2025 Winter Commencement Program by University of Michigan School of Social Work

Winter Commencement December 13, 2025

Our

Vision

A Better Society Through Individual and Social Change

Our Mission

Advancing the social work profession’s vision and values, the University of Michigan School of Social Work seeks to develop a more equitable, caring and socially just society. Such a society meets basic human needs, eliminates social and economic inequities and empowers individuals, their communities and institutions to reach their aspirations and potential. Drawing on an interdisciplinary faculty within a public university seated in a region of enormous need and promise, the School is dedicated to education, research and service that fosters progressive change at local, national and global levels.

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that the University of Michigan, named for Michigami, the world’s largest freshwater system and located in the Huron River watershed, was formed and has grown through connections with the land stewarded by Niswi Ishkodewan Anishinaabeg –– the Three Fires People, who are the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi –– along with their neighbors, the Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, and Wyandot nations.

Order of Exercises

Processional

Jordan Schug Quartet

Marshals

Gina Ambrogio

LEO Lecturer

Rosalva Osorio Cooksy

Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer

Barbara Hiltz

Director of MSW Programs and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work

Erin Khang

Director of Field Education and Clinical

Assistant Professor of Social Work

Welcome and Introductions

Beth Angell

Dean and Professor of Social Work

Land Acknowledgment

Beth Angell

Dean and Professor of Social Work

Keynote Speaker

Osvaldo Rivera, MSW ‘87

LEO Lecturer

Student Performer

Brianna Davis

MSW Degree Candidate

Student Speaker

Megan Tinerella

MSW Degree Candidate

Presentation of MSW Graduates

Readers

Hooders

Justin Hodge

Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work

Aimée Vantine

Daicia R. Price Field Educator & LEO Lecturer

Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer

Robert M. Ortega, Associate Professor

Hooders

Abigail Eiler

Readers

Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work and Director of Undergraduate Minor Programs

Daniel J. Fischer Assistant Dean of Field Education & Clinical Assistant Professor

Julie Ribaudo Clinical Professor of Social Work

M. Antonio”Tony” Alvarez, LEO Lecturer II

Closing Remarks

Beth Angell

Alumni Welcome

Dean and Professor of Social Work

Judy Levick, Alumni Board of Governors

Recessional

Closing Remarks

Jordan Schug Quartet

Lynn Videka, Dean

“Hail to the Victors”

Led by Anna Ladd, Auriella “A.J.” Lewis, Laura Nord and Maryam Tout

Recessional

Jordan Schug Quartet

Commencement ceremonies have been the site of free expression and peaceful protest for decades at the University of Michigan. The University does not attempt to prevent peaceful protests or other speech protected under the First Amendment.

Today’s ceremony is a way to honor our graduates’ accomplishments and celebrate their hard work. The School uplifts the values of social work, which includes holding space for different opinions and the opportunity for dialogue. Today and every day, we advocate for a safe and peaceful exchange of ideas and we encourage empathy, compassion and respect.

Cover Art

The Real Blue, 1998

Sam Gilliam b. 1933

Sam Gilliam is one of the great innovators in postwar American painting. He emerged from the Washington, D.C. scene in the mid 1960s with works that elaborated upon and disrupted the ethos of Color School painting. Gilliam abandoned the traditional frames and stretchers used in painting. Instead he chose to loosely drape and suspend his paint stained canvases from the walls and ceiling.

Gilliam’s The Real Blue is a four-piece ceiling installation commissioned for the School of Social Work’s lower level and is a centerpiece of its art collection.

Dear Graduates,

Congratulations! We are thrilled to celebrate your hard work and dedication together with your friends, families and loved ones.

In pursuit of your MSW, you have gained the skills, knowledge and training to make a difference in the lives of others. You are effective, practiced facilitators and leaders who know how to take a stand, address injustice and engage the community. As you begin the next chapter of your lives, remember that education is a lifelong process. Keep in touch with your faculty and classmates and keep listening and learning from your clients and colleagues.

University of Michigan social work graduates have a reputation for their expertise, dedication and achievement. Today you join 18,000+ alumni who lead the field as policymakers, agency directors and foundation leaders, who improve lives as accomplished and effective social workers. We look forward to hearing how you apply your talents for the good of people and communities.

You have earned the term “the leaders and best.” On behalf of the Michigan Social Work community, I wish you every success as you reach out, raise hope and change society.

Go Blue,

Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work

About Our Keynote Speaker

Osvaldo

Rivera, MSW ’87

Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rivera was born in Puerto Rico and lived in southwest Detroit most of his life. For over five decades, he has been active in community advocacy and human services. He consults for a number of social service, community and arts organizations.

Now in retirement, Rivera has turned his focus on documenting the history of southwest Detroit’s Latino community. He writes a column for the community newspaper, El Central, and is one of the founders of VOCES: Southwest Detroit Oral History Project. He currently teaches at Wayne State University in Detroit on Afro Latino history and culture, and at the School of Social Work.

Rivera has been involved in arts and cultural activism since his teen years. Over the years, he has led a number of cultural organizations, performance troupes and bands.

About Our Student Performer

Brianna Davis MSW ‘25

Brianna Davis (any pronouns) was raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she’s been volunteering in education, community organizing and environmental cleanup since the age of 12. As a high schooler, she was heavily involved in her community as a Washtenaw County Youth Commissioner, and the founder of a multicultural student-led organization called Diversiteam.

In her undergraduate coursework, Davis studied teaching English to speakers of other languages, sociology, and social work, and graduated at the age of 19 due to her early college experience in high school. Her most recent professional role was as a youth program facilitator at the Neutral Zone, a teen leadership and arts center, where she was encouraged to pursue a career in social work.

She began the MSW program in the fall of 2024 in the Interpersonal Practice pathway. She is a member of the New Leaders of AfricanCentered Social Work program, and has pledged to increase the welfare of Black Americans in her future career. In her fieldwork at a community mental health agency in Detroit, she served clients using case-care management and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), facilitating weekly skills groups and providing individual therapy. Following graduation, she will provide home-based therapy to youth and their families impacted by the juvenile justice system in Wayne County.

UJIMA

Original Song by Brianna Davis

We owe it all to each other

We don’t own love, we don’t own land

We can act like it, but Mothers will take it back

We don’t own love (We don’t own love), we don’t own land (We don’t own land)

We want universal love, we want unconditional

We want to find our place in every aspect of this world

We want more than we can see, we want a peaceful journey

To home

We want more out this life, for you, for them, and for us

And for us

We don’t own love, we don’t own land

You can’t own anything but your own actions

About Our Student Speaker

Megan Tinerella MSW ‘25

A first-generation college graduate, Megan Tinerella (she/her) earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University, where she began shaping her commitment to service and advocacy. She gained early experience at Wellspring Lutheran Family Services, supporting efforts to reunify families and mentoring children in the foster care system. This work strengthened her dedication to supporting children in meaningful ways.

During her Master of Social Work program, Tinerella focused on policy and political social work, expanding her skills in systems-level change. She interned with the Michigan House of Representatives, where she contributed to legislative research and communityengaged policy initiatives. These experiences solidified her passion for education policy and deepened her dedication to creating equitable changes for all individuals.

Kind, understanding, and driven, Tinerella is committed to using her voice to advance meaningful reform. With long-term aspirations to run for public office and ultimately serve as governor of Michigan, she aims to combine her social work values with effective leadership to build stronger, more just communities across the state.

School of Social Work

MSW Graduates

Cassandra Ableson

Stecia Houefa Aimihoue

Aparna Ananthasubramaniam

Said Angeles

Luke Arreola

Leah Ashley

Jaca-Lynn Aulman

Kristianna Ballnik

Travis Barclay

Cynthia Barlow

Linden Becker

Anna Beer

Emily Marie Berriman

Courtney Christine Biggar

Angelica Claire Bigham

Caroline Bloomquist

Lyss Greta Marie Boes

Adela Bogdanic

Dajonae Bradley

Camila Lünecke Branstner

Alec Bruchnak

Hunter Clayton Brumels

Mackenzie Hines Bruni

Nikky Buchholtz

Shirley Cao

Litzy Azucena Carbajal Martinez

Joshua Ian Carmen

Grace Carney

Louissa Chanin

Shelby Lyn Chapo

Shisi Cheng

Rhea Chhoker

Kayla Chinitz

Erin Choate

Liberty Clark

Kendra Coates

Alex Coerper

Molly Costantino

Emerald Jewel Cox

Kate Criswell-North

John Stewart Cummings

Shayna Danto

Brianna Bibomba Mubenga Davis

Zoë Lucille Dawson

Jericho Detherage

Danielle Marie Dicks

Corinne DiPrima

Tali Dolsten-Kuhel

Ryan Drew

William Fahoome

Emily Ferstle Angus

Kyra Fleming

Marcus Jay Flores

Amanda Flores-Saez

Keith Foisy

Sadie Gardner

Samantha Garrett

Xinran Ge

Anna Katharina Gebert

Sophie Gern

Simona Ghilezan

Keegan Rose Giffels

Hannah Jane Gilman

Jahne’ Gollman

Celia Gomez-Colon

Nahomi Gonzalez

Jessica Lauren Gougeon

McKenna Green

School of Social Work

MSW Graduates

Kelsey Greene

James Guldi

Elliot Yubin Ha

Tiffany Teresa Hackett

Kirsten Elizabeth Hale

Jua’Chelle Nah’Veyah Harmon

Lauren Bria Hayes

Hope Heideman

Lauren Hernandez

McKenzie Kissebeth Hilscher

Lucy Alexander Hirsch

Annelise Hofmann

Kaissidy Rae Homolka

Alayna Honaker

Ashley Hrdlicka

Jun Hu

Kevin Hufnagel

Khalled Adnan Ismail

Kristin Jardine

Lauren Jensen

Luis Jimenez

Jordan Joe

Alaina Christine Johns

Clarissa Lee Johnson

Jason Jones

Kristina Jourdan

Victoria Jousma

Fred Demeer Kassab

Lucy Kates

Sheva Khaimov

Caroline Kherkher

Trevor Wayne Kirkland

Katherine Kop

Hailey Marie Kowalik

Samantha Kozuchowski

Alyssa Kraemer

Shelbie Kramer

Spencer Kufta

Jennifer Kustanovich-Hoza

Kristen Langtry

Anthony Lanzilote

Chloe Sabo Laporte

Noelle Paige Leahy

Daria Vaziri Lenderman

Xinlu Li

Avery Elyse Machuk

Zeinab Makki

Karenna Mansour

Shylah Rayelle Mathuram

Melody Mayer

Hugh Joesph-Graham McDonald

Bridget McGuinness

Amanda McVey

Chris Genaro Medina

Ezekiel Medina

Niki Mehta

Ashley Durón Mendoza

Sarah Merrifield

Elise Lauren Metcalf

Matthew Donovan Mills

Julie Milstein

Amanda Nance

Thomas Newman

Catherine Ellen Nicoli

Livi Novello

Kaylee O’Neill

Megan Ocelnik

Terra Oegema

School of Social Work

MSW Graduates

Joel Olguin

Logan Nelson Olmstead

Nina Pacheco

Maggie Violet Painter

Rosa Park

Arely Pastrana Vega

Deborah Pelloski

Liz Pittenger

Monica Place

Julia Plawker

Danielle Nicole Cooper Popovits

Bryan Jarrett Porter

James Quigg

Aaliyah Richards

Miriam Richter

Ryan Ricks

Ava Robbins

Sarah Elizabeth Roberts

Andrea Rodriguez

Chloe Romack

Adriana Esperanza Rosales

Heather Rose

Samuel Rose

Sara Rutter

Madison Lou Rzeppa

Brendan Charles Sain

Ariel Sarah-Marie Saldana

Marissa Christine Samborn

Sydney Savage

Derek Schaedig

Christina Sonia Schulz

Zoe Elisabeth YiLing Seymore

Madison Shalhoup

Sophia Shampine

Sareena Barbara Shetti

Elinor Waxwork Silverman

Bailey Sineni

Jessica Skinner

Brenna Noreen Smith

Talia Soffer

Gia Paige Soles

Jordan Stahl

Abigail Stanley

Emily Harris Stanwood

James Stinson

Kaitlyn Renee Strukel

Ryan Tan

Nan Tang

Susan Ellen Thomas

Megan Tinerella

Sarah Tyria

Gwynneth VanLaven

Victoria Brynne Verdugo

Eve Vicary

Elisa Visciglio

Eva Vogel

Rebecca Cristina Walsh

Anne-Sophie Walters

Yuemeng Wang

Sarah Weed

Jerrard Wheeler

Abigail Wilson

Sydney Grace Woods

JJ Wright

Richard Yan

Jessica Yost

Hengxiang Yu

Logan Zelenak