UGA SSW 2024 Online Graduation Program

GRADUATING CLASS of 2024 Spring and Summer

OUR MISSION The School of Social Work at the University of Georgia prepares culturally responsive practitioners and scholars to be leaders in addressing social problems and promoting social justice, locally and globally, through teaching, research, and service.

WATCH

The School of Social Work at UGA: A Collective Vision for a Better Future

Table of Contents WELCOME 1 Dean Philip Hong KEYNOTE SPEAKER 2 Ms. Mary Frances Early DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATES 4 MASTER OF ARTS IN NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP GRADUATES 6 MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES 8 BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES 26 GRADUATE CERTIFICATE RECIPIENTS 30 Marriage and Family Therapy Gerontology Nonprofit Management and Leadership Substance Use Counseling UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE RECIPIENTS 30 Nonprofit Management and Leadership KEEP IN TOUCH! 31 Photographs in this virtual program were taken by the School of Social Work, UGA Photography Services, Wingate Downs, and friends and family of the persons pictured. | © 2024 University of Georgia School of Social Work | Design: Kat Farlowe.

Welcome

Philip Hong Dean and Professor

Dear School of Social Work Graduating Class of 2024, On behalf of everyone at the School of Social Work, I wish you a hearty and heartfelt “Congratulations!!!”

I am so proud of each and every BSW, MSW, MA NML and PhD graduate. Your success is a testament to your hard work, commitment, and passion for making the world a better place. The world continues to be challenging and stressful; social injustice, economic struggles, and the hardships left by COVID-19 and the forces of divide are bringing much suffering to many. However, I am confident that each of you is well prepared to tackle these challenges and make a real difference. Our faculty have equipped you with many tools and skills, and your capacity to make positive social change is limitless. We can’t wait to see all the amazing things you will do as you fulfill the School’s mission to address social problems and promote social justice.

All the best to you on this special day and beyond. Please stay connected—we would love to hear how you are doing and we are always here to support you and celebrate your accomplishments. Be safe and well, be grateful and compassionate towards yourself and others, be the change you want to see in the world.

With warm regards,

1

Keynote Speaker Mary Frances Early M.M.Ed. '62, Ed.S. '67

“People recognize me not because I'm so great, but because I had the opportunity to be one of the first people to help students have the courage to come to UGA themselves.

And that’s important to me. Martin Luther King Jr. let me know that I was human.

You can be courageous or you can be a coward. But the one thing that you have to be is determined. I learned more by coming to UGA. Because of all the things I had to endure as I went through my career, I knew how to handle myself. And I was able to consort with anyone at any level because I learned to persevere.”

Excerpt from "Breaking Barriers" by Kathryn Kao, Mary Frances Early College of Education.

Photograph by Andrew Davis Tucker, UGA MarComm. Other photographs retrieved from https://t.uga.edu/9RB.

2

top: mary frances early stands with her cap and gown beneath the arch in 1962. bottom: ms. early's uga id card.

M

ary Frances Early made history on August 16, 1962 when she became the first African American to graduate from the University of Georgia with a master’s degree in music education. Ms. Early’s impact as a civil rights icon and music educator has inspired and influenced generations of students, schools, and Black communities across the nation. She played an integral role in the campaign for racial equality at UGA and across the South and remains a tireless advocate in the field of education.

Ms. Early was class valedictorian at Henry McNeal Turner High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in 1957, also as valedictorian. Inspired by Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes, who were the first undergraduates to integrate UGA in 1961, Early made a deliberate choice to enroll at UGA alongside them to desegregate the graduate school.

Still disappointed by the lack of diversity and persistent segregation on campus after graduating, she returned to UGA in 1964 to earn her educational specialist degree in music education. In 2013, Ms. Early was presented with an honorary doctorate from UGA and was later awarded the 2018 UGA President’s Medal in recognition of her legacy and lifetime accomplishments.

"It is so rewarding to hear people say thank you for paving the way,” she said. “Somebody else may have come after me, and I'm sure they would have, but I had the opportunity to be that person. And consequently, I bear a big responsibility for making sure that what I do is something they can be proud of beyond me graduating.”

She later became a music teacher in Atlanta Public Schools where she continued to challenge injustice and expand access to music for all students before being promoted to music director of the entire school system.

During her career, she worked with teachers in the system’s more than 100 schools and oversaw the music curriculum, budget, textbooks, and more.

Early was asked to share her story with the Graduate and Professional Scholars organization at UGA in 2000—nearly four decades after graduating from the University. She credits her “reintroduction” into UGA’s history to Maurice Daniels, dean emeritus and professor emeritus of UGA’s School of Social Work, who founded the Foot Soldier Project for Civil Rights Studies and produced “The Quiet Trailblazer,” a documentary chronicling Early’s life.

"Mary Frances Early is the epitome of an authentic voice of protest who helped to change the course of history at the University of Georgia, in our state, and in our nation,” he said. “Ms. Early’s inspirational story illuminates a courageous trailblazer, pioneer, and bridge-builder in the struggle for social justice. She is one of the founding mothers of a new South—one that makes real the promise of democracy."

Ms. Early retired in 1994 after working for 37 years in public schools. She later taught at Morehouse College and Spelman College and served as head of the music department at Clark Atlanta University. In 2019, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved changing the name of the UGA College of Education in her honor. It was officially renamed the Mary Frances Early College of Education in February of 2020.

Her legacy, triumphs, and accomplishments as a music educator and civil rights icon made her a central figure in the struggle to desegregate the University and serves as an example to all.

3

PhD

Doctor of

Philosophy

MARIAM FATEHI Ph.D. SPRING '24

dissertation title: Adverse childhood experience and caregiver relationship quality: Risk and protective factors among emerging adults for prescription pain reliever misuse. committee members: orion mowbray, chair rachel fusco, michael robinson

4

BRIAN DANIEL GRAVES Ph.D. SPRING '24

dissertation title: Co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders among criminal justice-involved adults: Trajectories, positive coping strategies, and service utilization profiles. committee members: orion mowbray, chair lydia aletraris, sarah shannon

OLUWAYOMI KHADIJAT PASEDA Ph.D. SPRING '24

dissertation title: "I'm a person beyond my past": An interpretive phenomenological analysis of Black women reentry after incarceration. committee members: orion mowbray, chair michael robinson, sarah shannon, luis r. alvarez-hernandez

5

Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Leadership Morgan Kelly Alwardt Catherine Hannah Arra Abigail Grace Cantlay Sarah Lucille Copeland Justin Sherod Cousin Daniella Fina DiCarlo Kenneth James Gaines Jr. Kellen Marie Gatton Douglas Adam Hammond Jillian Alexa Heffron Claire Kennedy Kirby Avery Nichole McClure Maeghan Anna McKean Gabriela Ashlyn Prat Isabella Serazzi Sarah Mackenzie Warner 6

MA NML 7

Master of SocialWork Jayne-Anne Ahmann Kyunghyun Ahn Jolene Olivia Alejandro Ana Maria Alviz Eduardo Argueta Flores Fiyinfolu Alice Atanda Carlyn Rose Autry Nicole Elizabeth Baker Laura Grace Balan Erica Latice Barnes Jared Daniel Beaver Andrew James Blackowiak Cameron Bly Chloe Adele Bohan Arianna Michele Brown 8

M S W 9

MSW

10

Teresa Marie Bryant Thomas Joseph Buchenot Emma Ruth Butterworth Kathleen McCreery Campbell Allison Marie Cava Jonathan Walter Chin Chari Chin-Young Caston Caroline Marie Christopher Alexis Moné Clagon Owen Clark A'Lasia Clinton Camri Marie Copeland Katharine M. Courson Santwaa Covington Liza Cuevas Ebonie Nicole Curry William James DaVanzo Jr. Benjamin Jared Deignan Jordan Taylor DeLaney Emma Lynn DiDuro Huriye Djemal Sara Isabel Dowd 11

M S W 12

Emma Anne Duncan De'Keria Durant Kendal Edwards Geana Starling Ellington Mindy Jean-Pierre Etienne Amanda Marie Evans Alyssa Marie Fiorino Jake Christopher Forgay Shana-Gae Francis Moriah Joy Freed Brianna Fripp Mikaila Chloe Go Kimberly Berryhill Golden Mary Lauren Golden Laura Gargala Goldstein Claire McKenna Grant Tamera Renee Grier Akina Griffin Bettie Abigail Grimes Heather Nicole Guay Emily Kelly Haber Lazarus Biliyaminu Habila 13

Maci Lenora Harmon Breanna Harris Halle Rhea Hendricks Jason Daniel Hernandez Malaika Howard Emily Grace Howard Lataya Lock Hunt Anna C. Hutchins Holli Michelle Hutson Valentina Sofia Imery Lisa Michelle Jackson Karissa Marie Jackson Jadeon Omar Jackson Willienetta Burntues Jallah Avery Kristen James Chelsea Johnson Rachel Yuvonne Johnson Frances Rawlins Johnson Nicholas Johnson Joshua Jones Kimberly Nicole Jones Morgan Jo Keith 14

MSW

15

16

MSW

Jaime Marie Kelly Bailey Anne Knoche Kylie Ann Michelle Knox Gabriella Kozlowski Anna Gabriella Langer Cefari Langford Leah Hope Lawrence Miranda E. Lehman Staci Rose Levine Ariana Chaya-Engle Lewis Fernanda Simoes Lima Mary Ann Long Alejandra Yozabeth Luis-Cruz Rachael Lyne Lukacs Ruijie Ma Caroline Maccio Kaycie Leighanne Malcolm Jessica Yesenia Maldonado Michelle Gaye Martel Samantha Glenn Martin Laura Verghese Mathew Julia Mei Mathis 17

M S W 18

Peyton Jefferson McCollum Hayley Ann McFall Mollie Glyn McGee Jennifer L. McGinley Rachel Rose Megdal Rebecca Meline Koral Rae Michaels Joanna Grace Miller Mary Christine Miltiades Chantal Mitchell Abigail Grace Monahan Anna Elizabeth Moses Amy Rachel Murphy Emma Musgrove Diana Myndresku Lindsey Stewart Neel Joey Chi-Ying Ngai Olivia Grace Nicholas Lateefah Lashawn Noel Key Anna Norsworthy Denisse Olivares Erin A. Osbourn 19

Miller Overbeck Haeun Paik Caylynn Grace Palmer Dipali Patel Katie Teresa Payne Samantha Demyra Peterson Eleazar Pineda Timothy Brian Platz Abigail Lane Poirier Alexis Paige Poole McKay L. Powers Rachana Ramachandra Prabhu Anita Sadanandan Pullani Paul Ross Rambeau Alexa Rae Reininger Jacqueline Ann Reis Madison Elizabeth Ricci Charity Sade Robinson Doris Chatman Roden Jessica Faye Ross Abeer Fatima Saberi Benjamin Sahlie 20

MSW

21

Micheline Musa Salama Erin Sanders Eva Claire Schwartz Syeria Scott Heather Clarke Sewell Daniel Shapiro Danielle Marie Shelton Brittany Silva Tortesheia Deniseia Singleton Rebecca Katherine Snyder Justin Elbert Solomon Albrey Renee Sorrell Cassaundra Williams St. Fleur Catherine Michelle Stauff Tynese St.Cyr Merrium Stidham Odessa Jewel Stoelzel Fawaz Hassan Syed Jessica Alyse Tawzer Leniyah Taylor Surafel Tesfaye Iratda Koy Thiravong 22

M S W 23

M S W 24

Yasmen Leasha Thomas Nyeisha Thompson Kelly Thornton Ebony Valeriano Rico Anton Vlastelic Angela Arlene Warren Payton Audrey Watson Anna Michelle Weldon Ashley Rose West Charles Anthony Williams Jr. Sara Wills Taylor Nicole Woods Julian Tshaaj Yang Kaitlin BriannaYoo

25

B S W 26

Bachelor of Social Work Zachry Aiden Aaron, Magna Cum Laude Allison Elizabeth Archer Brooke Ansley Berlin, Cum Laude Sawyer Marie Bradford, Summa Cum Laude Jalynn Elizabeth Colvin, Summa Cum Laude Diana Catherine Crawford, Summa Cum Laude Eunice Manuella Davis, Magna Cum Laude Grace Camden Ellsworth Jenna Lindsey Fasciglione, Summa Cum Laude Madeline Kristen Fox, Summa Cum Laude Kenadi Ayanna Goodwin, Cum Laude Kelsey Rae Goss, Magna Cum Laude Christina Elena Graziani, Magna Cum Laude Mya Yolisha Greene

27

Megan Nicole Hayes Leigh Hunter Henry, Magna Cum Laude Alondra Jazmin Hernandez-Vega, Magna Cum Laude Sarah Emily Hicks, Magna Cum Laude Damien Juwon Johnson, Summa Cum Laude Lillian Ari Keen Johnson Hannah Isabella Kepes, Summa Cum Laude Grace Sunny Lee, Magna Cum Laude Iyana Josaiah Lee Emily Nicole Leete, Magna Cum Laude Evan Jon Lewis Olivia Ann Love, Magna Cum Laude Jasmin Stephanie Mata-Sanchez, Cum Laude Emerson Moon, Magna Cum Laude

28

Sydney Abigail Nickerson, Magna Cum Laude Esther Oh, Magna Cum Laude Nora Mae Perez, Magna Cum Laude Lillian Lee Robinson Katherine Mccaw Russell, Magna Cum Laude Abigail Ryan, Summa Cum Laude Ana Laura Solis-Sanchez, Magna Cum Laude James Stinson IV, Cum Laude Nafekot Asrat Tadesse Kathryn Elaine Taylor Laurel Kate Thomas, Summa Cum Laude Enrriqueta Jean Van Tassel, Magna Cum Laude Katelyn Maree Wasson, Magna Cum Laude Kylie Nichole Wood, Cum Laude

BSW 29

Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Counseling

Teresa Marie Bryant Camri Marie Copeland Emma Lynn DiDuro Kendal Edwards Emily Kelly Haber Valentina Sofia Imery Lisa Michelle Jackson Rachel Yuvonne Johnson Joshua Jones Gabriella Kozlowski Anna Gabriella Langer Leah Hope Lawrence Staci Rose Levine Ruijie Ma Rachel Rose Megdal Koral Rae Michaels Joey Chi-Ying Ngai Haeun Paik Anita Sadanandan Pullani Jessica Faye Ross Brittany Silva Anna Michelle Weldon

Chloe Adele Bohan Arianna Michele Brown Thomas Joseph Buchenot Allison Marie Cava Chari Chin-Young Caston Huriye Djemal Steven Michael Donohoe Mindy Jean-Pierre Etienne Mary Lauren Golden Maci Lenora Harmon Lataya Lock Hunt Avery Kristen James Michael Louis Linbrunner Rachael Lyne Lukacs Kaycie Leighanne Malcolm Michelle Gaye Martel Mollie Glyn McGee Lateefah Lashawn Noel Key Katie Teresa Payne Hisham Muzaffar Qureshi Benjamin Sahlie Cassaundra Williams St. Fleur

Jared Daniel Beaver Caroline Marie Christopher William James DaVanzo Jr. Emma Lynn DiDuro Akina Griffin Holli Michelle Hutson Lisa Michelle Jackson Kylie Ann Michelle Knox Peyton Jefferson McCollum Anita Sadanandan Pullani Albrey Renee Sorrell Merrium Stidham Kelly Thornton Rico Anton Vlastelic Taylor Nicole Woods

Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Liza Cuevas Doris Chatman Roden Heather Clarke Sewell

Undergraduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership Olivia Grace Baxley Jaelynn Marie Bochat Naomi Lee Chernowski Susannah Rhae Grant Trenton Jeremiah Holloman Sarah Elizabeth Juneau Macy Claire Mealor Eniola Olujumoke Olubunmi Clay Jacob Shackelford Alyssa Devon Yarritu

UGA ® School of Social Work

CONGRATULATIONS SSW GRADUATE! All of us at the School of Social Work are so proud of all that you have accomplished during your time here. And we want to keep on sharing your future good news with your fellow alumni in our Engage Magazine Class Notes.

Send us your Class Notes! https://bit.ly/SSWClassNotes

Whether you have been promoted, started a new job, won an award or accomplished something amazing, we want to hear from you. Photos to accompany a Class Note can be submitted as well.

Just click on the link or scan the QR code to let us know what’s happening with you.

Again, congratulations and keep in touch!

31

Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski

Chartered in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America. As Georgia’s flagship institution, the university is recognized for its commitment to student excellence as it tackles some of the world’s grand challenges — from combating infectious disease to advancing economic growth and improving community well-being.

Since its founding in 1964, the UGA School of Social Work has demonstrated its commitment to student excellence by preparing more than 8,000 culturally competent social work practitioners and scholars to be leaders in addressing persistent and emerging social problems through practice, research and policy. The school offers a learning environment that emphasizes social justice for all, with relevant experiences both inside and outside the classroom, training in reflective and critical thinking skills that incorporate global perspectives and cultural humility, and hands-on research and leadership opportunities.

We wish all our graduates continued personal and professional success. As a Bulldog alum, you will always have our support. GO DAWGS! 32