UGA SSW Online Graduation Program Spring 2026

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.

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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 The Honorable David R. Sweat Retired Chief Judge, Superior Courts of the Western District

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 KEEP US IN THE LOOP! 31 ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 32 COMPLEX CLOTH INSTALLATION 32

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. | © 2026 University of Georgia School of Social Work | Design: Kat Farlowe.

Welcome

Philip Hong Dean and Professor

Dear School of Social Work Graduates, 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 Ph.D. 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 with social and economic struggles and hardships left by forces of divide and instability.

However, I am confident that each and every one of you are well prepared to tackle these challenges and will 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,

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Keynote Speaker The Honorable

David R. Sweat Retired Chief Judge, Superior Courts of the Western Judicial Circuit

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avid R. Sweat graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1979 and began practicing law in Athens, Georgia. In 2002, the voters of Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties elected Judge Sweat to an open seat as Judge of Superior Court. Judge Sweat served as Judge of Superior Court and as Chief Judge of the Western Judicial Circuit until 2017, when he retired from active service. Judge Sweat now serves as a Senior Judge of Superior Courts of Georgia, presiding in courts across Georgia.

In 2008, Judge Sweat established a mental health treatment court program to assist individuals with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders and divert them away from the criminal justice system.

Judge Sweat also facilitated the creation of the Athens-Clarke County Justice Mental Health Collaborative. Mental health, law enforcement, and justice professionals work through the Collaborative to change system responses to justice-involved individuals with behavioral health treatment needs.

Judge Sweat served on the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and is

Athens-Clarke County’s representative to the Board of Advantage Behavioral Health Systems. Advantage provides community mental health services in a ten-county area of Northeast Georgia.

In the 2022 legislative session, Judge Sweat participated in drafting and presenting the Georgia Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Co-Responder Act, SB 403. That act establishes law enforcement-clinician co-responder teams in Georgia and requires collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the community service boards which provide community mental health. Judge Sweat also contributed to revisions of the involuntary treatment chapter of the mental health code, which created greater availability of involuntary outpatient treatment. Judge Sweat serves on the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability’s Advisory Committees on Co-Responder Programs and Assisted Out-Patient Treatment Programs.

Judge Sweat has two children and two grandchildren and resides in Athens.

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PhD JOSHUA COMP

Ph.D. SPRING '26 (NOT PICTURED) dissertation title:

A critical discourse analysis of critical thinking in social work education committee members: june hopps (chair)

jane mcpherson, mary ager, john stanfield

Doctor of Philosophy The mission of the University of Georgia School of Social Work PhD Program, founded in 1990, is preparing social work scholars to situate their teaching and research in history, philosophy, and theories of social work and social welfare, with two-fold emphasis: (1) Producing scholars who have the capacity to work interdisciplinarily through an epistemologically diverse, research-intensive program of study, and (2) producing social work educators through instructional and mentored experiential learning opportunities.

ZACH COOPER Ph.D. SPRING '26 dissertation title:

Mechanisms of change, fidelity, and scale-out of a collaborative care model for treating Type 1 diabetes and depression committee members: orion mowbray (chair)

jeremy gibbs, rebecca wells, leslie johnson

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SHANNON POWER Ph.D. SPRING '26 dissertation title:

Toward health equity through dementia care navigation committee members: jenay beer (chair),

gaurav sinha, sarah hamilton, tiffany washington

ELYSSA SCHROEDER Ph.D. SPRING '26 dissertation title:

The role of services in post-trafficking well-being: A socioecological analysis integrating survivor conditions and structural contexts committee members: rachel fusco (chair), jennifer elkins, tamora callands

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MA NML Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Leadership The mission of the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Leadership (MA NML) Program at the University of Georgia is to prepare and train leaders who will strengthen the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations throughout Georgia, the Southeast, the U.S. and globally. The program prepares students with the knowledge, skills and direct experience necessary for careers as managers and leaders in nonprofit organizations.

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Haley Paige Arner Bowen Nicole Corley Zachary Thomas Bryce Hanvey Jacob Michael Holt Liliana Ford Johnson

Ella Rose McCook Elisabeth Charlotte Moreau Abigail Virginia Schulze Kaitlyn Hart Schwarzenbach Wyn Alyse Thomas 7

MSW

Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work program prepares graduate students for advanced social work practice. We strive to develop future leaders in the profession of social work who are culturally competent; dedicated to social and economic justice; and committed to upholding and disseminating the core values and ethical standards of both the School and the profession.

Tigist Kifetew Abdullah Gradeigh Brooke Adams Olamide Ifedolapo Ajayi Abigail Alavez Morales Francisca Ayobami Allename Nicole Amber Arendt Tamika Arnwine 8

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M S W 10

Alexander Noel Ashcraft Candice Tiffany Auguste Amanda Backus Joshua Richard Bartikoski Jessica Abigail Berman Jillian Grace Best Abigail Biehl Gloria Fayelyn Bilodeau LaSondra Boddie Jordan Boling Lily Ann Boothby Nikia Booze Katie Michelle Boudreaux Amber Starr Bowling Kayton Laine Carr Samantha Bobette Chesnut Adaugo Uzoma Chiejina Haley Elizabeth Clark Chassidy Cole Sara Lynn Collins Ana Maria Correa Michelle Craig 11

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MSW

John Michael Craven-Morris Anna Grace Cummings, SSW Ambassador Aza Michellina Eunique Davis-Picou Sudeshna De Destiney Michelle Dempsey Kamryn Julianna Dinning Sonja LaVerne Dobbs Alexa Jade Doblado Hannah Meng Blair Dolan Olivia Leigh Dunkley Robert Macarthur Duran Aaron Morgan Earl Bennett Andrew Ekmark Madison Jessa Ellis Elaine Grace Evans Haley Marie Fairel Erin Lucinda Finch Katherine Makenzie Finnegan Kara Bridget Flynn John Solomon Francis, Jr. Fernanda Smith Fraser 13

Hannah Michael Gaddis Olivera Gasic Noah James Gibson Ashley Reena Gilbert Amanda Holley Goodin Christina Elena Graziani Caitlin Ann Grdinich Kyli Marie Greer Jennifer Lane Greidinger Betty Evette Griffin Benjamin Thomas Griswold Tara Ann Haley Casey Linn Hammons Sophie Elizabeth Hardy Lynette Rochelle Hart Tanesha Neshell Harvey Sarah Roberson Hawkinson Craig Lavar Hicks Brooke Anderson Higgins Alea Ann Hornsby Hannah Claire Hubert Avery Nicole Hughes 14

M S W

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MSW Eun Mi Hwang, SSW Ambassador Megan Leigh Jackson Morgan Scout Jennings, SSW Ambassador Alexis Jones Ashlyn Ruthie-Marie Jones Jdia Robernaelace Jones, SSW Ambassador Molly Joy Kavanaugh Stephanie Michelle Koson Adisyn Rhea Lacasella Brianna Nicole Lawrence Kimberly Lawton Cecilia Leal Elijah James Leppold Emily Anne Lewis Hailee-Jo Deanne Lillard Kashawn Denise Littlejohn Maria Brianna Lopez Bentley Isaiah Malone Sarah Pendleton Malone

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M S W 18

Esme Mason Trevor Duncan McEuen Grace L. McKessy Maxine McNicholas Katherine Rebecca Meitz Ruth Teshager Mengesha Ymmilia Shavon Miller Morgan Abigail Milstead Vetrika Morgan Bonnie Faith Mosby Edrienna Francine Moses Seth Karl Naekel Betty Carol Nelson Jasmine Ohaya Sarah Broussard Ozio Denisse Palacios Delgado June Woo Park Owen Manning Parker Brittany Noelle Patton Caroline Elizabeth Payne Shreya Pendyala Journey Marie Perkins 19

Elizabeth Griffin Perry Jennifer Jane Petrie Kayla Christine Pettenon Katelyn Pierson Melanie Stephanie Poudevigne Mary Alfons Powell LaNae Marshon Ramey Anna Elizabeth Rayhorn Emily Lynn Reed A'Kniya Shameacia Reeves Natalie Michelle Richardson Mary Anna Rigel Nicole Marie Rigoroso Elana Rios David Carson Roark Madison Lanier Roberts Nailea Rodriguez Sharien Shantelle Rosiji Mila Katherine Sampson Ethan Jordan Santos-Felgenhauer Emma Marie Schroeder Hannah Rita Sexton 20

MSW

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Mary Grey Shaginaw Julia Danielle Shalhoub, SSW Ambassador Jesslyn Capen Shields Naureen Fatima Sial Anna Jordan Sol Emilee Spicer Kate Spychalski Victoria Steelman Nadia Stephens Naomi Raquel Stephens Katie Rees Stephenson Whitney Nicole Stinson, SSW Ambassador Sarah Brittany Swann Kayla Morgan Taitz Ashley Victoria Taylor Joshua Cole Taylor Melak Demissie Tessema Abigail Reese Tew Madison Grace Tomberlin Tess Wimberly Toombs 22

M S W 23

M S W 24

Kelly Lynn Usher Karina Valles Allison Exley Wade Mattox Peyton Wade Alex Watts Kayla Watts Brianna Lynne Whatley Brittany White Madeline Elaine Wilbanks Aaliyah Nicole Williams, SSW Ambassador Kathryn Elizabeth Williams Drew Carmen Wood Kylie Nichole Wood Alyssa Nicole Wright Joya Mone't Wynn

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BSW

Bachelor of Social Work The BSW program values the development of competent social workers who are dedicated to social justice and advancing social work knowledge and practice. This includes, but is not limited to, alleviating social injustice, poverty, oppression and discrimination.

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Suzette Guadalupe Anaya, Summa Cum Laude Allison Elizabeth Archer Amanda Brooke Blum, Cum Laude Alexis Lee Callahan, Summa Cum Laude Molly Cameron Clark, Summa Cum Laude, SSW Ambassador Joseph Warren Cordova, Cum Laude Theresa Ngocthanh Dinh, Magna Cum Laude Chloe Maria Fernandes, Magna Cum Laude Julia Rose Ferris, SSW Ambassador Claire Marie Gregory, Summa Cum Laude Callan Thomas Hasling, Summa Cum Laude Callie H. Jarrard, Summa Cum Laude Blythe Olivia Kidwell, Magna Cum Laude, SSW Ambassador Sadhika Vijaya Kumar, Magna Cum Laude Kathryn Elizabeth Lewis, Magna Cum Laude Rachel Talia Lowe, Summa Cum Laude, SSW Ambassador Sasha Marie Messersmith, Cum Laude, SSW Ambassador Hannah Miceli Emily Joy Nickerson, Magna Cum Laude Monifeoluwa Omomorewa Okuwobi, Summa Cum Laude Merrick John Sawyer, Summa, Cum Laude Kinsey Madison Segars, Cum Laude Erik Thorbjorn Soder Ella Rose Stillion Southard, First Honor Graduate, Summa Cum Laude Kylie Lynn Tinsley, Summa Cum Laude, SSW Ambassador Riayn Madeline Townsend, Summa Cum Laude Isabel Rose Vanderpool Stacy Xiong, Cum Laude

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B S W

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BSW

uga school of social work ®

KEEP US IN THE LOOP!

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?

All of us at the School of Social Work are so proud of all that you have accomplished during your time here, but before you toss that cap, take a moment to update your contact info by clicking the update link below or scanning the QR Code. This helps us stay connected with you and keep you in the loop on alumni news, events, and opportunities.

We’d love to include your updates in our Engage Magazine Class Notes, whether you’ve started a new job, earned a promotion, won an award, or reached a personal milestone. Photos are welcome too!

Click on the link below or scan the QR Code to submit your Class Note.

Update Your Contact Info

Submit a Class Note

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hartered 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.

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ince its founding in 1964, the University of Georgia School of Social Work has demonstrated its commitment to student excellence by preparing more than 9,000 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.

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e wish all our graduates continued success, both personally and professionally. As a Bulldog alum, you will always have our support. Stay in touch!

The School of Social Work is housed in the historic Athens Factory, a cotton and wool mill built in 1832. Complex Cloth is a multimedia installation in the School of Social Work that tells stories of the Athens Factory in the context of social work. The exhibit is open to the public for self-guided tours. Learn more at complexcloth.org.