Social Works - Fall 2023

SOCIAL FALL 2023

Division of Social Work students engage with the community during the . de ra Pa g in om ec om H g’s in m yo W of University

What’s Inside Dr. Mary Gitau, 2022 Social Work Distinguished Alum............................................ 03

Director’s Message

Announcing New Faculty & Staff................. 03

Greetings from the Division of Social Work,

Announcing the MSW Program Expansion: Part-Time Option......................... 03 Faculty Awards....................................................04 Field Instructor of the Year Special Recognition Award.............................................04 Student Awards...................................................05 Support the Division of Social Work..........05 Social Work Alum and McNair Scholar Francisca Akambasi...........................................06 Spotlighting Students....................................... 07 Associated Students of Social Work Volunteering at Public Lands Day............... 07 Faculty Publications...........................................08 Immigration Social Work: Study Abroad to El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico..............09 Faculty Research Projects............................... 10 Faculty Taking Leadership and Community Engagement to New Heights...........................11 UW Laramie Social Work Juniors and UW Casper Social Work Juniors....................12

Editorial Credits: Valerie ThompsonEbanks, Arya Denham, Bobbie Schreiner, and Margaret Holland Institutional Marketing: Mark Belcher and Michelle Eberle

With a profound sense of gratitude, I reflect on my 12-year journey within the Division of Social Work.

Throughout this remarkable tenure, I have been fortunate to collaborate with extraordinary colleagues, dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, passionate alums, and invaluable community/agency partners — many of whom proudly hail from our BSW and MSW Programs. Now, as I step into the role of Director of the Division of Social Work, I am truly humbled and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

As we look forward, we are embracing a transformative phase of growth and development. With great enthusiasm, I announce the Division expanded its MSW Program by offering a part-time MSW program option conveniently housed at the University of Wyoming at Casper. This significant addition presents a remarkable opportunity for aspiring social work professionals to pursue their dreams while maintaining their personal and professional commitments. We are delighted to announce that the first part-time Advanced Standing cohort commenced their studies this academic year (2023-2024). For those interested in pursuing their MSW degree part-time, we invite applications for the second Advanced Standing cohort and the inaugural class of the Part-time Standard MSW Program with deadlines set for November 6, 2023. The deadline is the same for fulltime MSW applicants.

Year after year, our Division’s faculty, staff, and students have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing socially just practices, empowering communities, conducting cutting-edge research, and upholding our longstanding tradition of excellence in training new generations of competent social workers. Whether you are considering joining our family or reigniting your relationship with us, we encourage you to reach out or visit us to discover the boundless possibilities that await you.

Sincerely,

VISIT US AT UWYO.EDU/SOCIALWORK

Sue and Bill Lee, University of Wyoming, Division of Social Work Alumni from the class of 1973, returned to campus for a memorable Homecoming Weekend, October 29-30, 2023. They traveled from Lander, Wyoming, to share in the campus-wide festivities and intermingled with social work students, faculty, and staff.

Dr. Mary Gitau, 2022 Social Work Distinguished Alum Mary Gitau, the Associate Dean of Equity & Inclusion in the University of Tennessee-Knoxville College of Social Work, earned three degrees from UW: her M.A. in communication in 2007; M.S.W. in 2012; and a Ph.D. in adult learning and postsecondary education in 2011. She received her B.S. in organizational communication from Ithaca College in 2004. Dr. Gitau integrates social work, communication and nursing into her teaching, scholarship, and research. As an international scholar, she conducts research in both the U.S. and Kenya on immigration, women, social justice, and human rights. In 2018, Gitau was awarded the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship hosted at Kisii University in Kenya. While there, she initiated the establishment of the Center for Peace, Social Justice, Equality and Security. Her community service includes founding the Iowa nonprofit organization Gazelle Impact on Women & Youth in Kenya Inc., whose mission is to empower women and youth in rural Kenya. Working to foster intercultural competency, she has conducted numerous trainings in Iowa for both community agencies and the university.

Announcing New Faculty & Staff Margaret Holland

Assistant Professor (August 2022)

Bethany Cutts

M.S.W. Program Coordinator and Assistant Lecturer (May 2023)

Christine Vencill

Assistant Lecturer (August 2023)

Carissa Bjorklund

Office Associate (May 2023)

Welcome!

ANNOUNCING THE MSW PROGRAM EXPANSION: PART-TIME OPTION The Division of Social Work is delighted to announce the MSW Program Part-time Option that began this fall of 2023.

The purpose of the program is to increase accessibility to graduate-level social work education by offering this affordable model in the center of the state for working adults. This oncampus hybrid part-time program is housed at the University of Wyoming at Casper and offers both Advanced Standing and Standard options for interested students. The Advanced Standing Part-time M.S.W. Program began this fall, while the Standard Part-time M.S.W. Program will begin in the summer of 2024. The part-time Advanced Standing M.S.W. program is designed for students with a B.S.W. degree and is completed in 6 semesters over the course of 2 years, while the Standard Part-time M.S.W. program is designed for students who have an undergraduate degree other than a B.S.W. degree and is completed in 9 semesters over the course of 3 years.

Applications to the M.S.W. Program are open now and close on November 6, 2023. Those interested in a flexible and affordable part-time hybrid program can apply for either the Advanced Standing or Standard programs for the 2023-2024 academic year at www.uwyo.edu/socialwork/prospectivestudents/msw-admissions/our-programs.html.

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FACULTY AWARDS

Sandy Leotti Assistant Professor Sandy Leotti received the University of Wyoming’s 2023 Presidential Scholarly Awards for Early Career Faculty.

Dr. Leotti was selected for this prestigious award for her significant and outstanding potential for scholarship activities that advance the work of the University of Wyoming.

Greta Maxfield Social Work Assistant Lecturer Greta Maxfield, along with Dr. Amanda DeDiego, a professor in the Counseling program, received the Zimmerman Faculty Fellowship through the UW at Casper to engage in a project to assist helping professionals to engage with clients

who are at risk for suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of preventable death in Wyoming, which has the highest suicide rate in the nation based on population (Wyoming Department of Health, n.d.).

Maxfield and Diego are working with a team at the University of Utah to produce a virtual reality

training on suicide assessment and safety planning. During simulation training, local actors (including two Division of Social Work alums, Kassandra Lesco and Tania Malone) will portray clients that provide participants with realistic scenarios in which to practice important skills.

Greta Maxfield (farthest right) and her VR training video crew.

Division of Social Work partners with the University of Utah to film the training featuring actor Tania Malone (L), a recent BSW Alum and 2023 NASW-WY President.

BSW alumni Kassandra Lesco (L) and actor Amiya Hisop (R) film a scene for the training.

FIELD INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD This special recognition award is given to Field Instructors who are selected by students because they have provided mentoring, supervision, and support for students throughout field placement. This is done by balancing the learning objectives and the needs of the agency, assisting with creative ideas for a broad base of experience at multiple levels of practice (micro, mezzo, macro), provides consistent and constructive feedback while balancing task and process during weekly supervision, models professionalism, models and teaches ethical behavior, applies research and best practices, and has a commitment to social justice.

For the academic year (2022-2023), the awards went to Connor Bergman and Shelby Garstad. Congratulations!

Connor Bergman

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Shelby Garstad

STUDENTS AWARDS Student of the Year Awards: This special recognition was given to graduating BSW students Skye Avalon Skinner of Laramie campus and Chelsie Klone of Casper campus, and MSW student Katherine Sloan who went above and beyond the minimum requirements of the social work program.

Skinner, Klone, and Sloan showed strong growth as social workers through their studies, as well as their leadership and service roles.

Student Recognition for Exemplary Community Service and/or Good Citizenship: This special recognition was given to BSW students McKyla Knight of the Laramie campus and Tanna Kirton of the Casper campus, and MSW student Maia Marces for their extensive leadership and service roles in their community.

McKyla Knight Skye Avalon Skinner

Katherine Sloan

Phoenix Award: This special recognition was given to BSW students Rachael Riter of the Laramie campus and Jamia Johnson of the Casper campus, as well as MSW student Rhitamvara Pokharel for their perseverance to graduate in light of great personal challenges.

Tanna Kirton

Maia Marces

Innovation and Creativity Graduate Student Special Recognition (MSW): This special recognition was given to MSW student Michael Shouvlin for his creative and innovative portfolio project titled, “There and Back Again: A Social Worker’s Tale and a Call to Love.”

YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THE DIVISION OF SOCIAL WORK

Rachael Riter

Jamia Johnson

Rhitamvara Pokharel

Graduate Social Work Student Research Special Recognition (MSW): This special recognition was given to graduating MSW student Maia Marces for her exemplary research study titled “Wyoming Parent Perspectives on Children’s Mental and Emotional Well-Being: Seeking Support and Resources in Rural Areas.” Marces went above and beyond in the data analysis stage of her research project.

Your gift serves two crucial purposes: supporting our students’ success and advancing the field of social work. By donating to both the Student Emergency Relief Fund and the General Student Success Fund, you make a meaningful impact. Your contribution to the Student Emergency Relief Fund assists students facing crises, allowing them to overcome obstacles and refocus on their education. Meanwhile, your support for the General Social Work Fund empowers students to conduct research, attend conferences, and engage with fellow social workers, fostering growth. Additionally, this fund helps us host recruiting events to educate our community about the transformative power of social work and inspire dedicated individuals to join our profession. Your generous gift not only benefits our students but also contributes to the future of our profession.

CLick Here t o doNat e! HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE SO WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! THANK YOU.

Interview with Recent Social Work Alum (May 2023) and McNair Scholar

Francisca Akambasi After getting my associate degree, I applied to do my BSW in a few schools to which I was accepted, and the University of Wyoming was one of them. I talked to representatives and faculty members from all the schools to make an informed decision on my school of choice. The reception I got from the faculty at the University of Wyoming stood out to me, and I felt most welcome to receive my education at UW. Choosing UW was the best decision I ever made. Over the last two and a half years, I enjoyed working with empathetic and understanding faculty who made my learning experience so much easier and utterly rewarding. They constantly went above and beyond their standard duties when aiding my academic journey through hardships ensuring a clear path to my graduation.

In 2022, I was selected as one of the University of Wyoming’s McNair Scholars.

The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 151 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. The McNair Scholars Program is an undergraduate research and graduate school preparation program that prepares students from groups traditionally

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underrepresented in graduate education for success in doctoral degree programs. This fall (2023) I will be pursuing an M.S.W. at the University of Michigan and I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in the future.

Being a McNair Scholar has helped me utilize many resources I was not aware of. I am also proud of my research accomplishments and the confidence I have about conducting independent research. The program has prepared me ahead for my career path. Through the McNair Scholars’ program, I have been able to build a network of influential professionals who support and care about my academic progress as well as my wellbeing and I will forever be grateful to them.

While conducting my research project entitled “Parents’ Perspective on the Educational Experiences of their Students with Autism in Rural Areas: Emphasis on Higher Education,” I worked closely with my mentor, Dr. Valerie Thompson-Ebanks, a distinguished scholar in human diversity and disabilities issues and rural social work practice. Her mentorship has been critical on my path to success both as a researcher and a social worker.

Thanks to her invaluable guidance I have learnt how to examine problems from new and often non-traditional perspectives and to challenge long held preconceptions about the world around me. I attribute a large portion of my success to the support and lessons given by my mentor/advisor and favorite teacher.

SPOTLIGHTING STUDENTS NASW Student Representative — Chelsie Klone Chelsie Klone was the 2022-2023 National Association of Social Workers BSW student representative from the University of Wyoming at Casper and is continuing her work with the organization as the MSW student representative during the 2023-2024 academic year. The NASW is the largest organization of professional social workers that advances the involvement of its members through professional growth and development. During this academic year, Chelsie is also serving the Division of Social Work as a graduate teaching assistant. Chelsie’s efforts within social work were recognized as she was the first social worker from Wyoming to be hired at the Wyoming Attorney Guardian Ad Litem Office after the completion of her BSW practicum.

UW at Casper BSW Student Mariah Cothren Paints UW at Casper Campus Mural Mariah Cothren was commissioned to paint a mural honoring United States veterans which was unveiled on June 28, 2023, on the campus of the University of Wyoming at Casper.

“I never imagined myself doing something like this in my life. It felt life-changing to receive the call about this opportunity. I went into this project knowing I had never done a piece of art in this style, which was nerve-racking. I struggled making sure everything looked as perfect up close as it did far away. All my struggles brought out positive things in myself in the end. I learned I had to be more patient with myself. It also taught me that I needed to take a step back to see the bigger picture of things and in this situation, it was more literal. I wanted to do the mural for many reasons. The main reason I was interested was because of my grandpa. My grandpa is a Vietnam veteran; this was a way to show him how thankful I am for his service and others who have served. Veterans are a vulnerable population within society. This process has brought me closer to the idea of being interested in the possibility of working with this population.”

– Mariha Cothren.

Mariha Cothren paints the mural honoring veterans.

Mariah unveils mural with UW at Casper officials at ceremony celebrating veterans.

Associated Students of Social Work (ASSW) Volunteering at Public Lands Day Members of the University of Wyoming’s Associated Students of Social Work volunteered at Public Lands Day. Known as the largest single-day volunteer effort in America’s public lands, Public Lands Day works to improve, restore, and overall enjoy Wyoming State Parks and other Historical Sites and Trails. During their time engaging with and contributing to their community, students worked on improving public picnic tables and benches.

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facuLt y

PUBLICATIONS

(2022-2023)

Dr. Margaret Holland’s Publication Lee, J., Choi, M., Holland, M. M., Radey, M., & Tripodi, S. J. (2022).

Childhood bullying victimization, substance use and criminal activity among adolescents: a multilevel growth model study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 770-786.

Dr. Sandy Leotti’s Publications Leotti, S., Sugrue, E., & Itzkowitz, M., & Williams, K.* (2023). Child Welfare and Social Work Education: From a Pedagogy of Oppression to a Pedagogy of Resistance. Advances in Social Work.

23(1), 1-25.

Leotti, S., Muthanna, J., & Anderson-Nathe, B. (2023).

Failed Mothers and Risky Children: Carceral Protectionism and the Social Work Gaze. Social Service Review. 97(1), 130-168. *Winner of the 2023 CSWE Feminist Manuscript Award.

Leotti, S. & Slayter, E. (2022). Criminal Legal Systems and the Disability Community: An Overview. Social Sciences.

11(6), 255-268.

Leotti, S. (2022). The Keepers and the Kept: Social Work and Criminalized Women, An Historical Review. Journal of Progressive Human Services. 33(2), 151 175.

Leotti, S., Sugrue, E., Winges-Yanez, N. (2022). Unpacking the Worlds in our Words: Critical Discourse Analysis and Social Work Inquiry. Qualitative Social Work, 21(2), 260276.

Lund, E., Hughes, R., McDonald, K. Leotti, S. Katz, M., Beers, L. Nicoladis, C. (2022). Creating ResearchCommunity Partnerships to Jointly Enhance Advocacy and Research on Violence and Disability: Two Case Examples. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy 14(6), 956–963.

Leotti, S. & Slayter, E. (2022) Disability and Criminal Legal Systems. In E. Slayter and L. Johnson (Eds.), Social work practice and the disability community: An intersectional antioppressive approach. Open Social Work Education.

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Leotti, S. & Slayter, E. (2022) Criminal Legal Systems and the Disability Community. Encyclopedia MDPI. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/25367 Leotti, S. (2022). Book Review: Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families and how Abolition can Build a Safer World. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work. https://doi. org/10.1177/08861099221142039 Leotti, S. (2022). Book Review: A Prison by Any Other Name. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 37(2), 354-355 doi.org/10.1177/0886109920978569 Dr. Neely Mahapatra’s Publications Mahapatra, N., Haney, C., & Waite, D. (2023). “Impact of short-term study-abroad programs on interculturalcompetence of students on a ruralcampus.” (Accepted to Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education; Data-based) Yoon, S., & Mahapatra, N. (June 7, 2023 -published online).

“Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and Resilience Among Older Adults in U.S During COVID-19” (Journal of Aging & Health; Data-based).

Mahapatra, N., & Havig, K. (in press). ‘Health care providers’ perceptions of human trafficking on the U.S. frontier: Contextualizing future step” (Journal of Human Trafficking; Data-based) Mahapatra, N., & Murugan, V. (2023 -published online).

“South Asian Young Adults and Gender Roles: Expectations, Expressions, and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention.” (Violence Against Women; Data-based).

Ojha, M., Petra, M., Burek, M., & Mahapatra, N. (2023).

Accessing behavioral health services and the justiceinvolved: The significance of ecological considerations.

Journal of Forensic Social Work, 7(1), 44–61. (Data-based) Murugan, V., Mahapatra, N., Rihjwani, L., & Rai, A. (2022).

South Asian women’s organizations: An exploratory study of workers’ perceptions on intimate partner violencerelated help-seeking. Journal of Family Violence, 38(4), 1-13. (Data-based)

Dr. Valerie Thompson-Ebanks’s Publication Jarman, M., Thompson-Ebanks, V., Singh, R., Boggs, C., Clement, K., & Peter, S. (2023). Disability Studies, Inclusive Pedagogy, and Universal Design for Learning: A Faculty Pilot Experience.

Disability Studies Quarterly.

Dr. Sukyung Yoon’s Publications *Graduate student co-author Yoon, S., & Mahapatra, N. (2023).

Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and Resilience Among Older Adults in the U.S. During COVID-19. Journal of Aging and Health, 0(0), 08982643231181753. https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643231181753 Yoon, S., & Choi, S. (2022). Stress-related to COVID-19, anxiety, and protective factors among middle-aged and older

adults in the largest outbreak areas in South Korea. Aging & Mental Health, 26(10), 2090-2099. https://doi.org/10.1080/13 607863.2021.2017850 Choi, S., Yoon, S., Lim, J.*, & Min, J.*(2022). A Study on the Burnout of Call Center Workers: Focused on the Influence of Workplace Violence, Organizational Support, and Leisure Activities. Korean Journal of Social Sciences 61(2), 277-308, https://doi.org/10.22418/JSS.2022.8.61.2.277 (A Korean Peer-Reviewed Journal) Choi, S., Yoon, S., Cha, H.*, Park, G.*, Ko, S.,* & Min, J.* (2022). Loneliness, Suicidal Ideation, and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Korean Journal of Social Welfare Research. 72(1), 35- 65, https://doi.org/10.17997/ SWRY.72.1.2 (A Korean Peer-Reviewed Journal) Yoon, S., Cummings, S., Nugent, W. R., & Forrest-Bank, S.S. (2022). How Spousal Physical Abuse Impacts Suicidal Ideation among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Effects of Protective Factors. Aging & Mental Health, 26:1, 130-139, DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1844144

Immigration Social Work Social Justice: UW Study Abroad to El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico Faculty members Dr. Kym Codallos (Division of Social Work) and Ashley Lair (Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing) led a group of social work and nursing students to the El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, border over the 2023 J-Term on a UW Study Abroad Course. The course provided an immersive experience into the various immigration systems on both sides of the border and included a cooking class, a 3-day immigration immersion “border experience,” walking tours of El Paso & Juarez, and meeting with and touring local agencies and the University of Texas at El Paso. The experience was a cultural and linguistic immersion for students who also had opportunities to volunteer in local shelters directly supporting the immigrant populations of El Paso, Texas. This UW Study Abroad course is scheduled to take place again during the 2025 J-term (January 6-17, 2025) and is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

El Paso Nights.

Photo by Rachae l Riter

Students at the border wall.

Photo by Rachael Riter

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Showcasing Faculty Research Projects Sukyung Yoon and Neely Mahapatra Dr. Sukyung Yoon and Dr. Neely Mahapatra recently published an article, “Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Resilience among Older Adults in the U.S. during COVID-19,” in a peer-reviewed journal: Journal of Aging and Health. This study is part

Dr. Sukyung Yoon

Dr. Neely Mahapatra

of an international research project including scholars from Canada, South Korea, Singapore, and the U.S., to research the impact of the pandemic on the socioeconomic health and wellbeing of individuals and families.

Stay-at-home orders and business lockdowns during COVID-19 led to an escalation of domestic violence with abusive relationships worsening due to economic insecurity, health-related fear, and caregiving burden. While research on domestic violence has mostly focused on women and younger generations, less attention has been given to older adults, despite their vulnerability to the virus and increased abusive relationships.

Dr. Sukyung Yoon and Dr. Neely Mahapatra investigated the impact of domestic violence on mental health, as well as resilience as a protective factor, among community-dwelling older adults in the U.S. during COVID-19.

The results showed that 10.2% of the older adults in the study experienced domestic violence, leading to heightened loneliness and anxiety. However, resilience acted as a protective factor, reducing the influence of domestic

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violence on anxiety. Strengthening social support, fostering meaningful social connectedness with reliable people, providing appropriate resources, and tightening safety nets could help boost resilience and reduce loneliness and anxiety among vulnerable older adults during challenging times like the pandemic.

Sandy Leotti and Margaret Holland ‘The Wyoming Disability Project: Using PhotoVoice to Explore Community Inclusion in the Rural West’ This spring of 2023, faculty members in the Division of Social Work joined forces with colleagues from Disability Studies and a Laramie community organization, the Ark Regional Services to undertake a PhotoVoice project exploring independence for people with disabilities. For those

unfamiliar, PhotoVoice is an innovative research methodology that empowers individuals to communicate their narratives through photographs and associated captions. This approach enables participants to voice their stories, ultimately promoting positive change within their communities.

Our recent project not only utilized this transformative tool but also demonstrated its impactful potential in social research and advocacy.

Participants explored the essence of community inclusion through a collection of photographs and captions. These visual stories provided an intimate snapshot into the lives of Laramie’s disabled residents, sparking an open dialogue about the challenges and experiences of living with a disability in our community. The exhibit was showcased at the Cooper Center for the Creative Arts on May 3.

‘The Wyoming Disability Project: Using PhotoVoice to Explore Community Inclusion in the Rural West’

Community Engagement

Social Work Faculty Billie Chapman and Sarah Green Taking Leadership and Community Engagement to New Heights Leadership Laramie is a two-year community leadership development program for anyone living and/or working in the Laramie area. In the first year of the program, participants attend a day long workshop each month on a range of community leadership related topics including managing conflict and change, ethics, and civic engagement. Participants are also required to attend Community Based Events in which local businesses and organizations share about the goods and services they provide and their role in the Laramie community.

As a group, each Leadership Laramie class completes a project that will benefit the community. In the second year, the participants become the Steering Committee and are in charge of planning the workshops and events for the next class.

The Division of Social Work Field Education Director Billie Chapman was accepted into the 2021-2023 Leadership Laramie class and started the program in August 2021. The group project that her class completed was to repaint the “Welcome to Laramie” signs that are located at the entrances to the city from various highways. Billie completed the first year of the program in May 2022 and began her role as the Reporter for the Steering Committee. The Reporter takes minutes at each of the Steering Committee meetings and disseminates the information to the rest of the committee members. Billie was also in charge of planning the conflict management session which covered conflict management styles and training on getting more comfortable with addressing conflict. She graduated from Leadership Laramie on May 5, 2023.

In August 2022, Assistant Lecturer and Laramie BSW Field Coordinator Sarah Green began her first year of Leadership Laramie and completed the first year of the program in May 2023. Once Billie graduated the Leadership Laramie program, Sarah then became a member of the Steering Committee, which is tasked with preparing and facilitating the curriculum and sessions for the incoming group. Sarah has taken on the role as Marketing Specialist, in which she is tasked with promoting the program, as well as communicating to stakeholders and the larger Laramie community about all the work that will take place over the next year.

Sarah will lead one of the sessions for the upcoming year, which will focus on ethics. Sarah chose this session to facilitate because it’s aligned closely to her, both personally and professionally, in all that she does. The NASW Code of Ethics is so prominent and essential in social work education, and to be able to carry that same enthusiasm to personal and professional ethics for Laramie’s upcoming leaders is a natural fit for her.

To wrap up the summer’s work, Sarah and her cohort completed a service project over several weekends with the Albany County Public Library to revitalize the Storywalk.

The Storywalk is a free, interactive story that wraps around the perimeter of the library, encouraging healthy exercise and reading habits for all. The story gets changed out weekly, so be sure to spend some time over the warmer months to enjoy a story and appreciate the newly renovated space!

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UW Laramie Social Work Juniors and UW Casper Social Work Juniors

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