Ssw spring summer 2017 newsletter

UNC CHARLOTTE

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK SYNERGY

January—June 2017

Faculty Highlights Welcome to Synergy, the second issue of the biannual journal of the School of Social Work. Synergy was created to profile the critical role the School plays with this diverse University and engaged community.

Please enjoy the Spring/ Summer edition and mark your calendars for our fall events.

The School of Social Work’s Advanced Generalist MSW Program has been r anked #58 by U.S. New s & W or ld Repor t.

Professors Terri Matthews and Sonyia Richardson w er e h onored by the Provost for being recognized by graduating seniors as having made the most positive contributions to their education. The College Services consistently ranks highest in this honor across campus.

Congratulations Terri and Sonyia!

Dr. Schnavia S. Hatcher, Director School of Social Work Schnavia.Hatcher@uncc.edu

Professor Roger Suclupe w as aw ar ded the 2016-17 Accessibility Excellence Award for Outstanding Faculty/Staff by The Office of Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services recognized 11 individuals for their “strong commitment to accessibility and disability-related issues.” Award recipients were chosen through student nominations that detailed the faculty or staff member’s extraordinary commitment to accessibility. Congratulations, Roger!

UNC CHARLOTTE

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK SYNERGY

January—June 2017

Faculty Highlights continued

Did you know‌.

The University of North Carolina School of Social Work welcomed over 100 new members into the alumni family during spring 2017?

No matter where life takes these BSW and MSW graduates, they will always be members of a passionate group of UNC Charlotte social workers that is almost 30 years strong.

Professor Amy Peters and oth er UNC Charlotte em ployees volunteered to read to Kindergarten and First grade students at Nathaniel Alexander Elementary on April 24, 2017.

Dr. Vanessa Drew-Branch gave th e keynote presentation at the UNC Charlotte Ethics Conference for Social Work Professionals on April 26, 2017. Dr. Lori Thomas and Professor Roger Suclupe were featured on a panel discussion regarding Ethical Practice with Vulnerable Populations at the conference. Professor Heather Douglas served on the planning committee.

Dr. Annelise Mennicke spoke w ith Fusion New s on May 24, 2017 to discuss how rollbacks of federal oversight of local law enforcement could effect the investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in April that he had ordered a sweeping review of reform agreements. He noted that it was not the responsibility of the federal government to manage non-federal law enforcement agencies. Dr. Mennicke researches how systems respond to domestic violence and sexual assault.

UNC CHARLOTTE

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK SYNERGY

January—June 2017

Student Highlights Spring 2017 Student Spotlight

Graduation Spring 2017 included 59 BSW Students and 72 MSW Students.

The Graduate Social Work Association won the Outstanding Graduate Student Organization Award at the 2017 Excellence Awards on Apr il 24, 2017.

Congratulations GSWA!

Lindsey MacConnie pr esented a r esear ch poster at the Graduate Research Symposium on March 3, 2017. Lindsey presented her research project UNC Charlotte Students’ Engagement in Bystander Intervention as a Determinant of College Connection to a group of peers, faculty, and other social work professionals.

Congratulations to the following students who will be our Communication Across the Curriculum Consultants for the fall 2017 semester: Paulina Rivera Amy Conner Erin Coggins Abraham Arias

Communication Across the Curriculum (CxC) works with faculty, academic partners, and administration to engage, support, and celebrate the use of communication to enhance teaching and learning. Student Communication Consultants are peer consultants who provide communication support to other students by assisting the students in navigating the enhanced curriculum. The Consultants act as engaged reader/listener, providing informed, constructive criticism directed toward the argumentation, analysis, organization, clarity, and style of papers and presentations. Dr. Suzanne Boyd serves as the SSW CxC Coordinator.

UNC CHARLOTTE

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK SYNERGY

January—June 2017

Community Engagement Spring 2017 Race Matters for Juvenile Justice held a Com m unity Pr esentation on the School to Prison Pipeline on March 15, 2017 at McClintock Middle School. Dr. Susan McCarter, Judge Elizabeth Trosch, C. Renee Little, and CMPD Deputy Chief Vicki Foster examined the overrepresentation of children of color in school disciplinary actions and explored ways to reduce the pathway between schools and the juvenile justice system.

Dr. Lori Thomas w as featur ed in the sem inar “Housing Works! Community -Engaged Research on Charlotte’s Effort to End Chronic Homelessness” on February 22, 2017. The presentation focused on strategies to create and maintain a chronic homeless registry, expand outreach efforts, coordinate moves into housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness, and engage the community to be a part of the solution.

Students4Giving held its 7th Annual Confer ence “Race, Power, and Privilege” on March 31, 2017. The conference was hosted by The Graduate Social Work Association featured “How #BlackLivesMatter, HB2, and Trump Changes our Work” presented by Chimi Boyd-Keyes. 4 CEUs were offered.

The UNCC School of Social Work and Advocates For Change hosted a workshop and community networking event, Social Not Silent Workers: Advocating in Your Field, on Mar ch 14, 2017 at UNCC’s Center City Campus. The event was funded by the Graduate and Professional Student Government. Professor Hontah Epps served on the planning committee.

In response to Charlotte’s increasingly diverse and rapidly growing Latino population, Professor Roger Suclupe is bridging the gap between advocacy, outreach, and critical perspectives on social work policy through a new undergraduate and graduate course, Social Work Practice with Latino Communities, held at the Cam ino Com m unity Center in northeast Charlotte.

UNC CHARLOTTE

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK SYNERGY

January—June 2017

Community Engagement Spring 2017 Continued The School of Social Work collabor ated w ith the Depar tment of Counseling to provide CEUs for social workers attending the Multicultural Play Therapy Center Summer Conference, June 26-39, 2017.

Upcoming School of Social Work Events Upcoming Information

Sessions *MSW Program Information Sessions July 14, 2017 July 17, 2017 July 28, 2017 August 9, 2017

Faculty Presentations *Council on Social Work Education Conference October 19-22, 2017 Dallas, Texas Dr. Laneshia Conner w ill present a paper entitled, “Adapting an HIV Evidence-Based Intervention for Older Women: Lessons Learned, Evaluating HIV Printed Educational Materials for Older Audiences”.

Dr. Susan McCarter w ill present a paper entitled, “Disproportionate Minority Contact, School-to-Prison Pipeline, and Smart Decarceration: Primer for Social Workers”.

Dr. Andrew Reynolds w ill pr esent a paper entitled, “Improving group work in program evaluation courses through feedback and active learning.

Check out website for more dates

Dr. Bob Herman-Smith w ill present a paper entitled, “Practical Ways to Get Students Excited and Involved in the Research Process”.

Save the Date School of Social Work Fall Forum October 4, 2017 More details coming soon!

UNC CHARLOTTE

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK SYNERGY

January—June 2017

STAY CONNECTED Are you a UNC Charlotte Social Work alumni?

Please add or update your information on the alumni form so that we may provide news updates, special invitations, continuing education opportunities, and more. The form can be found at https://goo.gl/forms/CshCoxIrYb8GZE0u1

The contact information will be held and managed by the UNC Charlotte School of Social Work and will only be used in connection with alumni activities and events. If you have any questions, email the SSW at socialwork@uncc.edu. Thank you for staying connected!

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