Winter Commencement 2023

Winter Commencement December 17, 2023 Summer Commencement July 29, 2017

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

Presentation of MSW Graduates Readers Hooders Debra Mattison Daicia R.Associate Price Clinical Professor of Field Educator Social Work & LEO Lecturer

Lydia Li Professor of Social Work

Sue AnnM. Savas Robert Ortega, Clinical Associate Professor of Associate Professor Social Work

Erin Martinez-Gilliard LEO Lecturer

Readers Hooders Daniel J. Fischer Ashley Cureton Assistant Dean Assistant Professor &of Social Work of Field Education

Daicia Price Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work Welcome and Introductions Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work Land Acknowledgment Heather Syrette MSW Candidate Keynote Speaker Linh Song, MSW ‘04 Ann Arbor City Council Member, Ward 2 Student Speakers Sara Almuktar MSW Degree Candidate Larisa Mednis MSW Degree Candidate

Clinical Assistant Professor Abigail Eiler M. Antonio”Tony” Alvarez, Clinical Associate Professor of LEO Lecturer II Social Work Alumni Welcome Closing Remarks Judy Levick, Beth Angell Alumni Board of Governors Dean and Professor of Social Work Closing Remarks Lynn Videka, Recessional Dean Jordan Schug Quartet “Hail to the Victors” Led by Anna Ladd, Auriella “A.J.” Lewis, Laura Nord and Maryam Tout Recessional Jordan Schug Quartet

Cover Art The Real Blue, 1998 Sam Gilliam b. 1933-2022 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 17,000+ 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 Linh Song, MSW ’04 Ann Arbor City Council Member, Ward 2

Linh Song has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, supporting child advocacy, public schools, anti-trafficking within international adoption, and tech startups. Born and raised in the Midwest by Vietnamese refugee parents, she is her family’s firstborn American and committed to addressing social, racial and economic inequities. She serves on Ann Arbor’s City Council, as co-chair for Michigan Reproductive Rights for All and as a board member for Jewish Family Services Ann Arbor, Michigan Municipal League Foundation and the Skillman Foundation. Song holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan.

About Our Student Speaker Sara Almuktar, MSW ’23

Sara Almuktar (she/her) is an MSW candidate in the Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective pathway. She has worked as a medical social worker and is also pursuing her School Social Work Specialization. Born and raised in Michigan, Almuktar comes from a large family of eight and is proudly the middle child.

Almuktar graduated from UM-Dearborn in December 2021 with a degree in Health and Human Services. She earned a 4.0 GPA, attended school on scholarship, worked multiple jobs and was awarded with the Dean’s Medallion. Growing up in a diverse, close-knit philanthropy-heavy community inspired Almuktar to pursue social work and its impact on communities. Almuktar is thrilled to fulfill her goal of earning her MSW, where she was honored to be selected as a Geriatric Scholar.

Almuktar would like to thank God, her mama and baba as well as her family and friends for their support and encouragement; her professors, shoutout to Grace, Beth and Julie Ribaudo and classmates for sharing their wisdom and experiences!

Almuktar intends to pursue a career in social work working with individuals across the lifespan as well as families in her home community, Dearborn.

About Our Student Speaker Larisa Mednis, MSW ’23

Larisa Mednis (she/they) is a longtime community organizer and advocate for social justice. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and gender studies from the University of Pittsburgh and helped start the nonprofit Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid in response to the intense need among her community in the restaurant industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her time earning her master’s degree in social work, she has served as the Organizing Co-Chair of Payment for Placements, a student organization working to achieve paid internships for all MSW students. In her free time, Mednis enjoys cooking and baking, writing music, and foraging for wild edible mushrooms.

Through her personal, educational and professional experiences, Mednis has deepened her understanding of community service and stewardship, and intends to use these skills in her future career as a social worker. Mednis would like to thank her friends and her family for inspiring and motivating her to always achieve her goals.

School of Social Work MSW Graduates Ellie Ahearn Sara Almuktar Samantha Auvenshine Carisma Ayala Mary Azar Erika Barker Kiera Barker Alexandria Hope Bateman Haleigh Bauer Stephen Behan Sam Bila Kendall Bowen Athena Bryer Stephanie Elizabeth Buergers Katelynn Campbell Lenny Carpentier-McLean Isabella Cavataio Meiyan Chen Linus Chun Cara Colao Taína Collazo Justice Cook Christopher Couling Kalina Crafton Courtney DeLongchamp Kate DesLauries Hayley Devitt Sreyashi Dey Karelyn Dippel Brian Donovan Laila Duncan Carlie Dunn Haven Essien Yadira Estrada Carly Evatz Genera Fields

Andrew Finkbeiner Scott Fletcher Haley Fox Katherine Furtaw Juan Carlos Garcia Nikoo Ghaffarloo Seth Gilbert Sheron Gittens Lydia Marie Goff Rachel Goldner Sierra Michelle Gorton Laurel Hammis Kelly Anne Hammon Sarah Ann Hebert-Johnson Jade Tlana Herbert Graeme Hewson Joyce Ho Kara Hollingsworth Margaret Hopp Shani Horn Keturah Horner Taylor Ignaczak Eleri Quinn Irish Jenna Isherwood Kayla Nicole Jablonski Caitlyn Jacobs Theresa Johnson Eri Jutila Juliana Kammerzell Chia-Ling Kao Ashley Kay Sophie Kehrig Hiba Khatib Elle Kleinheksel Hannah Grace Kline Kelly Komis

School of Social Work MSW Graduates Kelsey Kraft Joyce Lee Lexi Li Clancy Loebl Michaela Lynn Louis Sabrina Lutzen Abigail MacKay Shaylyn MacKinnon Annie Maguire Carolyn Ilyse Margulies Katarina Marko Valery Martinez Vinay Mathews Madelyne Mayer Andrew Maynard Sarah Elizabeth Mazdra Larisa Mednis Lisa Mindell Chelsea Mueller Katelyn Rae Murphy Larissa Myers Linda Nkemere Juno Elsa Ottathengil Raegan Palkowski Tasha Parekh Anna Patton Diamond Perdue Vanessa Perez Jocelyn Peters Alexa Rae Peterson Jayce Plantenberg Savannah Pohl Kaila Pulley Jenna Elizabeth Quinn Natalie Quinn June Adora Rayburn Tabatha Reynolds

Keely Rhiannon John Ristau Breanna Rivera-Kloeppel Brendan Roberts Lauren Roberts Zoe Rosen Cara Rossi Kaitlyn Rouse Nicole Rowley Katie Saalberg Eleanor Sawyer McKenna Scherer Caytlin Schultz Jenika Scott Kajiah Alycee Seay Skylar Sedgewick Brendan Sedivy Kelli Sexton Kimberly Sidlauskas Ginneh Slaughter Hannah Evelyn-Marie Sliwa Dylan Smith Jennifer Clare Smith Carly Sommo Isaak Sorenson Nikki Stephens Beth Steven Heather Syrette Valerie Teng Emily Tenniswood Courtney Todd Hannah Van Schaik Dylan van Wyk Zoë Voettiner Adelaide Ward Tess Ward Vester Waters

School of Social Work MSW Graduates Micaiah Webb Violet Wei Hannah Weissler MyKeisha Nicole Wells Emily Marie West George Whiteley IV Danielle Winslow Lauren Wohltjen Natalie Wojcik Kuan-Ting Wu Ghida Zein Youssef

School of Social Work Dual Degree MSW Graduates Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy Shaylyn MacKinnon Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy Valery Martinez Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health Katelyn Rae Murphy Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health Linda Nkemere Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health Tabatha Reynolds Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy Violet Wei

School of Social Work Joint PhD Graduates Lisa Y. Larance Social Work and Sociology Angela K. Perone Social Work and Sociology Joyce Y. Lee Social Work and Developmental Psychology Ha Yeon Lee Social Work and Anthropology Michael Evangelist Social Work and Sociology Sara F. Stein Social Work and Clinical Psychology Ed-Dee G. Williams Social Work and Sociology Change Kwesele Social Work and Developmental Psychology

School of Social Work Leadership Dean Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work Associate Deans Robert Ortega Associate Dean for Educational Programs and Professor of Social Work Rogério Meireles Pinto Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and Berit Ingersoll-Dayton Collegiate Professor of Social Work Joseph Himle Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Social Work Katie Richards-Schuster Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor of Social Work Assistant Dean Timothy Colenback Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management

School of Social Work Leadership Directors Abigail Eiler Director of Undergraduate Minors and Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work William Elliott III Director, Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Social Science and Professor of Social Work Karla Goldman Director, Jewish Communal Leadership Program and Sol Drachler Professor of Social Work Barbara Hiltz Director of Academic Programs and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work Erin Khang, Director of Field Education and Clinical Assistant Professor Daicia Price Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Director and Professor of Social Work

Katie Lopez Director, Office of Global Activities and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor Michelle Woods MSW Student Career Services Director Erin Zimmer Director of MSW Student Services

School of Social Work Faculty Governing Faculty Beth Angell Lindsay Bornheimer Linda Chatters M. Candace Christensen David Córdova Fernanda Cross Ashely Cureton Abigail Eiler William Elliott III James Ellis Katrina Ellis Lisa Fedina Daniel Fischer Terri Friedline Larry Gant Karla Goldman Odessa Gonzalez Benson Andrew Grogan-Kaylor Lorraine Gutiérrez Jaclynn Hawkins Todd Herrenkohl Barbara Hiltz Joseph Himle Justin Hodge Shanna Kattari Erin Khang Ashley Lacombe-Duncan Ann Lampkin-Williams Shawna Lee Lydia Li Katie Lopez Kathryn Maguire-Jack Debra Mattison Patrick Meehan Jamie Mitchell Robert Ortega Rosalva Osorio-Cooksy Sunggeun Park

Brian Perron Rogério Meireles Pinto Daicia Price Camille Quinn Leigh Rauk Julie Ribaudo Katie Richards-Schuster Joseph Ryan Sue Ann Savas Katie Schultz Kristin Seefeldt Luke Shaefer Trina Shanks Beth Sherman Matthew Smith Rebecca Sokol Karen Staller Robert Joseph Taylor Richard Tolman Lynn Videka Daphne Watkins Addie Weaver Lisa Wexler Xiaoling Xiang Mieko Yoshihama Bradley Zebrack Anao Zhang Roland Zullo Field Faculty Zaynab Boussi Amy Burandt Miriam Connolly Christina Dadswell Rachel Naasko Stacy Peterson Yatesha Robinson Aimée Vantine

Emeriti Paula Allen-Meares Oscar Barbarin III William Birdsall Letha Chadiha Barry Checkoway Tom Croxton Sandra Danziger Ruth Dunkle Kathleen Coulborn Faller Sheila Feld Phillip Fellin Rose Gibson Martha Gizynski Leslie Hollingsworth Berit Ingersoll-Dayton Srinika Jayaratne Harold Johnson Edith Kieffer Sherrie Kossoudji Armand Lauffer Laura Lein Edith Lewis Shirley Lockery Susan McDonough Sandra Momper Elizabeth Mutschler Thomas Powell Beth Glover Reed Lawrence Root Mary Ruffolo Daniel Saunders Brett Seabury Vivian Shapiro Kristine Siefert John Tropman David Tucker Diane Kaplan Vinokur

Elizabeth Voshel Helen Weingarten Lecturers Cara Alexander Cherisa Allen Daniel Alvarez Gina Ambrogio Dayna Asante-Appiah Richard Barinbaum Alethia Battles Anthany Beasley Trevor Bechtel Mercedes Monaee Brown Daphne Brydon Brooke Buys Jessica Camp Jessica Campbell Rosalyn Denise Campbell Adisa Chaney Roxanne Chang Priscilla Cortez Colleen Crane Julie Cushman Sean de Four Bonnie Dockham Violeta Donawa Kathleen Doyle Linda Edwards-Brown Rhonda Fields Joseph Galura Karyn Gendreau Ayesha Ghazi Edwin Terri Gilbert Tammie Glenn Irena Glover Marie Gress Jennifer Heckendorn

School of Social Work Faculty (cont.)

Grace Helms Kotre Gregory Hoffman Kathryn Irish Vance Jackson Jr. Camille Jones Leonardo Kattari Jax Kynn Jamie LaLonde Marlanna Landeros Dana Levin Phillip Thomas Luttrell Douglas Manigault III Kassandra Maple-Jackson Erin Martinez-Gilliard Aliyah Masudi Benjamin Moe Darlene Nichols Maureen Okasinski Mari Jan Pitcher Susan Radzilowski

Kristal Reyes Osvaldo Rivera Fatima Salman Monica Sampson Laura Sanders Diana Seales Nitesh Singh Andrea Smith Briana Starks Megan Thiel Relando Thompkins Jennifer Towns V. Paige Walker Carmen Wargel Stephen Wiland Whitney Williams Jewel Woods Laura Yakas Lacea Zavala Candace Ziglor

Alumni Board Members President Sabrina Clark, ‘10 Vice President James Bui, ‘01 Secretary Amy Good, ‘80 School of Social Work Representatives Beth Angell, Dean, Ex officio Halla Jomaa-Jouney, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Ex officio Constance (Connie) Ackert, ‘83 Aroosa Ahmed, ‘18 Steven Applewhite, MSW ‘74 & PhD ‘77 Peggy Bodin, ‘98 Ann Easley, ‘80 Rafael (Ray) Engel, ‘79 Karen Fein, ‘85 Janice (Jan) Fisher, ‘75 Yuri Hernandez Osorio, ‘17 Gregory Hoffman, ‘13 Vance Jackson, ‘06 Elizabeth Kinney, ‘10 Alana Kivowitz, ‘16 Sarah Koreishi, ‘01 Madinah Luqmaan, ‘16 Janice Matthews, ‘77 Kyra Miller, ‘16 Deborah Covington, ‘88 Courtney Morrison, ‘20 Ricardo Perez, ‘75 Sade Richardson, ‘18

Milton Rodriguez, ‘97 Shannon Saksewski, ‘01 Kelly Taylor, ‘95 Bruce Thyer, Ph.D. ‘82 Joanne Waszczak, ‘07 Kendra Webster, ‘97 Glenn Whitelaw, ‘76 Matthew Wollack, ‘12 Joanne Yaffe, MSW ’76 & PhD ‘88 U-M Board of Regents Jordan B. Acker Michael J. Behm Mark J. Bernstein Paul W. Brown Sarah Hubbard Denise Ilitch Ron Weiser Katherine E. White

Thank You Today’s beautiful graduation ceremony looks wonderful and effortless. In truth, the Graduation Committee and many additional people devoted a great deal of talent, time and effort to make it a success. This ceremony would not be possible without the creativity, dedication and hard work of the students, faculty and staff listed below.

Graduation Planning Committee Debra Mattison, Faculty Chair, Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work Reyna Choi MSW Candidate Grant Clement, Recruitment, Admissions, and Student Services Officer (ex officio) James Ellis Assistant Professor of Social Work Michelle Gorton, OSS Office Manager (ex officio) Amal Issa MSW Candidate Veronika Misek MSW Candidate Rebeccah Sokol, Assistant Professor of Social Work Callie Torkelson, Recruitment, Admissions, and Student Services Officer (ex officio) Aimée Vantine, Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer

Essence Uke MSW Candidate Erin Zimmer, Director for Student Services (ex officio) Platform Party Beth Angell Linh Song Robert Ortega Joe Himle Rogério Pinto William Elliott Barb Hiltz Tim Colenback Erin Khang Debra Mattison Lauren Davis Readers Debra Mattison Sue Ann Savas Hooders Ashley Cureton Abigail Eiler Marshals Gina Ambrogio Lydia Li Erin Martinez-Gilliard Daicia Price Sign Language Interpreter Michael Colton Angela Dzierwa

Hail to the Victors Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conquering heroes Hail! Hail! to Michigan The leaders and best Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conquering heroes Hail! Hail! to Michigan The champions of the West