Commencement speaker
Viola Vaughan-Eden, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.J. is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in child welfare and forensic social work. She serves as a professor and Ph.D. program director at the Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work at Norfolk State University and is the president and CEO of UP For Champions, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing upstream solutions for child abuse prevention in partnership with The UP Institute.
With more than 35 years of experience, Dr. Vaughan-Eden has made an indelible impact in the field of child maltreatment, particularly in cases of sexual abuse. A forensic and licensed clinical social worker, she has evaluated or consulted on over 3,000 cases of maltreatment and has provided expert testimony in more than 700 cases. Her expertise has shaped policies and practices across disciplines, as she has trained M.S.W. students, psychology interns, medical residents, child protection workers, physicians, guardians ad litem, judges and law enforcement professionals –enhancing their understanding of child development, assessment, and intervention.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Vaughan-Eden holds distinguished leadership roles in child advocacy. She serves as child welfare advisor to the National Family Violence Law Center at George Washington University and is a board member of the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children. She is also president emerita and fellow of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC), president emerita of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence (NPEIV) and president emerita of the National Organization of Forensic Social Work (NOFSW).
Her contributions extend to shaping national policy. She has been a panelist on two congressional briefings, including Spare the Rod, Protect the Child: A Reconsideration of Corporal Punishment of Children in Homes and Schools (2015) and Protecting Child Safety in Family Court (2016). A prolific scholar, she has authored numerous articles and book chapters, co-edited the 2012 and 2023 APSAC Practice Guidelines on Forensic Interviewing of Children, and served as editor-inchief of the six-volume 2022 NPEIV Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan.
Dr. Vaughan-Eden’s outstanding contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the 2024 Alumni Stars Award from Virginia Commonwealth University, the 2023 Outstanding Individual in Academia Award from the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy, the 2020 NOFSW Sol Gothard Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
A lifelong advocate for children, Dr. Vaughan-Eden holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from VCU (2003), a Master of Social Work from Norfolk State University (1987) and a Master of Jurisprudence in children’s law and policy from Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2013).
As an educator, leader and unwavering champion for child protection, Dr. Vaughan-Eden continues to inspire the next generation of social workers, researchers and policymakers to create a safer and more just world for children and families.
School Honors and Awards
Elaine Z. Rothenberg
Memorial Scholarship Fund
M.S.W.
Kayla Ruiz
B.S.W.
Sarai Goodwin
Phi Alpha National Honor
Society for Social Work Students
M.S.W.
Kayla Alexander
Denise Allen-Pineda
Bri Allen
Claire Armstrong
Amber Attreed
Thaili Barrios
Beaux Beauchamp
Walker Beeton
Claudia Benitez-Mejia
Tanya BittenbenderAmber Blackett
Claire Bowyer
JP Boyce
Nadia Bukach
Kati Burch
Olivia Carney
Rosy Cerritos Rivas
Haley Chandler
Kimberly Chavarria
Jodi Cleaver
Laura Conley
Maeve Connaughton
Rebekah Conrad
Katie Cooper
Jada Cox
Lilly Cox
Elijah Davis
Karlena Davis
Dayanette De Jesus-Rivera
Devan Deisch
April DeLandro
Jenny Diaz
Heather Disbrow
Ben Duck
Garrett Estep
Edline Evans
Jasmine Fasold
Kelsey Fastabend
Cori Fitchett
Anastasia Fleischman
Jillian Fortney
Kimberly Fryer
Erin Gallagher
Erin Gould
Keko Gwynn
Emma Haberman
Ryn Hartraft
Christy Hinckley
Emily Humberson
Lillian Isbell
Mariam Johnson
Keagan Joyce
Ana Juarez
Emmett Kaiser
Joe Kreiter
Emily Kresky
Retta Laumann
Jole Leon Guerrero
Sam Lichtenstein
Abby Lichty
Emma Lockman
Pamela Lurie
Alyssa Luttrull
Allie Luxton
Jailine Martinez
Shiela Martinez
Mary Martino
Abigayle Maxwell
Iris McNeil
Glenn Milich
Mia Milligan
Emma Mollner
Ro Mora
Madison Murphey
Kathryn Nivera
Kelsey O’Brien
Megan O’Connor
Eliza O’Brien
David Parker
Isabella Passos
Erik Phillips
Erika Piczon
Emma Pillis
Ana Portillo
Grace Powell
Owen Priest
JIamie Pyles
Jyoti Rimal
Jennifer Runyan
Giulia Russell
Colin Schooler
Beth Sheehan
Christopher Shepperd
Autumn Shifflett
Hannah Skudlarek
Katie Sokol
Kemp Spangler
Madeline Stahl
Jennifer Steinhoff
Melanie Taweel
Erin Trimmer
Jennifer Vo
Loren Waller
Grace Wells
Sharon Williams
Courtney Womack
Anna Marie Yombo
B.S.W.
Olivia Adams
Haley Allman
Makeda Anderson
Erin Avila
Kiera Bargamin
Paige Clawson
Megan Cook
Hope Davis
Todd Farschon
Will Finnegan
Bella-Gertrude Freeman
Christina Fuentes
Antonio Giles
Sarai Goodwin
Tatum Gregory
Leia Gross
Danielle Hall
Taylor Hawkins
Kate Hudgins
Elsa Jakobsen
Kaeli Jarvis
Leah Keith
Ayana King
Joey Kniceley
Joshua Morris
Eleanor Northrup
Vida Owusu
Cait Parker
Jeff Quinanola
Diana Rivera
Tammy Rogers
Julia Stodard
Michela Territo
Micah Washington
Sam Whichard
Kamryn Williams
Misgana Yihunie
School of Social Work Service and Leadership Awards
Ph.D.
Jenée Lee
M.S.W.
Erin Trimmer
B.S.W.
Misgana Yihunie
School of Social Work Social Justice Award
M.S.W.
Briany Cruz
B.S.W.
Colleen Diep
Student Field Impact Award
M.S.W.
Briany Cruz
Michael Verner
B.S.W.
Christopher Barrett
Ph.D. Graduates
Jenée Lee
Dissertation
Housing quality for whom? Housing quality as a form of housing insecurity and housing inequality for Black women renters
Dissertation Chair
Matthew Bogenschutz, Ph.D.
Committee
Nicole Corley, Ph.D.
Alex Wagaman, Ph.D.
Kathryn Howell, Ph.D., School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, University of Maryland
Paola Roldán
Dissertation
A qualitative exploration of the employment experiences and coping strategies among transgender women in Medellín Colombia.
Dissertation Chair
Maurice Gattis, Ph.D.
Committee
Jacob Goffnett, Ph.D.
Denise Burnette, Ph.D.
Eli Coston, Ph.D., VCU Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies
Muna Saleh
Dissertation
Health after resettlement: Predictors of health status and primary care utilization among Somali refugees living with chronic illness
Dissertation Chair
Hyojin Im, Ph.D.
Committee
Mer Francis, Ph.D.
Kyeongmo Kim, Ph.D.
Gaby Leoó-Pérez, Ph.D., VCU Department of Sociology
December 2024 graduate
Nicole Campbell
Dissertation
Understanding Identity-based discrimination: Immigrant women of African descent’s experiences in social and human service agencies
Dissertation Co-Chairs
Nicole Corley, Ph.D.
Hollee McGinnis, Ph.D.
Committee
Hyojin Im, Ph.D.
Christine Bae, Ph.D., School of Education
M.S.W. Graduates
Abraham, Hannah
Adomako, Stephanie
Akhtar, Zainab
Alexander, Kayla
Allen-Pineda, Denise
Allen, Bri
Allen, Julia
Amano, Kathy
Ardon, Lissette
Armstrong, Claire
Armstrong, Shelby
Arrington, Anne
Austin, Heather
Bare, Brooklyn
Barrios, Thaili
Bartlam, Blair
Baxley, Sam
Beauchamp, Beaux
Beeton, Walker
Benitez-Mejia, Claudia
Blackett, Amber
Bowyer, Claire
Boyce, JP
Brown, Dyral
Brown, Sarah
Bukach, Nadia
Buracker, Jessica
Burch, Kati
Burgess, Danielle
Burney, Octavia
Carney, Olivia
Carpenter, Jill
Cerritos Rivas, Rosy
Chandler, Haley
Cleaver, Jodi
Coleman, Lisa
Colley, Arianna
Conley, Laura
Connaughton, Maeve
Conrad, Rebekah
Cooper, Katie
Cox, Jada
Cox, Lilly
Craft, Brittany
Cruz, Briany
Daou, Petra
Darlington, Deborah
Davis, Elijah
Davis, Karlena
Deisch, Devan
DeLandro, April
Dennis, Datriona
Diaz, Jenny
Disbrow, Heather
Donnelly, Caroline
Dorris, Amanda
Duck, Ben
Eddleman, Maria
Elliott, Taylor
Ellis, Camille
Estep, Garrett
Evans, Edline
Evans, Sam
Farrell, Anna
Fasold, Jasmine
Fastabend, Kelsey
Fitchett, Cori
Fleischman, Anastasia
Fortney, Jillian
Fowlkes, Jennifer
Fryer, Kimberly
Gallagher, Erin
Gibson, Anna
Gibson, Spencer
Gill, Patrick
Gould, Erin
Gowarty, Jessica
Gragnano, Frank
Gustavus, Anna
Gwynn, Keko
Haberman, Emma
Hall, Ashley
Hartraft, Ryn
Haskins-Maxey, Clarissa
Heggins, Kymon
Henderson, Shadoures
Hillman, Nicole
Hinckley, Christy
Hinkley, Teresa
Hodges, Kayla
Hoffman, Abigail
Holley, Julia
Hopkins, Kaitlyn
Hosn, Shadi
Houchin, Abby
Howard, Catie
Hugo, Darian
Humberson, Emily
Isbell, Lillian
Izadkhast, Fardad
Janney, Rachel
Jeske, Jasmyne
Johnson, Mariam
Joyce, Keagan
Juarez, Ana
Kaiser, Emmett
Kann, Natalie
Kelly, Katelyn
Kerns, Katelin
Knighten, Lyric
Koehncke, Philip
Kreiter, Joe
Kresky, Emily
Krizov, Deana
Kudiabor, Catherine
Lane, Julianne
Langford, Courtney
Laumann, Retta
Law, Cameron
Leon Guerrero, Jole
Lichty, Abby
Lockman, Emma
LoRocco, Camille
Luck, Trinity
Lurie, Pamela
Luttrull, Alyssa
Luxton, Allie
Margretta, Lorna
Martinez, Giselle
Martinez, Jailine
Martinez, Shiela
Martino, Mary
Maxwell, Abigayle
Mayer, Sunday
McCormick, Rebecca McKenney, Sydney
McNeil, Iris
Milich, Glenn
Miller, Peyton
Milligan, Mia
Mollner, Emma
Montague, Mariah
Mora, Ro
Murphey, Madison
Murphy, Megan
Nivera, Kathryn
O’Donnell, Becki
O’Connor, Megan
O’Brien, Eliza
Odom, Mandy
Oja, Leticia
Okada, Kei
Park, Emily
Parker, David
Passos, Isabella
Patterson, Zoe
Payne, Myah
Peerman, Krystal
Pegram, Rebecca
Pepple, Jenna
Phillips, Erik
Piczon, Erika
Pillis, Emma
Porras, Mary
Porter, Margaret
Portillo, Ana
Powell, Grace
Preval, Shania
Priest, Owen
Punter, Jessica
Pyles, JIamie
Ramirez, Molly
Ratliff, Tyler
Rimal, Jyoti
Ruiz, Kayla
Runyan, Jennifer
Russell, Giulia
Schooler, Colin
Servis, Ilyana
Sheehan, Beth
Sheehan, Hallie
Shepperd, Christopher
Shifflett, Autumn
Skudlarek, Hannah
Smalling, Sarah
Smith, Gabby
Sokol, Katie
Spangler, Kemp
Spickard, Sam
Stahl, Madeline
Steinhoff, Jennifer
Straka-Mai, Kelci
Talley, Tyree
Taweel, Melanie
Taylor, Heaven
Thomas, Krizzia
Tillman, Kevonda
Trimmer, Erin
Verrett, Dhanaye
Vo, Jennifer
Vo, Michelle
Waller, Loren
Warner, Susan
Wells, Grace
Werner, Kathryn
West, Emily
White, Payson
Williams, Anna
Williams, Kailyn
Williams, Sharon
Williams, Tangynika
Wolfe, Jack
Womack, Courtney
Woodburn, Jenna
Zapata-Torres, Casey
December 2024 graduates
Albers, Kate
Allen, Elisha
Alsayid Betancour, Adla
Alvaro, Marissa
Attreed, Amber
Bedinger, Blair
Benson, Tiara
Birks, Bailey
Bittenbender, Tanya
Blair, Chantice
Boyce, Joshua
Brown, Shanice
Chavarria, Kimberly
Cluff, Duncan
Edmonds, Ciera
Ferrell, Yasmine
Fransee, Jordan
Gibson, Rachel
Grammenos, Shelby
Hill, Dorota
Hirt, Maria
Hoffman, Alex
Hunt, Dyamon
Jefferson, Alana
Jensen, Allison
Little, Denise
Litton, Libbey
Looney, Sharon
Lowman, Destiny
Marlow, Crystal
Mayo, Courtney
McMenamy, Betty
Morrison, Emily
Murphy, Morgan
Nunnally, Taylor
O’Brien, Kelsey
Payne, Briana
Poindexter, Dasha
Pollard, Jannaci
Price, Jessica
Quick, Shannon
Quraishi, Billie
Reed, Elise
Rodriguez Lopez, Jessica
Scribner, Leann
Shingler, Jena
Solorzano, Sam
Steele, Jacob
Tassell, David
Thompson, Taylor
Timok, Nicholas
Vowell, Taylor
Wekenman, Noelle
Wiberg, Kate
Williams, Jamila
Woods, Charlotte
Wright, Neda
Yombo, Anna Marie
August 2025 graduates
Ascencio-Gomez, Imelda
De Jesus-Rivera, Dayanette
Everett, Katherine
Hawkins, Jahnese
Herz, Kelly
Holland, Hannah
Jorgensen, Heidie
Laverty, Alyce
Lichtenstein, Samantha
Olli, Linnea
Riggi, Catarina
Silva, Alba
Smith, Kailie
Verner, Michael
Williams, Keri
B.S.W. Graduates
Abahazy, Tamara
Adams, Olivia++
Alexander, Tomia+
Allman, Haley+++
Alterescu, Erik
Anderson, Makeda+++
Avila, Erin+++
Bard, Ocean
Bargamin, Kiera
Barrett, Christopher
Beckman, Emily++
Boutros, Madona
Burnette, Azyah+
Buscema, Kayla++
Cassell, Casey
Clawson, Paige++
Cook, Megan
Cureton, LaGreta
Dao, Vi+
Davis, Hope++
Deem, Sophia+
Diep, Colleen++
Early, Sydney
Faina, Kennedy
Farrell, Mary
Farschon, Todd+++
Finnegan, Will++
Fletcher, Leah
Freeman, Bella-Gertrude++
Fuentes, Christina+++
Gecker, Mariel+
Giles, Antonio
Goodwin, Sarai++
Grau, Olivia
Gregory, Tatum++
Gross, Leia+
Hall, Danielle+++
Hanky, Ella+
Harbort, Kay
Hawkins, Taylor
Hendrix, Lara++
Henry, Olivia
Hoekman, Gabe++
Hudgins, Kate
Jakobsen, Elsa+++
Jarvis, Kaeli++
Jennings, Kayla
Johnson, Kris++
Keith, Leah++
Kerns, Olivia
King, Ayana+
Kniceley, Joey
Leech, Victoria+
Lenzini, Bella++
Maldonado, Xiomara
Mazzitello, Jacqueline++
Mejorada, Bridgette+
Moncada, Sarita+
Morris, Joshua+
Moumbossy Mbadinga, Ismael
Mullen, Hannah+
Muse, Tyiesha+
Neal, Brittany++
Nelson, Drew
Northrup, Eleanor++
Nosse, Maddie++
Onorine, Minani+
Owusu, Vida++
Pagan, Michael
Parker, Cait++
Quansah, Hilda+
Quinanola, Jeff++
Rangel Rodriguez, Emily
Reedy, Amelia+++
Reyes Garcia, Alexa++
Rice, Madeleine
Richard, Keyshana
Rivera, Diana++
Rodriguez Saucedo, Paloma Rodriguez, Karla
Rogers, Tammy
Seaborne, Felicia
Shaalan, Sarah+
Stodard, Julia+++
Summers, Destiny
Tamayo, Sharon++
Tarasovic, Bailey
Territo, Michela++
Torky, Hajar
Washington, Micah
Whichard, Sam+++
Williams, Kamryn++
Wodack, Claire
Yihunie, Misgana+
Young, Gabriella+
Zeigler, Vacinia
December 2024 graduates
Abdu, Lula
August 2025 graduates
Bajusz, Catherine Berger, Sebastian Eccles, Jo-Brook
Greene, Adrian
+++ Summa cum laude (3.9-4.0 GPA) ++ Magna cum laude (3.6-3.89 GPA) + Cum laude (3.3-3.59 GPA)
Only undergraduate students are eligible for honors designations. Due to rigid time constraints, this program must be printed before the final list of degree candidates can be determined. The exclusion of the name of a student is not to be taken as an indication of official status as a non-graduate, nor is the inclusion of the name of a student to be taken as a certification of official status as a graduate.
Faculty
• Adrienne Baldwin-White, Ph.D., assistant professor
• Daniel Baslock, Ph.D., assistant professor
• Qasarah Bey Spencer, Ed.D., assistant professor in teaching
• Matthew Bogenschutz, Ph.D., associate professor
• Denise Burnette, Ph.D., Samuel S. Wurtzel Endowed Faculty Chair in Social Work and professor
• Jamie L. Cage, Ph.D., associate professor
• Karen G. Chartier, Ph.D, associate professor
• Stevara Haley Clark, Ed.D., associate professor in teaching
• Kimberly S. Compton, Ph.D., assistant professor in teaching
• Nicole A. Corley, Ph.D., associate professor
• Gary S. Cuddeback, Ph.D., professor
• Cassie Desena-Jacobs, D.S.W., LCSW, assistant professor in teaching
• Humberto E. Fabelo, Ph.D., LCSW, associate professor
• Mer Francis, Ph.D., assistant professor
• Maurice N. Gattis, Ph.D., associate professor
• Jacob Goffnett, Ph.D., assistant professor
• McKenzie N. Green, Ph.D., assistant professor
• Christina Huerta, Ph.D., assistant professor
• Hyojin Im, Ph.D., associate professor
• Muthoni Imungi, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching
• Erica Jackson, M.S.W., LCSW, assistant professor in teaching
• Kyeongmo Kim, Ph.D., associate professor
• Youngmi Kim, Ph.D., associate professor
• Miriam Kuttikat, Ph.D., associate professor
• Nicole L. Lee, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching
• Yifan Lou, Ph.D., assistant professor
• Hollee A. McGinnis, Ph.D., assistant professor
• Ananda Newmark, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching
• Stephanie G. Odera, Ed.D., associate professor in teaching
• Nicole L. O-Pries, M.S.W., LCSW, associate professor in teaching
• Klara Prachar, M.S.W., LCSW, assistant professor in teaching
• Naomi Reddish, M.S.W., assistant professor & administrator, child/family initiatives
• Allison K. Ryals, M.S.W., LCSW, associate professor in teaching
• Sunny H. Shin, Ph.D., professor
• Rebecca Smith, Ph.D., instructor & program manager, undergraduate research
• M. Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., associate professor
• Traci L. Wike, Ph.D., associate professor
Administration and staff
• Yakaira Alexander-Ramos, M.A., senior program field coordinator
• Robert Anderson, M.S., upper-level B.S.W. student success advisor
• Allison Bell, M.A., senior financial specialist
• LaKesha Bennett, B.A., senior recruitment specialist
• Qasarah Bey Spencer, Ed.D., director, M.S.W. Program
• Matthew Bogenschutz, Ph.D., co-chair, School Assembly
• Sarah Burton-Everette, M.Ed., assistant directoradministration, M.S.W. Program
• Stevara Haley Clark, Ed.D., interim associate dean, academic and student affairs; director, online education
• Lakeita Clarkson, M.S., M.S.W. student success advisor
• Gary S. Cuddeback, Ph.D., dean; associate dean, research; interim associate dean, faculty affairs
• Zay Diamond-Tapper, B.A., academic coordinator, B.S.W. Program
• Kiara Faulks, M.A., academic coordinator, Ph.D. Program
• Liana Fino, B.S., senior research administrator
• Anna Givens, M.P.A., leadership annual giving officer
• Janina Holly, B.S., communications specialist
• Kristin A. Hopkins, M.A., assistant, M.S.W. admissions
• Rebecca Johnson, Ph.D., student success writing advisor
• Kimberly King, administrative coordinator, field education; president, Staff Council
• Geoff LoCicero, M.L.I.S., director, communications
• Amanda Long, M.S.W., coordinator, community engaged child and family well-being initiatives
• Jackie Maroney, fiscal services specialist
• Katy Martin-Poindexter, A.A.S., HR generalist
• Vanessa McCauley, B.S.W., HR generalist
• Mieko Michelle, MA.Ed., coordinator, M.S.W. Program
• Sterling Murray, B.S., student success administrative coordinator
• Bennett Newman, M.B.A., senior financial administrator
• Stephanie G. Odera, Ed.D., director, B.S.W. Program
• Kristal Parada, M.S., assistant director, undergraduate advising
• Robann Parsons, M.B.A., executive assistant to the dean
• Julie Pence, M.Ed., M.S.W. senior student success advisor
• Jazmyn Porter, M.P.H., M.S.W., interim director, field
education
• Ieesah Ramsey, Ph.D., director, student success
• James V. Romanik, M.B.A., senior director, development
• Allison K. Ryals, M.S.W., LCSW, assistant director, B.S.W. Program
• Mary Simpson, M.S.W., M.S.W. student success advisor
• Leetah Stanley, M.Th., senior development coordinator
• Dannita Trice, M.Ed., alumni engagement officer
• Annie Wade, M.B.A., HR business partner
• Micah Weedman, Ph.D., term prep designer
• Henrietta White, B.S., HR generalist
• Traci L. Wike, Ph.D., director, Ph.D. Program
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work
Academic Learning Commons
1000 Floyd Avenue, Third Floor Box 842027
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2027
Phone: (804) 828-1030
Email: sswinfo@vcu.edu
Website: socialwork.vcu.edu
Siegel Center floor plan/seating details