College of Health and Human Services
School of Social Work Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, At the San Diego State University School of Social Work, advancing health, equity, and well-being is at the heart of everything we do. Every research breakthrough, scholarship, and community partnership strengthens our ability to create meaningful change. Our Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Master of Social Work programs prepare future practitioners and leaders to address complex social challenges across California and beyond. Through field education, our students contribute more than 155,000 hours of service annually, supporting vulnerable individuals, families, and communities while applying their education in real-world settings. Ranked No. 1 among California State University social work programs and No. 4 statewide, we combine academic excellence with a deep commitment to service as part of a premier R1 research institution. Your generosity fuels student scholarships, groundbreaking research, and the development of future social work leaders dedicated to building a more just and compassionate society.
Jong Won Min, Ph.D., MSW Director and Professor, School of Social Work
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward Consensus Organizing Center Fund The School of Social Work received generous support for the Consensus Organizing Center Fund, which advances the center’s mission to develop a new generation of grassroots community leaders through education, training, and community engagement. The center promotes the Consensus Organizing Model, an approach that brings together diverse stakeholders to identify shared interests and build collaborative solutions to community challenges. Contributions to the fund support educational programming, leadership development opportunities, and initiatives that strengthen partnerships and empower individuals to create positive change in their communities.
Social work students
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Joseph Rodriguez, Class of 2027 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services Major: Social Work Joseph Rodriguez was raised on the Rincon Indian Reservation, the contemporary home of his Payómkawichum relatives. After losing his father when he was 17, Joseph strove to improve the public health and social work services provided to his community. He is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work to support his mission of providing comprehensive and culturally tailored prevention and early intervention programs for Native American families. Joseph completed the first year of his program interning with Inner-Tribal Treatment, where he provided therapy and case management services to Native American adults with substance use disorders. He also connected Native American worldviews and cultural practices to long-term recovery. Joseph is an active student member of the Elymash Yuuchaap Indigenous Leaders and Scholars Program and the Indigenous Social Work Student Alliance. He takes pride in being in community, believing that effectively addressing communal health disparities, including addiction, starts with awareness, education, and community building. Joseph plans to lean on his lived experiences as he works toward becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker after graduating.
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Joseph plans to lean on his lived experiences as he works toward becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker after graduating.
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Student Spotlight
Tamara Wilson, Class of 2027 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Health and Human Services Major: Social Work Despite losing her father at age seven and her mother facing ongoing health concerns, Tamara Wilson discovered her passion for social work while attending community college. She became vice president of the Social Work Club, coordinated a campus-wide toy drive, and helped the club earn the Club of the Year Award. Tamara also worked as a case manager supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. As an intern at SDSU, she led a harm reduction campaign focused on fentanyl awareness. During her first year at SDSU, she re-established the Undergraduate Social Work Association and served as its President. She developed a mentorship program launching in the 2026-27 academic year and was elected President of the Social Action Committee.She secured grant funding for 45 students to attend the National Association of Social Workers Conference and participate in advocacy with California legislators. Tamara has also contributed to Dr. Lianne Urada’s research on women experiencing homelessness. She plans to continue her education, become an LCSW, and expand access to support for underserved communities.
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[Tamara] plans to continue her education, become an LCSW, and expand access to support for underserved communities.
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Student Spotlight
Padraig Day, Class of 2027 Class Level: Master's Candidate College: College of Health and Human Services Major: Social Work The College of Health and Human Services has provided me with valuable experiences in the social work sector. Getting involved with student organizations like the Social Action Committee and the Latino Student Social Work Association provided me with leadership and learning opportunities. The College of Health and Human Services has also provided me with strong relationships with my professors, which has given me even further experience in research. Working with Dr. Lianne Urada on her Bupe By The Book research study on homelessness and opioid use gave me clarity on my career goals and provided me with clinical learning experiences. I have adored my experience within the College of Health and Human Services and our School of Social Work so much that I applied and committed to the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program here at San Diego State University. It has been an honor to be a part of this program over the past few years of my college journey, and I am even more honored to continue at SDSU for my MSW.
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It has been an honor to be a part of this program over the past few years of my college journey, and I am even more honored to continue at SDSU for my MSW.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Current Rankings SDSU School of Social Work is ranked 51st nationally and 3rd statewide. Statistics of Interest The highest-ranked social work program within the California State University (CSU) system. Nearly 600 students are currently enrolled in the program, and more than 9,700 social workers have graduated, with students completing more than 155,000 service hours during the past year. In Fall 2025, enrollment included 275 BA in Social Work students, 18 BA in Gerontology students, and 284 Master of Social Work (MSW) students, along with 29 MSW students at SDSU Imperial Valley. Additionally, there were 14 students in the Joint Doctoral Program (JDP). In Fall 2025, there were nearly 50 faculty members, 17 of whom were tenured or tenure-track. MSW graduates consistently achieve a high passing rate, 78%–88%, on the LCSW licensure exams, according to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS). Recent Highlights Faculty members secured and led numerous externally funded research projects between 2024 and 2026, supporting innovative work in health equity, homelessness, HIV prevention, substance use treatment, human trafficking, and community empowerment.
Highly Ranked
School of Social Work ranks No. 51 nationally and No. 3 statewide.
Service Impact
Nearly 600 students completed 155,000+ service hours over the past year.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Jennifer Cosío, Ed.D., MSW, PPSC Title: Undergraduate Coordinator and Advisor, and Lecturer, School of Social Work College: College of Health and Human Services Achievement: Dr. Jennifer Cosío co-wrote a grant and was awarded $312,500 in fall 2025 from the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to implement an educational pathway to certify Wellness Coaches within the BASW program. Dr. Cosío is a triple alumna of SDSU, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) in 2004, a Master of Social Work (MSW) in 2008, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) with a Community College Leadership Emphasis (CCLEAD) in 2025. Her dissertation research was a qualitative case study on a workforce development program that engages and prepares community college students to work in homelessness services. She also was awarded Outstanding Faculty of the Year for the School of Social Work in 2019, 2023, and 2024. Shelly Paule, a lecturer in the program, shared the following about Dr. Cosío: "I met with many students and Dr. Cosío together. I consistently hear how supported students feel by Dr. Cosío. I have heard many students' excitement about her obtaining her PhD degree and showing them this is possible even as a working adult. Students have built a trusting relationship with Dr. Cosío, which allows them to be vulnerable and transparent, supporting getting their needs met. Dr. Cosío is always respectful, caring, and kind when meeting with students and colleagues."
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Congratulations to Dr. Cosío on securing a $312,500 HCAI grant to launch a BASW Wellness Coach certification pathway, an inspiring investment in student opportunity, workforce development, and community well-being.
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Faculty and Staff Achievements
Tamara Strohauer, MSW, LCSW Title: Lecturer, SERVE Indigenous Social Work for Change Project Coordinator College: College of Health and Human Services Achievement: Tamara Strohauer was selected to present at the 44th Annual NICWA Conference and as a plenary session at the California State ICWA Conference on Indigenous-led partnerships. The presentations highlighted how Tribal partners, SDSU, and San Diego County Child and Family Well-Being strengthen Tribal sovereignty and improve outcomes for Native children and families. She shared the following: My work is grounded in relationships and the belief that meaningful systems change begins with understanding, healing, and connection. For nearly a decade, I have worked to bridge Indigenous wisdom, trauma science, and social work education through partnerships with Tribal nations, community organizations, students, and child welfare agencies. My goal is to strengthen engagement between universities and Native communities, support Tribal sovereignty, and prepare future social workers for culturally grounded, healing-centered practice. As SERVE Project Coordinator for the California Title IV-E Education Program Southern Region, SDSU lecturer, and member of Tribal STAR’s 7th Generation Workgroup and the 8th Generation Collaborative, I work with Tribal partners, SDSU, and San Diego County Child and Family Well-Being to strengthen pathways for Native students. Since 2020, I have supported 12 Native MSW Title IV-E graduates, exceeding the nine graduates from the program’s previous 27 years. I have established partnerships with 11 Tribal agencies to expand culturally grounded internships and founded the SDSU School of Social Work Tribal Advisory Board to strengthen collaboration between SDSU and Tribal communities. As faculty advisor for the Indigenous Social Work Alliance, I support Indigenous student success, cultural connection, and community engagement. As a certified Tribal STAR trainer, I provide education on Native history, historical trauma, ACEs, ICWA, and traumainformed practice. Through long-standing partnerships with Tribal leaders and trauma experts, I help future social workers understand the vital role of culture, resilience, and connection in healing across generations.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Megan Ebor, Ph.D. Title: Assistant Professor, Director of Health Equity Research Multimedia Lab College: College of Health and Human Services Achievement: Dr. Megan Ebor was the 2026 SDSU Outstanding Scholar Public Impact Award recipient for research advancing community well-being, invited presenter at the 2026 International SBCC Summit in Panama, and was published in Frontiers in Public Health in 2026 on the RoyalTea study, advancing sexual health and HIV prevention. She shared the following: I focus on developing and evaluating translational film-based interventions that bridge research, public health practice, and community engagement. This work was recognized with the 2026 San Diego State University Outstanding Scholar Public Impact Award, honoring faculty whose research demonstrates measurable community benefit and addresses pressing societal challenges. A key example is the use of documentary storytelling as an evidence-informed intervention to increase awareness, foster dialogue, reduce stigma, and promote health equity. My most recent film has demonstrated strong translational potential, securing distribution on Prime Video, Tubi, and Fawesome.tv and extending its reach far beyond traditional academic and community settings. This broad dissemination allows research-informed content to engage diverse audiences and amplify public health impact. In June 2026, I will present this research at the International Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. My presentation, “RoyalTea: Mind, Body, and SoulCare—Sister Circles & Storytelling for Health Equity,” highlights culturally grounded storytelling as a strategy for promoting health among Black women. This work is supported through Gilead Sciences’ Setting the P.A.C.E. initiative, a $1 million grant, with $270,000 awarded to SDSU, where I serve as principal investigator for the research component in partnership with the California Black Women’s Health Project, Christie’s Place, and Sistah Friends. Building on the success of our documentary-based interventions, we are developing culturally responsive microfilm PSAs to increase awareness and uptake of HIV prevention tools among Black and Latina women in San Diego. Together, these projects demonstrate how film can transform research into accessible, community-centered health communication and action.
Thank you for your generous support.
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