies and gain access to administrative data, so it’s important to forge bonds with the right people.” One of the most significant and little-known aspects of policy change is that it happens behind the scenes, not at the hands of policy makers, according to Ha. “Once legislation passes, rules and regulations are made at the administrative level. That’s where policy is shaped. Working closely with state and federal administrators, social work researchers actually help formulate those policies, not only before they become law, but after.” Proving that social workers truly are policy change agents. n
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A Lifetime of Giving By Patricia Murray DiBona
• Photos by Wade Payne
From her roots in Boston to her social work career in Nashville, Tennessee, Annette Schaffer Eskind (SSW’51) has made a lifetime of giving back to the communities she loves. Annette Schaffer Eskind (SSW’51) grew up in a large Jewish family in Brookline, Massachusetts, for whom the act of giving was … a given. So, it came as no surprise that she was drawn to volunteerism while completing her bachelor’s degree at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania. “At school, we were asked to choose something of interest beyond academics,” recalls Eskind. “I volunteered with children each week and found it so rewarding that I continued through my junior and senior years.” When she returned to Boston and enrolled in BUSSW, it was a fateful move—both professionally and personally. 18
Eskind found her niche in child and family social work while completing a field education internship at Boston Children’s Hospital. “I worked one-on-one with children who had lifethreatening conditions and their parents,” says Eskind, who wrote her master’s thesis on parental reactions to poor medical prognoses in children. She also met and married Irwin Eskind, MD, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, then a resident in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital (now Boston Medical Center).
CREATING FAMILIES
Eskind and her husband, who died in 2005, had two sons, Steven and Jeffrey, now both doctors in Nashville. “I was very pregnant with Steven when I received my diploma at BU,” Eskind says. After her husband completed his fellowship in gastroenterology at Lahey Clinic in 1954, the family relocated to Nashville. “I was ambivalent about moving,” Eskind explains. “But I grew to love our Nashville community.” In 1958, Eskind put her social work training to use at Jewish Family Services in Nashville as a caseworker charged with placing children with adoptive families. “I found working in the adoption field truly meaningful. I enjoyed helping to create families for people who wanted and needed them.” She retired from Jewish Family Services in 1990 after serving as a casework supervisor for over four decades.
GENEROSITY IN NASHVILLE
Known for her dedication to children and education, Eskind was appointed by Nashville’s mayor to a three-person committee to address equity and excellence in metropolitan schools in 1993. A member of the Nashville Board of Education for nine years, she created the Nashville Public Education Foundation to benefit public schools with a $1 million grant. The Annette Eskind Institute of Learning at Currey Ingram Academy, a K-12 school for students with learning differences in Brentwood, Tennessee, provides educational resources focused on child development and learning. Over several decades, nearly 70 organizations in and around Nashville have reaped the benefits of Eskind’s leadership and generosity. She has received a YMCA Woman of Prominence Award, a United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Award, the Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the President’s Award of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Foundation, established in 1985, has been instrumental in funding numerous organizations throughout the area. Prior to his death, Dr. Irwin Eskind established the Vanderbilt-Eskind Diabetes Clinic and the Annette Schaffer Eskind Chair at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, where his wife chaired the Leadership Council of the Center for Research on Human Development.
endowed scholarship at Boston University in 1994. The Annette Schaffer Eskind Scholarship provides need-based scholarship awards to students at the School of Social Work. “I believe it’s important that students who need financial help can get it,” she says. “The cost of education is so prohibitive these days. I want to give social work students the opportunity to study, and the freedom to do so without worrying where the next penny comes from.” For her generosity to Boston University over the years, Eskind was recently named to the William Fairfield Warren Society, honoring the approximately 120 living individuals and families who have made gifts to the university totaling $1 million or more.
A PROUD LEGACY
“I’ve led a full and fortunate life,” says Eskind, a grandmother and great-grandmother. She says her extended family has brought her enormous personal pride, as has her involvement in causes benefitting health care, education, and the arts. “It is so important to support the organizations that shape our communities.” Eskind says her community volunteerism and philanthropy has brought her immense satisfaction. And her years as a social worker in the area of adoption proved deeply meaningful. When asked for words of wisdom for aspiring social workers, Eskind shared this message: “The field of social work has grown and changed so much since I got my degree. It’s very specialized now, but the role of social worker remains important—even more so in today’s society. To find success in the field, I encourage students to really listen and develop compassion for others. You can find true meaning in giving back to others.” n Annette Eskind displays her medal from the William Fairfield Warren Society.
GIVING BACK TO BUSSW
Eskind is keenly aware that financial instability can jeopardize education and employment goals, having watched her graduate school classmates juggle classwork with families and jobs. Determined to lessen the burden for today’s social work students, she established an 19
innovators
About Linda Sprague Martinez:
Photo: Brian Smith
Chair and associate professor of macro practice u Research agenda focuses on community-driven health and development initiatives for children, youth, and families, including health equity and the social determinants of health Interview by Kristen Walsh » Why did you choose social policy?
As a bilingual therapist in a community mental health center in the late 1990s, I provided counseling for diverse Black and Latinx families, many dealing with barriers associated with systems such as immigration, housing, social services, education, and health care. For me, it brought to light the fact that systems are not designed for everyone. We need social workers both “upstream” advocating for policy change and “downstream” in a clinical capacity with children, youth, and families.
» If you had infinite time and resources to spend on one aspect of your work, what would it be?
My time and resources would go into a community research center with pipeline programming designed to engage young people in health and research careers. We would identify research field placements for diverse Black and Latinx high school students to provide a comprehensive, clear path to four-year academic institutions. We would also launch an educational campaign, using an arts and community action model, on the real history of the U.S. in an effort to dismantle white supremacy culture.
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» In your work, when have you experienced the satisfaction of knowing that you made a real impact?
As an educator, I am committed to the critical education and training of the next generation of social work professionals. I am most excited when students stretch their thinking, take intellectual risks, and begin to think outside the box—challenging oppressive norms and ideology designed to maintain the status quo. How and what we teach matters if we want to see a change and, more importantly, if we are going to dismantle oppressive systems. Whose voice do we prioritize? Whose knowledge do we assign value to? All these things matter.
» Throughout your career, what has been your best decision and worst?
I think my worst decisions are the times I prioritized work over family or when I’ve stayed silent—when there was a clear opportunity to address a microaggression. My best moments were those in which I was fearless and free, speaking my mind and challenging injustice, and naming white supremacy culture and the ways in which it operates in organizations, institutions, and broader societal systems. n
innovators
About Chris Salas-Wright: Chair and associate professor of human behavior u Research agenda focuses on cultural stress and resilience among immigrants, and the prevention of alcohol and other drug misuse among adolescents Interview by Kristen Walsh » If you had infinite time and resources to spend on one aspect of your work, what would it be?
I would focus on the Venezuelan migration crisis. The United Nations estimates that the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has led to more than four million Venezuelans leaving their country as a result of food scarcity, hyperinflation, and other serious challenges. One of the most exciting things I’m doing right now is working with Venezuelan youth, families, and community leaders as they resettle in Miami and elsewhere in the Americas.
» If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes, who would it be?
A developing adolescent—to understand their perspective on the pressures, challenges, and appeal of social media. My current project is focused on how Latino adolescents understand and experience youth violence. I’ve conducted focus groups with young people in Boston, Orlando, and Miami and it has been fascinating to see how teens make sense of “how young people hurt one another”—and to see that this conversation largely, but not entirely, focuses on social media. Talking with youth has taught me a great deal, especially considering social media was not part of the landscape when I was an adolescent.
» What would you be doing if you weren’t a social worker?
I would be a youth baseball coach and perhaps moonlight as a play-by-play announcer. Growing up, I always loved baseball and it has continued to be a source of fun and excitement for me well into adulthood. Currently, I volunteer as a youth soccer coach and this spring I will coach Little League as well. While raising my own children, and spending a lot of time with young people and families, it has become clear to me that sports can be a really important source of fun, meaning, and growth for many young people. I am also considering a research project on the role of youth baseball in Latin American immigrant communities.
satisfaction of knowing that you made an impact?
Unquestionably, the most important and concrete way that I see my work making an impact is in the classroom. Working with students is a fun, exciting, and deeply satisfying experience. As an instructor, you do the best you can to help your students grow, and you see—over the course of a semester—students take hold of new concepts and use them in ways that are exciting. n
Photo: Katherine Taylor
» In your work, when have you experienced the
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field
Meaningful Contributions Kristina Normann (SSW’11) believes that individual differences shouldn’t limit opportunities By Kristen Walsh Photo: Zac Balge
Kristina Normann (SSW’11) was in middle school when she suddenly lost her father and began seeing a counselor to help her cope. “It was the first time I realized I could get support from a professional, which was very meaningful to me at that time. She was someone I could talk to at school—someone who would listen and empathize.” The experience was so meaningful that, without realizing it, it informed Normann’s path toward social work. But that wasn’t all. Her now single mother had to take on the role of both parents—everything from mowing the lawn to taking care of the house to making sure her daughter “stayed on track.” “Though I was fortunate to be living in a college town with educational access, I still understood what it was like to struggle financially,” recalls Normann, who grew up in Boulder, Colorado. “That motivated me to want to work with people who are struggling as well.”
Despite people’s differences, there is this shared humanity. We all want to live happy, productive lives and feel connected. As an undergraduate sociology major, Normann was fascinated by different demographics and behaviors. “I learned that the context in which you are born— culture, neighborhood, social class, race, ethnicity, and gender, for example—significantly impacts your life going forward. I realized that pursuing a master’s degree in social work would be the most meaningful way I could make a positive contribution.” When it came time to consider a graduate degree, Normann wanted to engage with populations different than those she knew in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. “BUSSW’s urban mission drew me in. I felt that I needed exposure to a city population as part of my education.” And it did become part of her education. Normann’s internship during her first year was at Boston Family Shelter working on case management and housing for single mothers and children from diverse populations. In addition to training students to engage with people 22
from very different backgrounds, Normann says that BUSSW taught her self-awareness and how to recognize what social workers bring to any relationship—including unconscious biases that exist simply because of life experiences. “I wish everyone could study social work and gain self-awareness, because sometimes it feels as if our society is totally lacking empathy for our neighbors.” Normann returned to her home state after graduation and spent eight years at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless before opening a private practice in 2016. As a social worker, she is most impressed by the trust that she is able to build with her clients, as well as the value in people working together to create positive change. Those types of connections also come to light through her work as the Colorado Chapter Representative for the Boston University Alumni Association and as a field instructor for BUSSW students, including two who interned with her at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. “I wanted to be a resource because I know how challenging it is to juggle coursework with an internship and sometimes a full-time job,” says Normann of her work as a field instructor. “I received that kind of support from my academic advisor when I was a student, so, I wanted to pay it forward.” In June 2019, she became a BUSSW online program regional advisor, assisting students with field placements and supporting them throughout their internships. Reflecting on her continued connection with BUSSW and what she carries with her today, Normann circles back to what she learned as a student. “Despite people’s differences, there is this shared humanity. We all want to live happy, productive lives and feel connected.” n
advocates
Giving Matters The Campaign for BU opens new doors for social work students and researchers, thanks to gifts from more than 2,700 individual donors By Kate DeForest It was 2010 and an ambitious fundraising goal was set for BUSSW as part of the Campaign for BU: $20 million. Dean Emerita Gail Steketee recalls the start of the campaign. “I remember wondering how we were ever going to reach that objective.” On September 21, 2019, it was clear. As the greater university community joined together to celebrate the successful completion of the Campaign for BU with a special event at Agganis Arena—including all 17 schools and colleges—the university announced it set a record-breaking milestone with $1.85 billion raised during the campaign. “And thanks to our outstanding alumni and strong supporters, BUSSW also met and exceeded our initial goal,” says Steketee. The school realized unprecedented success, raising over $26 million—well over the goal of $20 million set in 2010—from 2,714 individuals along with significant support from foundations, corporations, and organizations. “These gifts pave the way for students to afford our top-10 ranked MSW and PhD programs in social work.”
Four BUSSW graduates were also recognized as members of BU’s William Fairfield Warren Society honoring donors of $1 million or more. Seventy-five individuals made legacy gifts totaling $3.4 million via their estate plans, ensuring a strong base of support for BUSSW in the future. A large percentage of BUSSW campaign gifts also supported programmatic work at the school and faculty research initiatives. “The impact of these gifts is incredible,” says Dean Jorge Delva. “We will be able to offer more scholarships and field stipends to help alleviate our students’ financial burdens, and support research and training initiatives at the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health—all of which will make a difference in communities locally and globally. Together we will lift up the social work profession and train the next generation of social justice leaders and changemakers. I am deeply grateful to all who contributed during the campaign and look forward to building on this success moving forward. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” n
CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • $12.5 million gift to endow the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health and the Paul Farmer Professorship—BUSSW’s first named professorship • Creation of eight need-based scholarships and new funds to support key priorities including: — The BRIDGE program (Building Refugee and Immigrant Degrees for Graduate Education) — Addiction research — Field education stipends
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community
Staking a Claim in Worcester BUSSW launches new hybrid MSW program in response to community need Who better understands the needs of a community than social workers trained in that community? This is the premise behind BUSSW’s first-ever hybrid program launched in Worcester in fall 2019. An innovative part-time offering, it combines the best of classroom, field, and online learning to students in Central Massachusetts. The new program started off strong. “We were hoping for 10 students and we started the first cohort with 14,” says Mena daSilva-Clark, assistant dean of off-campus and online programs. “This tells you the need is there. This new hybrid program will address the ongoing need for social work
By Maura King Scully
education, field training, and community partnerships throughout Central Massachusetts.” With majors in both clinical and macro social work practice—plus two track options—the Worcester hybrid program ensures that each student’s graduate program is specifically tailored to their academic goals and professional experience. “The best part is that most of these students have grown up in the Worcester area,” daSilva-Clark says. “They know the community; they know the systems. We’re really excited, and the community is too. The program perfectly illustrates our mission to ‘educate social workers in the community and for the community.’”
Photos: Katherine Taylor
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community Community Impact
Left Photo: A scenic view of Worcester, where hybrid program students receive in-person instruction from BUSSW faculty. Top Photo: Clinical Associate Professor Hope Haslam Straughan (left) and first-year student Meghan Rondeau meet before class.
Community Response The Worcester hybrid program was born of community need. After Wheelock College’s merger with Boston University in 2018, the existing Wheelock Worcester MSW program was continued only for existing students with a plan to close the program once they graduated. Encouraged by city leaders and state legislators—28 of whom signed a letter advocating for the BU MSW—the School of Social Work launched the new hybrid program, bringing rigorous curriculum, practical research, and field placement opportunities to students in Worcester, the city that prides itself as the “Heart of the Commonwealth.”
The program perfectly illustrates our mission to ‘educate social workers in the community and for the community.’ BUSSW was fortunate to tap the expertise of several Wheelock faculty and staff who knew the landscape well, having been involved with the Wheelock Worcester program since it launched in 2011. Hope Haslam Straughan, now clinical associate professor at BUSSW and former dean of the Wheelock School of Social Work, Leadership and Youth, says, “Through this new program, we want to contribute to the innovative initiatives happening throughout the Worcester area to meet the needs of this diverse community. We recognize the engagement of city officials, community leaders, and residents alike in this historic community and look forward to supporting this strong fabric of potential and resilience for Central Massachusetts.” Susan Brostrup-Jensen, campus director for the new program, adds, “Our vision is that we become an integral component of the resources in Worcester, and not just a satellite program housed here. In addition to building collaborations through field placements, we plan to create and participate in opportunities such as community events, trainings, and student projects.”
According to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., the program comes at an opportune time. “Law enforcement, public health, hospitals, schools, and city government in Worcester are working together to fight back against the opioid addiction epidemic affecting everyone in the city. The presence of BU’s social work program can only help. Social workers are key to coping with this scourge,” he notes, since they work with people as they move forward in recovery, as well as with their families. Commissioner of Health and Human Services for the city of Worcester Matilde Castiel, MD, points out that the need for skilled social workers goes far beyond the opioid epidemic. “We also need social workers in our schools dealing with trauma, and in our community overall dealing with mental health issues, homelessness, and helping people navigate our health care system. We look forward to BUSSW students and graduates becoming part of our community and understanding the nuances of our diverse populations.”
Value Added For their part, agencies based in the city are looking forward to potential partnerships. The new program “helps integrate New England’s two largest cities, each with their own perspective, allowing for an exchange of information and knowledge,” says Romas Buivydas, vice president of clinical development for Spectrum Health Systems. The BU MSW is “a great pipeline for our various programs and potential new hires,” he says, noting that Spectrum clinicians could help teach courses and supervise MSW students in field placements. “I am excited to have this new MSW program in the city,” adds Susan Hillis, vice president of clinical services at AdCare Hospital. The BUSSW program “attracts talent from area towns and gives students the ability to see what agencies in Worcester are doing to introduce fresh new ideas and changes for the future.” BUSSW Dean Jorge Delva sees the Worcester hybrid program as an ideal complement to the school’s portfolio of programs—which include on-campus, online, and satellite locations in Cape Cod, Bedford, and Fall River. “Like so many communities, Worcester is working hard to address the often-overwhelming need for social work services,” Delva says. By starting this program, “we’ve heard the call and are committed to providing an innovative, hybrid MSW program to Central Massachusetts. We look forward to building a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the city of Worcester, its surrounding towns, and our peers in public service organizations who share our dedication to creating healthy communities.” n
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innovators
Photo: Katherine Taylor
Making Measurable, Meaningful Change André Guillemin puts a lifetime of experience into his MSW By Maura King Scully
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It was a long journey, but André Guillemin (SSW’20) found his calling. “I spent a long time searching for a career that has intrinsic value and gives me a sense of purpose in life,” explains Guillemin, who enrolled in BUSSW’s MSW program at age 45. “The wait was necessary because I didn’t have the life experience or depth of perspective to do this work 20 years ago.” Now a part-time student in the online program, he’s able to synthesize knowledge gained from professional experiences that range from cognitive research to nonprofits, and an MBA program to corporate consulting. The
cumulative effect was the development of “a broad foundation of experience that provides insight into my clients’ lives and struggles, and guides their treatment.” Guillemin lives in Greater Boston but chose to enroll in the online MSW program. Older than the traditional student with a family to boot, “I have to continue to work while in school,” he notes. “The online program provides the flexibility I need to make it all work. Combine that with the opportunity for local placements and BU’s great reputation, and BUSSW was a natural choice.” Although he is completing his studies remotely, Guillemin
says he’s thoroughly enjoying the immersive nature of the program. His first field placement was at the Pine Street Inn, which provides permanent housing, social services, and job training to Boston’s homeless. There, he provided clinical services to tenants, many of whom had dual diagnoses that included serious mental illness, substance use disorder, and chronic physical conditions. “It was an amazing, grounding, and humbling experience,” he says. While working one-on-one with the residents, Guillemin learned about his clients’ quality of life. “Most of the folks I worked with indicated in various ways that they were lonely. They simply didn’t have the opportunity to interact socially with their neighbors.” A recipient of a field education stipend supported by Kate Buttenwieser (SSW’63), Guillemin chose to pay it
forward. “I took a small amount of the stipend and bought board games, decks of cards, and books. Then I hosted a couple of game nights for the residents.” Afterwards, Guillemin left the games for them to use in the common room. “Hopefully, they will use the games as an excuse to connect with each other—and maybe a few will end up feeling a bit less lonely.” At his current placement with the Walker School in Needham, Massachusetts, Guillemin provides in-home therapy and outpatient counseling services to children, adults, and families. No matter where he lands, Guillemin says his underlying goal will be the same: “to provide clients with a holistic understanding of the neurophysiological, emotional, and sociocultural aspects of their mental health, so they can achieve measurable and meaningful change in their lives.” n
innovators
Expanding Perceptions of Poverty Margaret “Maggie” Thomas tackles material hardship through better public policies
Photo: Katherine Taylor
As a social worker, Margaret “Maggie” Thomas (SSW PhD’20) is not given to small goals. The ultimate aim of her doctoral thesis research at BUSSW, she explains, is “to reconstruct the very meaning of poverty in the United States. “In America, we primarily think of poverty in terms of income,” Thomas notes. “But income poverty falls short as a measure of need. In social work research, there’s emerging attention to material hardship, a concept that directly measures experiences of unmet basic needs—like insufficient food, unstable housing, or inability to access medical care.” Material hardship is the focus of Thomas’ dissertation. In her
research—supported by the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy—she explores three interrelated strands: how to better conceptualize and measure hardship; whether material hardship is related to child outcomes; and whether social policies modify the effects of hardship on kids. “I want to better understand and improve public policy, particularly for marginalized people,” says Thomas, who holds an MSW from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and spent three years working in the child welfare system. As a scholar intent on making significant change, Thomas understands the need to clearly explain the impact of economic well-being to people
outside of social work. “Social workers are often the only one from their field in a room of other professionals,” she explains. “It’s important that I have the skills to effectively communicate about these real experiences of hardship in a way that’s meaningful and useful.” BUSSW has given Thomas opportunities to hone this skill. In 2016-2017, she held the Public Health Post (PHP) fellowship at BU School of Public Health, where she wrote about public health issues to help influence policy. In 2019, she was selected as an IMPACT Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a program designed to help trainees “get out of our disciplinary silos and communicate research in
By Maura King Scully
the real world,” she says. Thomas, who expects to complete her doctorate in 2020, plans to stay in academia, where she can both research and teach. “I find teaching very rewarding because I get to train the next generation of social work practitioners, advocates, and researchers, and I have the chance to inform their perspectives on social problems,” says Thomas, who teaches Social Policy I and II at BUSSW. “And research allows me to advance my fundamental commitment to pursuing equity through systemic change.” n
I find teaching very rewarding because I get to train the next generation of social work practitioners, advocates, and researchers.
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donors Boston University School of Social Work proudly recognizes alumni, students, faculty, staff, corporations, foundations, organizations, and friends for their generous support of our school. These gifts created new scholarships and field education stipends, supported research initiatives and transdisciplinary programs, and enhanced the entire student experience. The impact—at all levels—is tremendous. THANK YOU.
INDIVIDUALS
$50,000 or more
Kate DeForest ◊¤*
Michael B. Allen (GRS’73,’78) and Leslie G. Feder (SSW’80) *
Anonymous
Sarah T. Dowling (LAW’82) and Joseph L. Dowling ◊ P
Francis I. Amory (SSW’76) * Brittany E. Anderson (STH’19,’22, SSW’19) *
Kim Henry (SSW’02, SPH’03) and James Quagliaroli ◊ P
Loretta Andrade (SSW’82) and Michael J. Colby *
Hubert E. Jones Sr. (SSW’57) and Katherine E. Jones ◊ ¤
Robert W. Antelman (MED’77) and Berni J. Antelman (CAS’74, SSW’77) *
Babak Boghraty (LAW’89) and Brenda M. Clunan-Boghraty (SSW’88) ◊ * Peter H. Creighton and Catherine F. Creighton ◊ P Kenneth G. Grant (STH’75) and Marie L. Yannaco-Grant (SSW’75) ◊ *
Gladys Lambert (SSW’63) ◊ *
Paula Antipas (SSW’91,’93)
The Estate of Muriel B. Sieh ◊ P
Sarah B. Lange (SSW’93) ◊ ¤ *
Ann Armour P
Laurette Verbinski ◊ P
Edith D. Lowy (SSW’88) ◊ n *
Sharon L. Ash Tancredi (SSW’99) *
$25,000 to $49,999
Julie S. Lynch (SSW’02, Wheelock’03) and David S. Lynch ◊ *
Nancy C. Atwood (MET’72, SSW’75) n *
Wilma C. Peebles-Wilkins ◊ ¤ *
Louise A. August (SSW’86) *
The Estate of Jane D. Bose ◊ P L. Aileen Garriott (CAS’59, GRS’66) ◊
$10,000 to $24,999 Patrick D. Spearman (ENG’96) and Jane Oldfield-Spearman (SSW’92) ◊ *
$5,000 to $9,999 Rhea K. Bufferd (SSW’74) and Allan S. Bufferd ◊ * Kate (SSW’63) and Paul Buttenwieser ◊ * Jorge Delva and Debbie Tauiliili ◊ ¤ n * John E. Drew (SSW’70) and Kathleen Drew ◊ n * Sarah B. Epstein (SSW’82) and David I. Epstein (Questrom’84) ◊* Robert J. Hildreth and Diane C. Hildreth ◊ n *
Roberta M. Polk (SSW’55) ◊ Linda Rice (SSW’78) and Thomas S. Peller (LAW’78) ◊ Carol R. Rogers (Wheelock’70, SSW’95) and Martin M. Rogers ◊ * Catherine F. Solomon and Margie Magraw ◊ P Allison T. Srinivasan (SSW’00) and Sriram L. Srinivasan ◊ ¤ * Gail S. Steketee and Brian H. McCorkle (GRS’92,’99) ◊ ¤ *
Astraea Augsberger ¤* Judith H. Babcock (SSW’84) * Allison R. Backman (SSW’18, SPH’18) P David W. Backus (SSW’93) and Carolyn H. Backus (SSW’88) ¤ n Pallassana R. Balgopal (SSW’62) and Shyamala W. Balgopal * Marjorie A. Ballou (SSW’89) and William R. Ballou n * Christine Bandoni (SSW’02) Mirna N. Barba (SSW’16) P
Joan F. Strauss (SSW’70) and Frank Strauss ◊
Barbara B. Barrett (SSW’89) and John H. Barrett *
Marcia Strean (SSW’54) ◊ *
Jane C. Bartrum (SSW’75) *
Marylou Sudders (CAS’76, SSW’78) and Bradley F. Richardson ◊*
Mildred H. Bauer (SSW’55) * Phyllis B. Bausher (SSW’68) and Larry P. Bausher *
Nancy R. Karp (SSW’78) ◊ *
Carol L. Thrane (SSW’91) and Robert K. Martin ◊ *
$2,500 to $4,999
Elinor B. Tirre (SSW’55) ◊ *
Marcia L. Baxter (SSW’77) and Bruce C. Damon *
Joseph M. Calabrese (SDM’91,’92) and Michele A. Calabrese (SSW’93) ◊ *
Sandra A. Torrielli (SSW’67) ◊ *
Charles A. Beaverson (SSW’63) *
T. Kirkland Ware III (LAW’79) and Linda D. Ware (SSW’01) ◊ *
Diane L. Becker (SSW’60) *
Geoffrey W. Wilkinson (SSW’85) and Sally E. Johnson (SSW’78) ◊ ¤ *
Dawn Belkin Martinez ¤*
$1 to $999
Vasili L. Bellini (SSW’55) and Maria J. Bellini *
Robert F. Meenan (MED’72, Questrom’89) and Yana Kotlar (SSW’14) ◊ n * Vita Paladino-McElroy (SSW’93) ◊ ¤ * Naomi M. Stanhaus (SSW’70) ◊ n * Patty Underwood (SSW’07) ◊ ¤ *
$1,000 to $2,499 Anonymous Maryann Amodeo and Ralph D. Loftin ◊ ¤ * Jane D. Barna (SSW’77) and Kenneth M. Barna ◊ * Dorothy J. Bergold (Wheelock’74, SSW’81) ◊ ¤ * Susan A. Bernstein (CAS’82, SSW’90) ◊* Joyce L. Branfman (Wheelock’72, SSW’87) and Alan R. Branfman ◊ * Julia A. Byers (SSW’13) ◊ * Peter Byers and Virginia P. Sybert ◊ n * Nadia Chamblin-Foster (SSW’97) and Kevin Foster ◊ ¤ *
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William I. Cowin and Judith A. Cowin ◊ *
Cynthia D. Choate (SSW’88) ◊ *
Anonymous Richard M. Aberman (SSW’78) and Nancy S. Aberman * Katherine H. Abrams (SSW’97) * Thomas S. Adamczyk (SSW’74) and Jacqueline M. Adamczyk * Adrian Adamo (COM’21) ¤ * Cynthia J. Adamski (SSW’78) and Stewart Dalzell *
Patricia M. Behrens (SSW’19) P Susan J. Bellinger (SSW’63) *
Paul E. Benedict (SSW’76) and Karen M. Benedict * Brianne L. Bergh (SSW’19) P Regina S. Berkowitz (SSW’80) and Daniel Kanstroom Estelle R. Berley (SSW’56) * Berthlyn M. Bernier (SSW’97, SPH’99) * Arthur G. Bernstein (SSW’70) *
Jennifer G. Ahlijanian (SSW’91) and Paul Ahlijanian *
Dolores L. Bersell (SSW’80) and Robert T. Bersell
Leslie M. Akula (SSW’72) and John L. Akula *
Chad A. Bishop (SSW’17) *
Jerianne P. Alberti (SSW’68) and John E. Trollman (MET’86) *
Carol S. Blumental (CAS’63, SSW’65) and George Blumental *
Dorothy C. Allen (SSW’55) *
Chana R. Bogsted (SSW’91) *
Suzanne Black (SSW’84) *
donors Claudia I. Boldman (SSW’80) * Edith S. Borden (SSW’99) and David Borden *
Benjamin S. Chanowitz (SSW’77) and Judy Chanowitz
Kathleen R. Denham (SSW’13) ¤ *
Donna E. Chapman (SON’67, SSW’76) *
Camillo G. DeSantis (SSW’53) and Lois C. DeSantis *
Pamela A. Charney (SSW’91) *
Hinda L. Diamond (SSW’84) *
Susan L. Boudreaux (SSW’86) *
Deborah Chassler (SSW’90) and David C. Lucal ¤
Yaminette D. Diaz-Linhart (SSW’10, SPH’11) and David Linhart (LAW’12) ◊ ¤ *
Daniel F. Boulger (SSW’93) and Concetta M. Boulger
Denise S. Chazin (SSW’12) and Steve M. Chazin n
Tatiana Dierwechter (MET’87, SSW’88)
Rhonda J. Bourne (CAS’78, SSW’86) and Erika Waly-Bourne
Lauren E. Chidsey (SSW’16, SPH’16) *
Suzanne L. Borenstein (Wheelock’65) and Henry P. Borenstein *
Regina E. Bower (SSW’92) and Robert A. Bower * Rachel A. Bowers-Sword (SSW’19, SPH’19) ¤ Nannette D. Bradley (SSW’07) Brian J. Brady (SSW’78) * Elinor C. Brady (SSW’70) and Patrick F. Brady * Cynthia C. Bramble Daley (SSW’85) and Roy Daley ¤ *
May S. Chin (Wheelock’71, SSW’75) and Wai K. Chin P
Blanche G. Dietz (Wheelock’72, SSW’86)
Nalim Choi (SSW’19, SPH’19) ◊ ¤ P
Noelle C. Dimitri (SSW’00,’21) *
Susan J. Coe (SSW’72) and S. Douglas Coe * Robert H. Cohen (SSW’56) and Ruth K. Cohen * Sherry M. Cohen (SSW’88) * Richard I. Coleman (SSW’19) *
Cole P. Brennan (STH’19,’22, SSW’19)
Cindy J. Collon (SSW’94) and David J. Collon *
Eleanor M. Brightman (SSW’52) *
Felicita N. Colon (SSW’83) *
Katherine I. Britton (SSW’03) *
Leonard S. Confar (STH’51, SSW’53) and Nancy S. Confar (STH’51)
Sara M. Brockway (SSW’07) * Laura D. Brody (SSW’90) * Miriam L. Bronstein (SSW’90) ¤ n * Robert N. Brown (CAS’70, LAW’76) and Barbara S. Brown (CAS’72, SSW’75)
Margaret J. Dieter (SSW’68) and Richard W. Miller *
Amy L. Conwell (SSW’92) and Nicholas Conwell Amy E. Cook-Wright (SSW’95) and Jermaine D. Cook-Wright *
Mary L. Dillon Irrevocable Trust * Denise O. DiOrio (SSW’85) and Joseph M. DiOrio * Lesley A. Dixon (SSW’97) * Matthew Dixon (SSW’02) * Daniel L. Do (SSW’13’24, SPH’14) * Corey W. Dolgon (CAS’84) and Deborah A. Milbauer (CAS’90, SSW’94, SPH’95) * Robert G. Doll (SSW’67) and Judith A. Doll (CFA’67) Elizabeth M. Dooley (SSW’03) * Brenda S. Dorsey (SSW’74) and William Dorsey Monique K. Doussard (SSW’06) and Aleksandar D. Jovovic * Amy L. Doyle (SAR’13, SPH’19, SSW’19)
Ann J. Bruhn (SSW’80) *
James E. Cooney (SSW’78) and Norma A. Cooney n
Robert T. Bruzzese (Wheelock’64,’79, SSW’71) *
Katherine M. Coster (SSW’19) P
Sherry L. Dutzy (SSW’74) and Jack Dutzy
Sukhdeep Bubbra (SSW’97)
Barbara L. Cracknell (MET’78, SSW’91) and Terry A. Cracknell n *
Hilda A. Earsy (SSW’93) and Paul G. Earsy *
Paula L. Budnitz (SSW’69) and Mark E. Budnitz *
Shannon A. Craddock (STH’18, SSW’18) P
Angela M. Buell (SSW’17) and Edmund W. Buell * George R. Bulger (SSW’67) * Barbara L. Burka (SSW’85) and Eliot M. Burka * Colleen Burt (SSW’09) * Elizabeth W. Buswick (SSW’10) and Geoffrey E. Buswick Edward M. Butrick (Wheelock’74, SSW’85) * John F. Canavan (SSW’87) * Patricia M. Cardenas (SSW’82) and Ariosto Cardenas ¤ n * Sharon L. Carothers (SSW’93) and Glenn Cocco * Genia R. Carroll (SSW’19) P Elizabeth V. Carruthers (SSW’94) and John B. Pendleton * Karen E. Carson (SSW’93) Mary A. Cassidy (SSW’88) * Emily Castaneda (SSW’82) * Crista M. Cavicchio (SSW’05, Wheelock’06) * Anne B. Chace (SSW’84) * Peter K. Chan (SSW’74) and Laura H. Chan *
Lisa A. Cremer (SSW’08, SPH’09) * Kelly B. Crowley (SSW’03) and Paul W. Breimyer * Sharon Cruz (SSW’00) and James M. Cruz * Lanita Cullinane (SSW’18) * Carol Curtin (SSW’82) Ronna Dallal (MET’74, SSW’79) and Amir D. Dallal * Robert J. D’Amelio (SSW’77) * Phyllis R. Dana (SSW’68) Patricia A. Darcy (CAS’63, SSW’68) n * Mena daSilva-Clark and Thomas R. Clark ¤ *
Maika Dueitt (SSW’98) and Michael Bolko
Elise D. Eckelkamp (SSW’94, Wheelock’95) and Jeffrey S. Eckelkamp ¤ * Marilyn Edelson (SSW’70) and Robert I. Rubin * Deon S. Edwards (SSW’85) and Walter H. Edwards * Patrick J. Egan (Questrom’79) and JoAnne M. Ceccarelli-Egan (SSW’77, STH’78) * Arthur Eisenberg (CAS’55, SSW’57) and Elaine F. Eisenberg ¤ n * Jane A. Eisenstark (CAS’66, SSW’81) Amanda M. Enger (SSW’19) P Rosalie B. Epstein (SAR’54, SSW’75) and David M. Epstein * Marian V. Erwin (SSW’62) *
Maurie C. Davidson (SSW’67) *
Robert N. Eskow (SDM’69, SDM’69) and Nancy L. Eskow (DGE’66, CAS’68, SSW’71) *
Chrysanthemum L. Dawkins (SSW’17) *
Francois Exilhomme (MET’16) ¤
Linda Day-Mackessy (SSW’85) and John T. Mackessy *
Nancy J. Fagan (SSW’88) and Thomas G. Wourgitis *
Jane E. Dehaven (Wheelock’82, SSW’89) and David L. Dehaven n *
Mary C. Fallon (SSW’68) and Phillip J. Fallon Jr. *
Douglas W. Deitz (CAS’78, Questrom’82) and Harriet S. Deitz (Wheelock’78, SSW’82) *
Charlotte C. Farnum (GRS’94) *
Anthony DeJesus (SSW’90) * Christine M. DelGreco Bisson (SSW’18) *
George E. Farragut Jr. (SSW’63) * Erica Farrell (SSW’13) * Marieka C. Farrenkopf (SSW’00, Wheelock’00) and Matthew A. Bihn ¤ *
KEY: ◊ Annual Fund Leadership Giving Society PFirst-time Donor *Loyal Donor n Matching gift indicator ¤Current or Former Faculty/Staff Member n Parent Deceased individuals are listed in italics
29
Joanne R. Fazzano (SSW’00) * Caroline W. Feely (SSW’92) and Joseph A. Feely Adam Feingold (SPH’19, SSW’19) P Robert F. Finn-Clarke (SSW’01) * Grace C. Fitzpatrick (SSW’54) * James A. Fitzsimmons (SSW’78) and Annette LaRocque Fitzsimmons Mildred Flashman (PAL’43, SSW’45) ¤ n * Stephen R. Folven (SSW’81) * John L. Forbes (SSW’55) * Lorna Forbes (SSW’82) and Richard P. Holt * Ellen Forman (SSW’90)
PLANNING AHEAD Dorothy Bergold’s bequest is a nod to integrity and grace By Louise Kennedy Dorothy Bergold (Wheelock’74, SSW’81) has had a long relationship with the School of Social Work, well beyond graduation: as a member and then president of the school’s Alumni Association, as the leader of a study trip to Cuba, and now as a field advisor for the school’s online program. “For some, I may be the only person they meet from BU until graduation,” she says of her advisees. “It’s a privilege to be that person.”
Nancy Forman (SSW’73) * Cheryl A. Foster (SSW’73) * Marion M. Fox (SSW’56) n Amanda Frank (SSW’08, SPH’10) and Michael Frank * Edith C. Fraser (SSW’72) and Trevor H. Fraser * Jane S. Freed (SSW’75) and Gerald M. Freed n * Ruth I. Freedman and Donald N. Freedman ¤ Isabel S. Freeman (SSW’70) and John H. Freeman * Ellen C. Friedman (SSW’85) Eric P. Friedman (CAS’90, Wheelock’93, SSW’95) ¤ *
Gerald Greenberg (SSW’79) and Gretchen Greenberg * Helaine S. Greenberg (SSW’63) and Jack Greenberg * Michael Greenstein (SSW’91) and Nettie K. Greenstein * Jane M. Griffin (SSW’97) and John R. Griffin III n * Maura Jane Griffin (SSW’71) * Mary E. Grosso (SSW’05) and Daniel L. Grosso * Elizabeth M. Groves (SSW’75) and Timothy W. Groves * Roberta H. Guez (SSW’71) and Moshe Guez * Vikram Gupta and Cristina Martinez P Rebecca Gupta-Lawrence (SSW’07, SPH’08) Deborah Guptill (SSW’67) Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm and Seung W. Hahm ¤ n Bonnie J. Hallisey (SSW’75) and Paul M. Hallisey * Daphne E. Hallowell (SSW’65) and Lee H. Hallowell * Mary B. Halpin (SSW’93) * Patricia A. Hardy (SSW’08) Pearl Harm (SSW’74) * Ellen B. Harrington (SSW’87) ¤ *
Erika Gaitan (SSW’15) *
Jane S. Harrington (SSW’61) *
Bergold feels privileged, too, to have had many meaningful jobs—in settings ranging from an inpatient psychiatric unit to pediatrics to hospice—in what she describes as a very fulfilling career. She currently works part time in primary care at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Efthemia A. Gardner (SSW’15)
Alexander O. Harris (SSW’05, STH’06)
Peter W. Gariti (SSW’69) and Katherine O. Gariti *
Martha E. Hartman (SSW’62) and Karl A. Hartman Jr.
Laura Garner (SSW’13) and Patrick Garner *
Patricia M. Hartung (SSW’59) *
Diane Gates (SSW’84) and Paul H. Gates *
Leanne K. Harty P
“I really feel like I’m making a difference,” she says.
Sheila C. Geha (SSW’94)
Mary S. Hartzell (SSW’53) *
Elisabeth Gehl (SSW’01) *
Bergold recently found another way to make a difference: by planning a bequest that will endow a scholarship at BUSSW. “I know the school has very limited resources for scholarships, and the fact that it can be endowed and last forever is really moving.”
Erica H. Gendel (SSW’96) *
Martha H. Haskell (SSW’69) and Peter D. Haskell *
Ever the social worker, Bergold discusses her gift in terms she learned at BU, when a class on human behavior covered Erik Erikson’s developmental theory. “When you think about life stages, at the end of life, it’s integrity vs. despair—that’s the Eriksonian stage,” Bergold says, noting that aging isn’t always easy but there are ways to meet it with grace. “I cope by being grateful, and giving to BU adds to that,” she says. “This is going to last forever.” n
Deborah D. Gendron (SSW’07) and John A. Gendron * Marie L. Gerace (CAS’81, SSW’88) and Andrew Doherty * Linda D. Gershman (SSW’76) * Claire R. Gerstein (SSW’72) * Judith C. Gilberg (SSW’80) and David J. Gilberg * Ellen L. Gillis (SSW’63) and Dana G. Gillis P Nanci Ginty Butler (SSW’01) and Ethan Butler ¤ * Diane F. Gittinger (SSW’71) * John S. Glaser (SSW’65) * Ernest A. Goetz Jr. (LAW’74) and Lois P. Goetz (SSW’75) * Jane G. Gold (SSW’98) and Amir Gold * Katherine S. Gong (Wheelock’71, SSW’77) * Mark D. Goodwin (SSW’87, SPH’87) * Joan L. Gordon (SSW’75) Judith A. Graham (SSW’19) P
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Richard J. Hassinger (SSW’82) and Kathryn Hassinger * Suzanne E. Hauck (SSW’94) * Mingming He (SSW’92) Bonnie L. Hennig-Trestman (CAS’87, SSW’89) n * Phyllis R. Hersch (SSW’67) and Charles Hersch * Catherine A. Hess (SSW’80) Jennifer A. Hili (SSW’96) * Rhona Hirschowitz (SSW’73) Andrea J. Hogan (SSW’07) and Glen T. Hogan Peter C. Holloran (GRS’72,’82) and Kathryn E. Beers (SSW’75) Jean Holmblad (SSW’88) and Robert E. Zaret * Graham Holmes (Questrom’85) and Nancy J. Newton (SSW’81) * Kenneth G. Holt (SAR’83) and Lauren O. Holt (SSW’93) n P Lianne Hope (SPH’14, SSW’14) *
donors Sandra S. Horne (SSW’63) and William A. Horne
Kristin M. Koe (SSW’87) and Gregory K. Steinberg *
Kathy A. MacDonald (SSW’90) and Helen S. Raizen ¤ *
Marjorie A. Horsey (SSW’72) *
Constance J. Koerner (SSW’70) *
Kathleen M. Mackenzie (SSW’92) *
Kathryn A. Hunt (SSW’15)
Barbara K. Kondilis (SSW’98, SPH’99) *
Doris C. Magwood (SSW’73) *
Hope M. Hussey (SSW’07) and Michael S. Hussey *
Jennifer Y. Kong (SSW’16) *
Cassandra E. Maher (SSW’90) *
Irma L. Hyman (SSW’46)
Gwendolyn A. Kopka (SSW’80) and Richard Kopka *
Charles J. Marcella (SSW’81) and Dorothy M. Marcella *
Edward F. Ingerman and Karen E. Ingerman (SSW’93) *
Gail H. Korrick (CGS’56, SSW’60) and Ira Korrick *
Martin S. Margulies (CAS’57, SSW’59) *
Gordon Isakson (CGS’72) and Jeanette B. Isakson (SSW’79) n *
Kevin M. Kozin (SSW’09, STH’09) ¤ *
Richard A. Jackson Jr. (SSW’97, SPH’98) and Alexandra Jackson
Jane B. Kuniholm (SSW’70) and Peter F. Kuniholm *
Sara L. Jackson (SSW’13) * Mitchell Jaffe (SSW’52, Wheelock’53) and Evelyn Jaffe * Aleta B. Johnson (SSW’86) and Douglas S. Johnson Renita K. Johnson (SSW’84) and Lawrence P. Johnson * Rollin E. Johnson Jr. (CGS’55, Wheelock’57, STH’61) and Carol J. Johnson (SSW’59, MET’77) * Catherine B. Johnston (SSW’12) * John A. Johnston (CAS’55, SSW’63, Wheelock’71) and Marcia M. Johnston n Robert E. Jolley (SSW’72) and Cheryl A. Jolley ¤ n * Tom S. Jones (SSW’80, STH’82) and Katherine S. Jones * Helen R. Jordan (SSW’72) * Roberta E. Jordan (SSW’09) * Mark D. Jose (SSW’75) and Barbara P. Covey
Kathy A. Kuhn (SSW’77) ¤
Anthony Marino (SSW’91) and Caitlin Marino * John B. Markoff (SSW’74) and Laurie S. Markoff * Joseph T. Marotta (SSW’78)
Kathleen Laliwala P
Eileen G. Marra (SSW’15) *
Jessica E. Lareau (SSW’19) P
Elizabeth D. Marshall (SSW’19, STH’20) *
Lavay Lau (CAS’54, SSW’56) *
Jamie W. Marshall (SSW’05, SPH’06) *
Lina A. Lawall (SSW’75) and Lawrence M. Schaefer
Kristen Burgoyne B. Marshall (SSW’14) P
Barbara E. Lazar (SSW’72) *
Shanon F. Martin (SSW’18) P
Thomas P. LeBlanc (SSW’82) * Susan S. Lederer (CAS’71, SSW’74) n * Katherine W. Lee (SSW’99) *
Yessica G. Marshall (SSW’19) P Marylou Masterpole (SSW’80) * Mary W. Mathias (SSW’90) *
Kristen Lee (SSW’00) and Scott Costa P
Caroline Q. Mcelroy (SSW’64) and Peter E. Mcelroy *
Sarah R. Leifheit (SSW’16) P
Amanda E. McGerigle (SSW’15) *
Christina M. Lemmo (SSW’93) *
Jeannette F. McInnes (SSW’88) and Donald K. McInnes *
Elayne Lepes (Wheelock’69, SSW’87) and Jeffrey Lepes * Seth P. Lerner (MED’81) and Judith S. Lerner (SSW’81) * Jennifer A. Levins (Wheelock’76, SSW’82) * Lois Levinsky (SSW’74) and David K. Willey (SSW’91,’94) ¤ *
Donna McLaughlin (SSW’94) and Nancy Brooks ¤ * Patricia A. Mclean (COM’78) and Derek J. Mclean P David K. McNamara (SSW’84) and Lauren C. Berman (SSW’80)
Jaclyn Lichtenstein (SSW’79) and Paul Haley *
Elizabeth W. McNamara (SSW’89) and Anna-Beth Winograd *
Dennis B. Lind (MED’66) and Judy A. Lind (SSW’66) *
Ann C. McWalters (SSW’95) *
Julia Kantner P
Ellen F. Meltzer (SSW’56) *
Barbara B. Kaplan (SSW’89) and Marc M. Weiner *
Alyssa E. Lodewick (STH’13, SSW’13) *
Sylvia L. Memolo (SSW’76) and Ralph Memolo *
Sally I. Kaitz (SSW’83) * Carin A. Kale (SSW’84) *
Gary A. Kaplan (SSW’69) and Joan F. Kaplan (DGE’66, CAS’68) * Manuel E. Kaplan * Randi P. Kaplan-Gesten (CGS’79, CAS’81, SSW’85) and Rod Gesten * Karen D. Kaufman (SSW’94) Charlotte L. Kay (SSW’88) * Melissa M. Keel (CAS’72, SSW’75) and Harry W. Keel * Hope W. Kenefick (SSW’92, GRS’02) Wayne M. Kessler (SSW’86) Barbara N. Kirwood (SSW’95) and Ronald Kirwood
Laura Lodi (SSW’19) P Ingrid S. Longo (SSW’91) and Edward J. O’Neil Luz M. López ¤ * Sarah V. Lopez (SSW’84) and Richard S. Fields P Jeanne P. Louizos (SSW’68) * Susan L. Lovett (SSW’98) ¤ Linda Feinson Lowenthal (SSW’94) and Michael Lowenthal Peter Lowy (COM’74, Questrom’82) and Linda Zeckendorf-Lowy (CFA’72, Wheelock’79) ¤ *
Mahlet Meshesha (SSW’19) ¤ P Diane B. Meskin (SSW’69) and Peter Meskin * Donald E. Messer (STH’66, GRS’69) and Bonnie J. Messer (SSW’66) * Melissa A. Metivier (SSW’15) P Su Midghall P Ashley Miller (SSW’22) P Jeffrey M. Milunsky (CAS’88, MED’92) and Kiran L. Milunsky (SSW’96) Jack A. Mine (SSW’81) Rebecca M. Minor (SSW’15) *
Ellen P. Klein (SSW’72) and Jared S. Klein *
Helen A. Lukash (SSW’90) and Paul T. Harrison *
Kristine Kluge (SSW’86) *
Danielle D. Lurie and Robert S. Lurie ¤ *
Suzanne R. Klumpp (SSW’90) and Andrew M. Klumpp *
Betty S. Lykins (SSW’80) * Gypsy B. Lyle (SSW’64) and David L. Lyle *
Lehlohonolo H. Montjane (SSW’90, STH’04)
Caroline C. Knott (SSW’62) and Robert G. Knott Jr.
Katherine M. Lynch (SSW’77) *
Penelope A. Moore (SSW’11)
Andrea G. Monderer (SSW’91) and Stewart Monderer * Bethany Montgomery ¤ P
Betty B. Moorehead (SSW’44) n *
KEY: ◊ Annual Fund Leadership Giving Society PFirst-time Donor *Loyal Donor n Matching gift indicator ¤Current or Former Faculty/Staff Member n Parent Deceased individuals are listed in italics
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donors Christopher A. Morgan (SSW’79) and Elizabeth Halprin
Bruce W. Peters (SSW’90) and Molly F. Peters
Richard S. Russell (SSW’98) and Kelly G. Russell (SSW’98) ¤ *
Earl D. Morris (SSW’51) and Helen N. Morris
Sandra M. Peterson (SSW’60) n *
Jay M. Morrison (SSW’71) and Susan J. Morrison *
Joan D. Pic (SSW’86) *
Bridgett J. Sadler (SSW’07) and Michael Sadler *
Theresa A. Moynahan (SSW’04) ¤ *
Mary E. Posner (SSW’70) and Edward M. Posner *
Abigail Mundell P Jordana R. Muroff and Steven Vandor ¤ * Joyce S. Murphy (CAS’64, SSW’69) n Sarah N. Murphy (SSW’87) and John Murphy * Kathryn E. Myers (SSW’11) * Frances Nadash (SSW’55) * Monica S. Narang (CAS’11, LAW’15, SSW’15) ¤ * Raika A. Nasirullah (CAS’14, SSW’16) Amy W. Nathans (Wheelock’70) and Gary Nathans n Eleanor I. Nay-Chiles (SSW’68) and W. Scott Chiles * Deborah R. Neubauer (SSW’18) * Hung T. Nguyen (SSW’16) Kristina F. Niccoli (SSW’71) * Joyce Nicholas (SSW’71) and Roger A. Nicholas n * Elizabeth Niedbala (SSW’84) Chijioke Godwin Nnanna (STH’19,’22, SSW’19) P Deirdre K. Noonan (SSW’19) P Pamela B. Noonan (Wheelock’69) *
Rhonda J. Press (SSW’79) and Lawrence Ragent Marilyn A. Preston (SSW’94) * Barbara Przybylska (SSW’80) and Piotr Chadzynski * Deborah Putnam (SSW’92, SPH’94) ¤ Helen M. Quinn Argeris (SSW’82) and Dionysius J. Argeris * Edward L. Raynard (CGS’60, SSW’67) and Shirley M. Raynard (CAS’64) n * Patricia A. Reese (SSW’70) * Marian E. Reid (CAS’79, SSW’81) * Donna S. Reilly (SSW’75) and Thomas E. Reilly * Ellin Reisner (COM’68, SSW’79, GRS’01) and George H. Berry * Jean R. Rekemeyer (SSW’89) and Arthur H. Brownlow * Erica D. Renaud (SSW’05) * Robert M. Rice Jr. (SSW’54) and Priscilla M. Rice (DGE’48) n * Morris Richman (SSW’54) and Marjorie Richman *
Evelina F. Sadler (SSW’90) and E. Andres Sadler * David Sadownick (SSW’08) * Jasmine Sahady (SSW’97) and Jonathan L. Sahady * Janet A. Salomon (SSW’71) and Kenneth P. Salomon n * Louise P. Saltzman (SSW’54) and Charles Saltzman * George R. Samuels (GRS’89, SSW’90) * Rebecca L. Sander (SSW’87, STH’88) and Mary D. Glasspool * Nancy A. Sanford (SSW’83) * Katherine L. Schiessl (SSW’88) and Gary G. Schiessl * Susan K. Schlesinger Lederer (CAS’71, SSW’74) and Alan J. Schlesinger * Liza Schneiderman (Wheelock’93, SSW’95) and Garry Shub Anne Scholder (SSW’74) * Jill M. Schreider (SSW’14) * John H. Schwartz (CAS’63) and Janice H. Schwartz (SSW’69) * Susanne Scipione (SSW’03) and Michael J. Scipione * Lionel Scott Jr. (SSW’92) Meredith A. Scott (SSW’80) and Robert J. Scott *
Richard W. Norcross (SSW’65) *
Cheri L. Rinko-Riggs (SSW’96) and Brian E. Riggs P
Kristina E. Normann (SSW’11) *
Donna L. Riva (SSW’01) *
Carmen Rosa Noroña (SSW’12) P
Wilnely G. Rivera (SSW’19) P
Michael J. Novack (SSW’97) and Mary C. McGurrin-Novack *
Shawna M. Rodrigues (SSW’02) Christine M. Rodriguez (SSW’17)
Lydia P. Ogilby (SSW’67) *
Margaret E. Senturia (SSW’74) and Stephen D. Senturia *
Diane Rogers (SSW’19) P
Margo Okazawa-Rey (SSW’74) *
Emily K. Shea (SSW’98, SPH’99) *
Elizabeth D. Rogers (SSW’64) *
Brian C. O’Keefe (SSW’16) *
Elizabeth A. Rohan (GRS’05) and Stephen P. Shanahan *
Beth-Ann Sheff Ross (SSW’95) and Laurence A. Ross ¤*
Andrew H. Olney (ENG’90) and Katharine S. Olney (SSW’89) * Jessica O’Neill (SSW’19) P Judith E. Opsahl (SSW’59) and Richard Opsahl * Sima R. Osdoby (SSW’68) * Stacey M. Paradise (SSW’15) Kenyora L. Parham (SSW’12) * Jim Park (SSW’92) * Alison Parodi-Bieling (SSW’96) * Meredith B. Patterson (SSW’82) n * Margery B. Pattison (SSW’76) * James L. Pazol and Roberta M. Pazol Jennifer F. Peck (SSW’18) * P. Lynn Peggs Nunez (SSW’92) and Jesus E. Nunez * Leslie T. Penni (SSW’15)
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Nikki R. Pollard (SSW’04) ¤ *
Eleanor G. Romney (PAL’49, SSW’54) *
Claudia C. Segura (SSW’17) * Andrew N. Seminerio (SSW’79) and June M. Grasso n *
Nancy Sheiman (SSW’78) and Jonathan Sheiman *
Elizabeth A. Rose (CAS’70, SSW’75) and Joe D. Hull *
Linda Sheridan Perkins (SSW’75) *
Diane L. Rosen (SSW’96) *
Jean C. Shimer (SSW’82) and Sheldon Shimer Jr. *
Gregory L. Rosenberg (SSW’85) and Phyllis Greenberger n *
Nancy J. Sherman (SSW’74)
Elizabeth S. Shrobe (SSW’17)
Joan E. Rosenson (SSW’60) and Lawrence Rosenson
Ilana H. Shure (Wheelock’07, SSW’08) and Raphael Shure ¤
Harriet Rosenstein (SSW’83) P
Renee B. Siegel (SSW’15) *
Doris L. Rothe (SSW’76) *
Erica Sigal (SSW’88) *
Annemarie O. Rotondo (SSW’74) and Anthony M. Rotondo
Sybil M. Silver (CAS’59, SSW’62) and Daniel B. Silver *
Charlotte Rubin (SSW’48) *
Doris L. Sims (CAS’70, SSW’76) and Gerald O. Sims P
Phillip S. Rubin (COM’64) and Laurie K. Rubin (SSW’73) * Taffy S. Ruggeri (SSW’05) and Joseph N. Ruggeri *
Kimberly Percival (SSW’01) and Keith Duclos *
Elizabeth Rumelt (SSW’67)
Marjorie M. Perry (SSW’89) *
Carolyn Russell (SSW’99)
Barbara Ruskin (SSW’97)
Redmond C. Siu (CAS’14, MET’19) ¤ P Linda C. Sklar (SSW’82) and Alan Sklar Andrea Slatopolsky (SSW’90) and Morten Olrik * A. Richard Slayton (SSW’67) and Louise U. Slayton (SSW’67) *
donors Alan J. Slobodnik (SSW’76) and Deborah L. Slobodnik *
Grace Tilton Cuttino (SSW’91) *
Cassandra Xanthos (SSW’11) *
Arlette T. Smith (CAS’79, SSW’82) *
Erin A. Truex (SSW’15) P
Angela Yarde (SSW’97) *
Evangeliah Tsui (SSW’19) P
Karen R. Young (SSW’86) and Timothy J. Moore
Brianne K. Smith (SSW’13) and Cameron M. Smith Judith A. Smith (SSW’83) and Robert M. Smith *
Diane L. Tukman (SSW’81) * Janice Turner (Wheelock’71) P Maribel A. Umpierrez (SSW’19) P
Susan G. Snider (SSW’78) and James M. Snider *
Anne Unterkoefler (SSW’86) *
Kendall A. Snow (SSW’64) and Martha W. Snow
Jennifer Valenzuela (SSW’00, SPH’01) P
Theresa Snowden (SSW’02) * David I. Solomon (Questrom’83) and Debra B. Solomon (SSW’87) Deidra M. Somerville (SSW’95) and Michael Somerville * Amanda M. Souza (SSW’15) James L. Sparks (SSW’98) and Margaret F. Sparks * Faye B. Speert (SSW’70) and Peter K. Speert * Jodi B. Sperber (SSW’99,’00, SPH’00) * Andrew M. Spooner (SSW’93) and Bliss Austin ¤* Linda Sprague Martinez ¤ P Julie S. Springwater (SSW’94) ¤ * Drury A. Spurlock (SSW’88) * Meg E. Stafford (SSW’83) and Martin D. Stafford *
Troy Valdivia (SSW’18) P
Lindsey K. Young (SSW’09) * Gloria T. Yu (SSW’73) and Alex Yu Michael I. Yuille (SSW’17) and Shelly L. Rambo * Abe Zakhem and Jenny Mundell *
Lisa A. Van De Water (SSW’19) P
Wendy J. Zimman-Smith (SSW’73) and Edward H. Smith Jr. *
Elizabeth Van Ranst (SSW’76) and Gerald E. Zuriff *
Joan L. Zink (SSW’75) and William P. Zink *
Erika M. Vargas (SSW’10) ¤ * Zsuzsanna R. Varhelyi (SSW’19) ¤ * Daniel Velez-Rivera (SSW’05, STH’06) and T. Parker Gallagher *
Ernest Zucco III (CAS’91, SSW’98) * Kelly A. Zucco (SSW’98) ¤
Lou Venezia P
CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS
Lydia Vernon-Jones (SSW’81) and Russell Vernon-Jones
Creighton Narada Foundation
$50,000 or more
Patricia G. Vinter (SSW’89) and Stephen T. Vinter *
Liberty Mutual Insurance Group
Madi K. Wachman (SSW’15, SPH’15) ¤
Schwab Charitable Fund
Natalie P. Waggaman (SSW’14) *
Tufts Health Plan Foundation
Michele M. Walsh
William T. Grant Foundation
Michelle A. Walsh (SSW’93, STH’06,’14) and Clyde E. Grubbs (GRS’77) ¤ *
$25,000 — $49,999
Elisa Walts (SSW’15) and Alan Walts *
Pine Street Inn, Inc.
Retirement Research Foundation
Lee H. Staples (GRS’93) and Louise A. Staples ¤ *
Wenzheng Wang (CAS’18) P
Sarah B. Steck (SSW’75) *
James Wasser n P
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation
James D. Stewart (SSW’71)
Judith S. Weaver (SSW’60) and William B. Weaver n
Sanofi US
Christina Weeter (SSW’04, Wheelock’05) *
$5,000 — $9,999
Karl W. Weiland (Wheelock’75, SSW’86) and Karen C. Weiland *
Anonymous
Karen Welling (SSW’82) *
Drew Company, Inc.
Richard O. Stuver (SSW’93) and Sherri O. Stuver ¤
Anne E. Wheelock (SSW’75)
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Bobbie Surott Kimberly (SSW’02) P *
Richard K. White (SSW’73) * Kristina M. Whiton-O’Brien (SSW’95) and Thomas J. O’Brien ¤ *
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc.
Marjory B. Stickler (SSW’91) and David B. Stickler * Nancy R. Stone (CFA’74) ¤ * Deborah C. Strod (SSW’89) and Eran C. Strod
Susan E. Sweet (SSW’92) * Evelyn P. Swezey (MET’78, SSW’80) * Paul Taraborelli (SSW’93) * Alison B. Tarmy (SSW’99, SPH’00) and Jeffrey Tarmy * Cynthia W. Taska (SSW’80) * Shelley A. Terry (SSW’00) and Matthew C. Terry
Rolanda Ward (SSW’97, STH’02, GRS’09)
Ita N. Wiener (SSW’77) and William Wiener (MED’57) * Lora L. Wilford-McManus (SSW’83) and David McManus * Honora M. Willcutts (SSW’90) and Martha L. Williams (Questrom’91) *
$10,000 — $24,999
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
$1,000 to $4,999 New York Community Trust The Welcome Project
$1 to $999 Headlands Farm
Charlene A. Williams (CAS’15, SSW’18)
Kondilis Family Trust
Stephanie A. Tesch (SSW’03) *
Wendy C. Williams (SSW’94)
L. William Spear Trust
Michelle E. Thesing (SSW’92) and Michael P. Thesing *
Kay Winebrenner P
National Philanthropic Trust
Sarah E. Winn (SSW’12) *
Nicholas Family Revocable Trust
Allison K. Thibodeau (SSW’19, SPH’19) P
Charles B. Wood (STH’74) and Constance M. Wood (SSW’92) *
Roberta E. Jordan Revocable Trust
Nelson C. Woodfork Jr. (SSW’72) and Ann P. Woodfork *
U.S. Charitable Gift Trust
R. Mitchell Thomas (SSW’15, SPH’15) and Joblin C. Younger (LAW’14) ◊ * Daniel L. Thompson (SSW’78) and Jeanne M. Thompson *
Stacie M. Wythe (SSW’97) and Kevin P. Wythe Sr. *
Silvia R. Von Sacken PLLC William P. Zink, MD
KEY: ◊ Annual Fund Leadership Giving Society PFirst-time Donor *Loyal Donor n Matching gift indicator ¤Current or Former Faculty/Staff Member n Parent Deceased individuals are listed in italics
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onward
Class Notes 1978
Jonas Goldenberg returned to BUSSW 40 years after graduating to take a position as the school’s MSW program manager and a part-time instructor.
1980
Gary Bailey was recently promoted to assistant dean for community engagement and social justice at Simmons School of Social Work, where he is director of the school’s Urban Leadership Program and is a professor of practice. Bailey is also a professor of practice at Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
A former president of the International Federation of Social Workers and NASW, Gary Bailey (SSW’80) continues to play a leading role at Simmons University, where he has taught since 1999.
Gabrielle Dean co-hosts the Right Mind Media Podcast weekly on WUMB. The award-winning show highlights current thinking on mental health and substance use through interviews with writers, researchers, and changemakers.
1987
Mark Goodwin of Pougheepsie, New York, is a project director at SCTPN, Inc. (Sickle Cell Thalassemia Patients Network), where he supervises a team of community health workers in developing a community case management system for people living with sickle cell anemia. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Adelphi University and CUNYLehman College.
1991
Berenecea Johnson Eanes was appointed interim president of CUNY-York College in 2019. Eanes was formerly the vice president of student affairs at California State University at Fullerton, where she led a division of 400+ employees in supporting the development of nearly 40,000 students, making groundbreaking strides in retention and campus philanthropic efforts.
1992
Susan Harris O’Connor, national speaker and author of The Harris Narratives: An Introspective Study of a Transracial Adoptee, received the 2018 Worcester State University alumni award for Outstanding Professional Achievements and the 2019 BUSSW alumni award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Social Work.
1994
Barbara Catalano-Hey retired from her job as a school social worker in Lawrence, Massachusetts, after 23 years and now operates a private practice in nearby North Andover. 34
1997
Jasmine Sahady is a social worker employed through the Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Boston Children’s Hospital. She writes: “The number of social workers in primary care settings continues to grow. The appreciation for the connection between mental health and overall physical well-being is driving this movement, and it is exciting to witness. This awareness has shifted the perception of social work from being an extra or adjunct service to an essential component of care.”
2002
Claudia Vanegas is in her fourth year as a social worker at the public high school in Lexington, Massachusetts. She recently worked with Dr. Josephine Kim as a teaching fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
2004
Annika Foster of Goshen, Connecticut, is a clinical social worker at a group practice, specializing in the treatment of trauma. Nikki Pollard started a new job at Boston College as a clinician and case manager at the school’s University Counseling Services.
2005
Vincent Fusaro completed a joint PhD in Social Work and Political Science at the University of Michigan and has accepted a position as assistant professor at the Boston College School of Social Work.
2007
Kayla Celani is celebrating 10 years at Health Care Resource Centers in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a medication-assisted treatment program for people with opioid use disorder. Celani is the centers’ clinical supervisor.
2011
Ellen Godena recently joined the Functional Neurological Disorders Unit and the Headache and Neuropathic Pain Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital as a full-time outpatient psychotherapist. In this inaugural position, Godena offers cognitive behavioral therapy and mind-body psychotherapies to patients diagnosed with functional neurological symptom disorder, somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety, migraines, and chronic pain.
onward 2012
Valerie Tobia (SPH’13) is in her fourth year as director of counseling and health services at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. Tobia and her partner welcomed their first child, Finnley, to the world on April 15, 2019.
2014
Ellen McCarthy of Reading, Massachusetts, has a new private practice and five years of post-MSW experience under her belt: three years at the Department of Children & Families and two years at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Emergency Department. She writes: “I love being a social worker!”
2015
Samantha Mueller is a school adjustment counselor in a K-4 public school in Falmouth, Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and their yellow lab, Nora. The family recently renovated a 1920s farmhouse and now operate Sweet P Farm.
2016
Lauren Favorite recently obtained her LICSW and is working in integrated behavioral health as a supervisor and clinician.
2017
Kimberly Hula is a mental health court clinician for the Boston Municipal Courts in Roxbury and West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Her position is part of a specialized jail diversion program aimed at reducing recidivism, eliminating punitive criminal justice responses, and aligning and supporting community members with mental health and substance use resources. Previously, Hula worked with the Boston Police as a co-responding clinician responding to 911 mental health crises in Dorchester and South Boston.
2018
Misty Cameron is currently a clinician at a Department of Youth Services (DYS) detention facility for male juveniles in Massachusetts, where she conducts research on how increased clinical support for detained youth and families during their first encounter with the juvenile justice system results in more positive outcomes and lower recidivism rates. Cameron’s “side-hustle,” a photography business she runs alongside her partner (amcphotography.smugmug.com), was featured in the June/July issue of NASW’s Social Work Advocates Magazine.
Raika Nasirullah is in her sixth year as a school social worker at Codman Academy in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Having completed her foundationyear placement at Codman, Nasirullah applied for the position after she graduated from BUSSW, eager to return to the community where she had built strong relationships with students, staff, and families.
When she’s not working to support detained youth, Misty Cameron (SSW’18) is working on her side business, AMC Photography, with her partner.
2019
Raika Nasirullah (SSW’16) was invited to be Codman Academy’s 2018 graduation speaker after returning to the site of her first field placement as a school social worker.
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Amy Doyle is an implementation and quality improvement associate at Judge Baker Children’s Center in Boston, where she manages initiatives that deliver consultation, training, and technical assistance to mental health care providers, senior leaders, policy makers, and other stakeholders at a regional and national level. Doyle’s team strives to improve and sustain quality and accessibility of children’s behavioral health treatment by using evidence-based practices and continuous quality improvement strategies.
Please submit your class notes to bu.edu/ssw/class-notes
35
onward
In Memory
2019 Alumni Association Awards: Memorable Moments
BUSSW was notified of the passing of these community members between September 2018 and September 2019. Steven Allen Caldwell, lecturer Daniel DeLima, student Judith Perlstein, associate director of field education Edith Post (SSW’43) Eloise A. Coggs (SSW’46) Howard J. Parad (SSW’48) Janet S. York-Littlefield (SSW’48) Sylvia Glickman (SSW’50) Joan G. Costello (SSW’54) Irma S. Feldman (SSW’54) Betsy R. Baker (SSW’57) Donald R. McCaul (SSW’58) Rosemary A. McAuliffe (SSW’61) Leonard S. Ridley (SSW’61) Charles A. Beaverson (SSW’63) Chester C. Dubois (SSW’65) Merle I. Howe (SSW’69) Mary E. Bramble (SSW’70) Timothy E. Kennedy (SSW’72) Nancy L. Harris (SSW’73) Mary Jo Alexander (SSW’76) Joseph V. Castaldi (SSW’76) Frederick W. Lumb (SSW’77) Jean S. Cowdery (SSW’78) Sandra-Lee B. Parent (SSW’79) Dolores L. Bersell (SSW’80) Paulette S. Wexler (SSW’82) Betty A. Gosselin (SSW’92) Jennifer Polk (SSW’92) Stephen Salamone (SSW’93) Elizabeth L. Adams (SSW’93) Gail Aubin-Fischer (SSW’97) Mary S. Goss (SSW’99) Patrice J. McGuinness-Rossi (SSW’14)
1.
2.
3.
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Photos: Dana Quigley
1. Trudy Zimmerman (SSW’75), assistant dean of field education, receives a special recognition award on behalf of BUSSW for her years of leadership at the school. 2. From left, faculty members Mark Gianino (SSW’83), Dawn Belkin-Martinez and Luz López are all smiles at the pre-awards luncheon. 3. Trudy Zimmerman (SSW’75) (center), assistant dean of field education, with Mena daSilva-Clark, assistant dean for off-campus and online programs, and Ken Schulman, associate dean for enrollment services and alumni relations, after receiving a special recognition award. 4. The 2019 Alumni Association Awards recipients (from left): Emily Saltz (SSW’81), Outstanding Career in Social Work Award; BUSSW professor Donna McLaughlin (SSW’94), Outstanding Contribution to the School of Social Work Award; Janine Anzalota (SSW’04, SPH’06), Hubie Jones Urban Service Award; and Susan Harris O’Connor (SSW’92), Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Social Work. 5. Awardee Janine Anzalota (SSW’04, SPH’06) (right) with her award nominator Yaminette Diaz-Linhart (SSW’10, SPH’11), a fellow dual degree graduate and 2018 Ålumni Association Award winner. 6. Dean Jorge Delva with Sharon Zimmerman (SSW’97). 7. Professor Emerita Cassandra Clay (SSW’79) (left) is reunited with Assistant Dean Trudy Zimmerman (SSW’75). 8. Award recipient Emily Saltz (SSW’81) with her award nominator, Michael Novak (SSW’97) 9. Award winner Susan Harris O’Connor (SSW’92) with guests at Boston University’s Yawkey Center.
264 Bay State Road Boston, Massachusetts 02215
HELPING OTHERS DO WHAT SHE LOVES Technically, Norma “Rosie” Wigutoff (SSW’76) is an elder caregiver. But she says she’s really a “therapeutic companion,” a work model she created. “I use my social work skills to focus on the whole relationship and quality time, rather than being only a physical caregiver,” she says. Rosie calls social work “the best career out there” and credits BUSSW with helping her confirm her life’s calling. That’s why she supports the school: helping new generations discover the best graduate education possible. For her financial situation, a planned gift made sense. “I don’t have a lot of money to give right now, but when I’m gone, there will be plenty! Without a husband and kids to leave it to, I want it to go to places that are helping to protect social justice in this country.”
To learn more about making a planned gift to BUSSW, please contact the BU Planned Giving Office at 800-645-2347 or visit our website at bu.edu/plannedgiving.
