Congratulations Class of
2022
2022 Commencement 11 a.m. Friday, May 13 Stuart C. Siegel Center
Order of exercise Marshals Jennifer Murphy, M.S., M.S.W. – Ph.D. marshal Allison McLarin, M.Ed. – M.S.W. marshal Robert Anderson, M.S. – B.S.W. marshal Banner bearers Madison Woodroof, M.S.W. – school banner Sarah Lineberry, M.S.W., LCSW – Ph.D. banner Audrey Walls, M.Ed. – M.S.W. banner Lakeita Clarkson, M.S.W. – B.S.W. banner Processional Faculty and guests Ph.D. graduates M.S.W. graduates B.S.W. graduates Introduction of the dean Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., LCSW, associate dean for academic and student affairs Welcome and special faculty recognition Beth Angell, Ph.D., dean Commencement speaker Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., LCSW, professor Special student recognitions Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., LCSW Recognition of Ph.D. graduates Denise Burnette, Ph.D., director, Ph.D. Program Ph.D. student speaker Leah M. Bouchard, A.M. Hooding of Ph.D. graduates Denise Burnette, Ph.D Traci Wike, Ph.D., associate professor Awarding of Ph.D. diplomas Beth Angell, Ph.D. Denise Burnette, Ph.D.
Recognition of M.S.W. graduates Nicole L. Lee, Ph.D., director, M.S.W. Program
Awarding of B.S.W. diplomas Beth Angell, Ph.D. Ananda Newmark, Ph.D.
M.S.W. student speaker Sophia Booker
Reading of B.S.W. graduate names Daryl V. Fraser, M.S.W., LCSW, associate professor in teaching Allison K. Ryals, M.S.W., LCSW, assistant director, B.S.W. Program
Hooding of M.S.W. graduates Humberto E. Fabelo, Ph.D., associate professor Hollee A. McGinnis, Ph.D., assistant professor Naomi Sutton Reddish, M.S.W., coordinator, Child Welfare Stipend Program M. Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., associate professor Awarding of M.S.W. diplomas Beth Angell, Ph.D. Nicole L. Lee, Ph.D. Reading of M.S.W. graduate names Nicole Corley, Ph.D., assistant professor Sarah K. Price, Ph.D., associate dean for faculty development Recognition of B.S.W. graduates Ananda Newmark, Ph.D., director, B.S.W. Program B.S.W. student speaker Paige Wise
Closing remarks Beth Angell, Ph.D. Recessional
Acknowledgements Thank you to all the administrative staff members in the School of Social Work for their contributions to the school, its students and faculty. Special thanks to all the student volunteers assisting with the ceremony. Music: Henrico High School Band; photography: Photo Specialties and Cindy Newmark; American Sign Language interpreters: Mosaic Interpreting Services; live streaming operations: Advanced Visual Productions
Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., LCSW
Professor, VCU School of Social Work
Dr. Bentley is a tenured full professor of social work at VCU, where has taught, researched and mentored since 1989. She has done extensive research, publishing and presenting over three decades on the intersection of social work and psychiatric medication. She is the co-author of the book “The Social Worker & Psychotropic Medication: Toward Effective Collaboration with Clients, Families and Providers,” now in revision for a fifth edition; and has edited two additional books, “Psychiatric Medication Issues for Social Workers, Counselors and Psychologists”; and “Social Work Practice in Mental Health: Contemporary Roles, Tasks and Techniques.” She was the recipient of the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work’s 2021 GADE Award for Educational Leadership in Doctoral Education. Dr. Bentley led the school’s Ph.D. Program from 1999-2012, during which time she played a role in the admission and graduation of more than 100 doctoral students. In 2013, as the chair of the organization, she commissioned the update of the GADE Guidelines for Quality in Ph.D. Programs in Social Work and also chaired its 2013 conference committee, bringing the national organization to Richmond and securing Brené Brown as the keynote speaker. Dr. Bentley is a long-standing consulting editor of the Journal of Social Work Education, and has twice been named its Reviewer of the Year. She is on the editorial board of Best Practices in Mental Health and is a frequent guest reviewer for journals such as Psychiatric Services; American Journal of Orthopsychiatry; and the Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research. She is a fellow in the Society of Social Work and Research and a recent past chair of the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Research. She helped rewrite that group’s mission statement, and for more than 25 years has been a CSWE accreditation site team member, site team chair and external program consultant. Dr. Bentley has previously served on the board of directors of the Virginia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and chair of the Human Rights Committee for the Central State Hospital, a major psychiatric hospital in the commonwealth. She is currently on the board of the Richmond Triangle Players, an LGBTQ+ theater company.
School Honors and Awards
School of Social Work Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship Ph.D. Leah M. Bouchard M.S.W. Diana Santos Felicia A. Smith
Black History in the Making Award M.S.W. Cieara Battle Sophia Booker Ruth Tiguh
David N. Saunders Legislative Internship Fund M.S.W. Sophia Booker Sarah Meehan
Elaine Z. Rothenberg Memorial Scholarship Fund Ph.D. Leah M. Bouchard M.S.W. Anastasia Gerdes
Student Field Impact Award M.S.W. Isabella Kitzmann B.S.W. Danielle Briggs
Phi Alpha National Honor Society for Social Work Students M.S.W. Cieara Battle Elizabeth Batwinis Mackenzie Brown ChaQuena Coleman Emily Cooley Season Dailey Abigail Farley Breonna Hall Rebekah King Summer Caroline Jones Jasmine Neverson Jennifer Nicol Rachel Oh Kathleen Owens Hope Petersen Jennifer Ramachandran (Marino) Marta Rampini Caroline Richards Kaitlyn Rose Diana Santos Anna Sasala April Shea Felicia Smith Victoria Staten Manna Tadelle Briar Waite Kara Whipple Isabel Wilson B.S.W. Camryn-Rachele Bosko Allison Clough Grace Conklin
School of Social Work Service and Leadership Awards M.S.W. Sophia Booker Angela Couch Anastasia Gerdes Erick Lainez-Villanueva Sarah Meehan Kayla Riddick Austin Swift Nicole Trainum B.S.W. Emily Bickford Grace Conklin Frank Storey
School of Social Work Social Justice Award Ph.D. Leah M. Bouchard M.S.W. Angela Couch B.S.W. Vanessa Martinez
Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctoral Support Scholars
Rosa Jimenez-Vazquez Adelante Scholarship: Sirviendo La Comunidad Hispana M.S.W. Erick Lainez-Villanueva
Anne Fischer Scholarship Fund in the School of Social Work M.S.W. Latasha Jones-Patterson
Child Welfare Stipend Program M.S.W. Katelyn Bond Pilar Durst Kayla Fletcher Domoniquie Ginyard Hayley Jenkins Latasha Jones-Patterson Shawn Lawrence Emily Moss Amber Murphy Marta Rampini Sarah Stein B.S.W. Savannah Hairston
Dr. David P. Beverly Memorial Scholarship Fund
Hurtado Family Endowed Scholarship
M.S.W. Jeremy Yacovone B.S.W. Brad Carney
B.S.W. Grace Conklin Kristina Houghton
Emmett W. Cocke, Jr. Scholarship M.S.W. Gabrielle Beaven
Frank and Patricia Baskind Gift-Giving Scholarship for Students with Special Needs M.S.W. ChaQuena Coleman
Fostering Success Scholarship M.S.W. Doris Patterson-Brown B.S.W. Allison Clough
Gaye Shinall Jones Merit Scholarship in Social Work B.S.W. Meghan Beckman
Dr. Grace E. Harris Merit Scholarship M.S.W. Jacob Givler
Hans S. Falck Scholarship Ph.D. Leah M. Bouchard Thomas Buckley
Joanne Kerbs Caramanica Scholarship M.S.W. Lorena Brennan Castro Diana Santos
Judy M. Thomas “Dr. T.” B.S.W. Scholarship B.S.W. Kristina Houghton
Kimberly K. Giancaspro Scholarship M.S.W. Diana Santos
Martin S. Schwartz Scholarship M.S.W. Ashley Staton
Mel C. Whipple Scholarship M.S.W. Sharika Bivens
Pamela B. Nystrom Memorial Scholarship Fund B.S.W. Miles Kenny
Peace and Justice Scholarship for Distance Education M.S.W. Jasmine Neverson
Radical Alliance for AntiRacism, Change and Equity (RAACE)
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Social Workers in Aging
M.S.W. Francesca Spencer Ruth Tiguh B.S.W. Vanessa Martinez
M.S.W. Roseanne Ross Ashley Staton
Rachel Wilkerson Memorial Scholarship
We Are Why: A Scholarship Centering Black Community and Supporting Black Liberation
M.S.W. Ashley Staton
B.S.W. Le’Keyshia Bracy
Rick and Brenda Faulkner Scholarship
Dual Degree, Certificate, Cooperative and Certification Program Recipients
M.S.W. Madison Bunce
Student Ambassadors M.S.W. Kayla Riddick Nicole Trainum
Social Work Administration, Planning and Policy Practice Scholarship Fund M.S.W. Taylor Easley Amanda-Jane Holland
Thomas Carlton Memorial Fund M.S.W. Erick Lainez-Villanueva
Virginia Council on Social Welfare Scholarship B.S.W. Allison Clough Kristina Houghton
Certificate in Aging Studies Roseanne Ross Ashley Staton Sarah Sullivan
Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention Hope Petersen Caroline Richards
Certificate in Nonprofit Management Taylor Easley Alexis Neumann Melinda Sellew
Certification in School Social Work Cieara Battle Jacqueline Brown Season Dailey Kathryn Durden Abigail Farley Martha Ferraioli Michelle Gonzalez Breonna Hall LaToya Holliday Rachael Meyers Kaylin Miller Lyzbeth Monard Jasmine Neverson Kristen Tubbs
Va-LEND
Jen Ramachandran
Ph.D. Graduates Leah M. Bouchard
Dissertation Utilization of Opioid Misuse Prevention Tools in Rural Areas Dissertation Chair Traci Wike, Ph.D. Committee Youngmi Kim, Ph.D. Sunny Shin, Ph.D. Nancy Morris, Ph.D. (Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs)
Thomas Buckley
Dissertation Sense of Community Among Older Adults in Puerto Rico Two Years After Hurricane Maria Dissertation Chair Denise Burnette, Ph.D. Committee Kyeongmo Kim, Ph.D. Humberto Fabelo, Ph.D. Tracey Gendron, Ph.D. (Department of Gerontology)
M.S.W. Graduates Abdul-Hussain, Ghsoon Acors, Ruth Albertson, Mary Alexander, Alexis Andrade, Geovanni Armitage, Sydney Bako, Andrew Battle, Cieara Beaven, Gabrielle Beavers, Hailey Billy, Ravine Bond, Katelyn Booker, Sophia Borrell, Nicola Borrelli, Anna Bradford, Allison Bray, Caroline Bredeck, Prathyusha Brennan Castro, Lorena Brown, Jacqueline Brown, Jasmine Brown, Mackenzie Bryant, Jessica Buchen, Natalie Bunce, Madison Callis, Molly Camp, Tiffany Carney, Bradley Carver, Nia Chuba, Nathan Cimo, Dan Clark, Brittany Coleman, ChaQuena Coleman, Teddi Cooley, Emily Couch, Angela Crowe-Getty, Bram Culbertson, Kathleen Dahl, Taylor Dailey, Season Davis, Tess Dawson, Kaitlyn
De Gouvea, Aline Dillon, Grace Dodson, Latasha Dorman, Jordyn DuVall, Ashley Durden, Kathryn Durst, Pilar Dymond, Rebecca Easley, Taylor Eckerd, Anna Elliott, Emily Embe-Mamong, Kimberly Ernst, Lauren Farley, Abigail Fletcher, Kayla Francis, Lindsey Fronckowiak, Sarah Gerdes, Anastasia Ginyard, Domoniquie Girley, Dinah Givler, Jacob Goncalves, Isaac Gonzalez, Michelle Grigera Monteagudo, Diana Hall, Breonna Hamilton, Heather Hammond, Amanda Hancock, Stephanie Harris, Shakira Harwood, Heather Hawkins, Kathleen Hefner, Rachel Hewett, Emily Holland, Amanda-Jane Holliday, LaToya Hucek, Raleigh Hudgins, Lauren Hunt, Katlynn Jackson, Victoria Jenkins, Hayley Johnson, Mackenzie Jones, Shelby
Jones, Summer Caroline Jones-Patterson, Tasha Kalkus, Kelly Kesser, Allison Kim, Jae King, Rebekah Kitzmann, Isabella Labrijn, Nicolette Lainez-Villanueva, Erick Laque, Lauren Lawrence, Shawn Leonard, Tracey Litton, Jane Logan, Salease Louis, Kasey Luck, Julianne Ludwig, Indigo Lund, Lauren McHale, Ryan Meehan, Sarah Meyers, Rachael Miller, Emma Miller, Kaylin Mills, Lakiera Mitchell, Destiny Monard, Lyzbeth Montes, Jennifer Montz, Sierra Morgan, Taylor Moss, Emily Mugford, Mary Murden, Courtney Murphy, Amber Neumann, Alexis Nieburg, Sarah Neverson, Jasmine Newton, Erika Nicol, Blair Nicol, Jennifer Nolt, Randall Oh, Rachel Owens, Kathleen
M.S.W. Graduates Ownby, Kaitlyn Pajalic, Edin Parrott, Maggie Paviour, Sonja Payne, Savannah Peacock, Malikka Peranio, Brittne Perdue, Kara Perillo, Tiffanie Persson, Emma Petersen, Hope Podolak, Gregory Pollard, Carrie Pollard, Deanna Pollock, Mary Pompey, Marshae Pottle, Cara Powell, Alyse Quintanilla, Oltar Ramachandran, Jen Ramos, Brianna Rampini, Marta Redd, Melissa Reeves, Michelle Richards, Caroline Riddick, Kayla Roddy, Kayla Rodriguez, Adriana Rose, Kaitlyn Ross, Roseanne Roush, Carolyn Rutstein, Emma Sadler, Melody Sadowski, Katherine Sampson, Gregory Santos, Diana Sarrer, Querida Sasala, Anna Schmehl, Victoria Sejas-Padilla, Graciela Sellew, Melinda Shannon, Domique Sharma, Rishi
Sharpe, Aaron Shea, April Sheehan, Carrie Simmons, Hannah Smith, Felicia Smith, Raeven Snead, Candace Spearman, Diana Srock, Caitlin Staten, Victoria Staton, Ashley Steimel, Caroline Stein, Sarah Stevenson, Alana Sullivan, Sarah Swift, Austin Tadelle, Manna Talbert, Tori Tice, Christy Tiguh, Ruth Topper, Bradley Trainum, Nicole Tubbs, Kristen Turvy, Ashley Ulloa, Luz Valentine, Shernae Vanlandingham, Alyson Vargas, Kaitlyn Viall, Alessandra Vigilante, Jacquelyn Waite, Briar Weiser, Nora Whipple, Kara Wiggins, Cheniera Wilson, Holly Wilson, Isabel Woolridge, Jermisha December 2021 graduates Ballard, Tedra Bivens, Sharika Capasso, Lauren Carley, Leigh
Dodson, Carol Farrington, Ella Ferraioli, Martha Harden, Molly Kuhl-Chapman, Rhys Mangual Cruz, Ashley McLain, Samantha Mouratidis, Celena Oelrich, Anne Patterson-Brown, Doris Sadtler, Rebecca Spencer, Francesca Storrs, Michael Tomiko, Stephanie Vandyke, Michele Weaver, Ashlee Williams, Emilia Yacovone, Jeremy August 2022 graduates Batwinis, Elizabeth Besemer, Addie Rebekah Boles, Stephanie Boyd, Laini Bundy, Brittany Carr, Zachary Condon, Erin Elswick, Samantha Faniel, Amber Gilman, Katherine E Greene, Autum Mayer, Laura Stringer, Emily Kathleen Villanueva, Abigail Watson, Brittany Mychale Watts, Vega Ward, Kenya
B.S.W. Graduates Acosta-Lewis, Zephyr++ Bakarr, Marian Baumgart, Autumn++ Beckman, Meghan++ Berlinghoff, Morgan+ Bickford, Emily+ Bishop, Naomi Bosko, Camryn-Rachele++ Bowens, Trinity+++ Bower, Rebekah Bracy, Le’Keyshia Briggs, Danielle+ Browning, Alexandra+ Bryant, Mason+++ Burns, Grace++ Cattler, Paige++ Chadwick, Audrey Chamale, Dania+ Clough, Allison+++ Conklin, Grace+++ Constancia-Sorto, Tatiana+++ De Paz, Ruth Debele, Raji Dewey, Aslynn Dingman, Emily+++ Earth, Destiny+ Edge, Sarah+ Elias Rivera, Katherine+ Faircloth, Daiqwaun++ Fleming, Elise++ Floyd, Ashley++ Forbes, Megan++ Futrell, Armani+ Gaines, Beverly+ Gardner, Brooke++ Gondella, Grey++ Hairston, Savannah++ Harper, Wesley++ Hart, Valerie++ Hasenpflug, Shaun Holicky, Molly+ Holstein, Lauren++ Houghton, Kristina++
Isbell, Kara+++ Jackson, Naomi+++ Jensen, Ryanna+ Johnson, Dimphy+++ Jones, Summer Dawn+++ Keniston, Alexandra++ Kenny, Miles+++ Kidane, Hanna++ Kuligowski, Sophia++ Mann, Lauryn++ Martinez, Vanessa++ McLatchy, Alexa++ Moise, Shannon++ Morris, Taylor++ O’Neill, Abigail+++ Oakley, Olivia++ Payne-Zeno, Kayla Pillai, Kashish++ Pittman, Breauna+++ Poke, Mahogany+ Pope, Almeria+ Robinson, Chineka+ Rogers, Victoria Rojas Mendoza, Niccolo Rose, Casey+ Ruffin, Brutaja Scott, Alexis+ Scott, Hazel Sheikh, Aman+++ Simmons, Grace++ Simpson, Kayla++ Smith, Regan++ Sperry, Sophia++ Stanley, Bria+ Storey, Frank Swankowski, Ashley++ Thomas, Amala+ Togade, Noah Valenta, Janelle Ververs, Camryn+ White, Nicholas+ Williams, Cassie Williams, Haley+++
Wise, Paige+++ Woodard, Yasmin++ August 2022 graduates Bare, Brooklyn Shai Raelissa Bennett, Tartesha Beverly, Bailee Harris, Kailey Longmore, Allison Martinez, Maria Jose Nair, Sebastian +++ 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 Beth Angell, Ph.D., professor Frank R. Baskind, Ph.D., dean emeritus and professor Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., LCSW, professor Qasarah Bey Spencer, Ed.D., assistant professor in teaching Matthew Bogenschutz, Ph.D., associate professor J. Denise Burnette, Ph.D., Samuel S. Wurtzel Endowed Faculty Chair in Social Work and professor Jill Butler, M.S.W., M.S., online M.S.W. field coordinator and assistant professor in teaching Jamie L. Cage, Ph.D., assistant professor Jillian A. Carpenter, M.S.W., assistant professor in teaching Cameron D. Carter, M.S.W., associate professor in teaching Karen G. Chartier, Ph.D, associate professor Stevara Haley Clark, Ed.D., assistant professor in teaching Kimberly S. Compton, Ph.D., instructor Nicole A. Corley, Ph.D., assistant professor Elizabeth P. Cramer, Ph.D., LCWS, 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 Daryl V. Fraser, M.S.W., associate professor in teaching Maurice N. Gattis, Ph.D., associate professor Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., LCSW, associate professor
Carrie A. Hartwell, Ph.D., LCSW, Instructor Hyojin Im, Ph.D., associate professor Muthoni Imungi, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching Kyeongmo. Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor Youngmi Kim, Ph.D., associate professor Abigail D. Kinnebrew, M.S.W., LCSW, associate professor in teaching Miriam Kuttikat, Ph.D., associate professor Nicole L. Lee, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching Hollee A. McGinnis, Ph.D., assistant professor Ananda Newmark, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching Johnnie O’Neal, Ph.D., visiting instructor Stephanie G. Odera, Ed.D., associate professor in teaching Nicole L. O-Pries, M.S.W., LCSW, associate professor in teaching Sarah K. Price, Ph.D., professor Naomi Sutton Reddish, M.S.W., instructor Allison K. Ryals, M.S.W., LCSW, associate professor in teaching Sunny H. Shin, Ph.D., associate professor M. Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., associate professor Traci L. Wike, Ph.D., associate professor Shenita Williams, Ph.D., LCSW, assistant professor in teaching
Administration and staff
Leslie A.C. Aitken, D.Ed.Min., coordinator, Ph.D. Program Robert Anderson, M.S., upper-level B.S.W. student success advisor Beth Angell, Ph.D., dean Allison Bell, B.A., executive assistant to the dean J. Denise Burnette, Ph.D., director, Ph.D. Program Sarah Burton-Everette, M.Ed., director, advising and retention Cameron D. Carter, M.S.W., assistant director, field education Stevara Haley Clark, Ed.D., director, online education Lakeita Clarkson, M.S., online M.S.W. student success advisor Kimberly S. Compton, Ph.D., assistant director, M.S.W. Program J. Doug Critcher, assistant, B.S.W. Program Gary S. Cuddeback, Ph.D., associate dean, research Cinnamon M. Francis, M.Sc., enrollment and agreements manager, field education Andrew Frazier, B.S., student recruitment specialist Anna Givens, M.P.A., senior development specialist Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D., LCSW, associate dean, academic and student affairs Kristin A. Hopkins, M.A., assistant, M.S.W. admissions Rachel Hosig, B.S.W., B.S., coordinator, M.S.W. Program Casey Jensen, M.S.W., administrator, student recruitment initiatives Sharon Johnson, B.S., business manager Kimberly King, administrative coordinator, field education Nicole L. Lee, Ph.D., director, M.S.W. Program Geoff LoCicero, M.L.I.S., director, communications Jackie Maroney, fiscal services specialist Quinn Mathlin, B.S., administrative coordinator, academic and student affairs Allison McLarin, M.Ed., online M.S.W. student success advisor Karen Meister, M.S., lower-level B.S.W. student success advisor Mieko Michelle, MA.Ed., coordinator, M.S.W. Program Bennett Newman, M.B.A., senior financial administrator Ananda Newmark, Ph.D., director, B.S.W. Program Stephanie G. Odera, Ed.D., director, field education
Susan L. O’Shea, M.ED., CPA, assistant dean, finance and administration Jay W. Pearman, B.S.C.I.S., information technology analyst Jazmyn Porter, M.P.H., M.S.W., senior advisor Sarah K. Price, Ph.D., associate dean, faculty development Dana Regusters, M.S.W., interim B.S.W. field coordinator James Romanik, B.S., director, development Allison K. Ryals, M.S.W., LCSW, assistant director, B.S.W. Program Katelyn Turner, B.A., front desk assistant Jacob A. Ulmschneider, M.A., assistant, M.S.W. admissions Stephanie B. Walker, M.A., enhanced learning spaces specialist Audrey Walls, M.Ed., student success writing advisor Micah Weedman, Ph.D., term prep designer Madison Woodroof, M.S.W., M.S.W. student success advisor
Beth Angell, Ph.D. Dean and professor
As she is preparing to leave the VCU School of Social Work to become the dean at the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work in July, Dr. Angell reflects on what attracted her to the school in 2018 and where it stands four years later. “I was drawn to VCU’s mission as an urban, community-engaged research university, which is a hand-in-glove fit for the field of social work because of the high value we place on working in partnership with communities,” she says. “I was also attracted to the school’s strong national and regional reputation for both top-notch professional education and cutting-edge research. In the past four years, we’ve strengthened both aspects of our mission by making our educational programs more accessible and by forging new research pathways in areas that are aligned with 21st century directions for social work.” During her tenure as the school’s ninth full-time dean, the school developed and launched a fully online M.S.W. format and a schoolwide effort to embrace a racial justice and equity agenda. Under Dr. Angell’s leadership, enrollment grew nearly 50 percent from Fall 2018 to Fall 2021 and was at 1,175 students for Spring 2022. The school has welcomed more than 25 new faculty and staff since 2018 and created supportive structures for faculty development and student success that enabled the school to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Leading this school has been a tremendous honor and privilege, even during challenging times,” Dr. Angell says.
Farewell What are you most proud of? “I am proudest of the things that our school was able to accomplish by working together as a team, and I would hold up in particular the launch of the online M.S.W. as an effort where collaboration across all of our academic teams and faculty members was critical and where we felt a sense of collective accomplishment. Our school has also really rallied behind our antiracism initiative, the Radical Alliance for Anti-Racism, Change, and Equity, and I feel good about the progress we’ve made in coming together around a set of shared values.” What memories will you hold most dearly of your time here, and what were some of the challenges? “Certainly, the pandemic was hard for many reasons, but being isolated from one another was very high on the list. For that reason, some of my best memories are times that the school was able to gather together for celebrations or Commencement. Our outdoor Commencement ceremony in May 2021 was particularly joyous because it took a great deal of planning and creativity and it brought so much happiness to our faculty and grads.” What are your hopes for the future of the school? “The school’s future is bright and limitless. I see faculty, staff, students and alumni continuing to push forward their commitments to excellence in the various ways they enact our mission.” What advice do you have for graduates? “Your education has only just begun! Clients and communities you work with will be your best teachers. Always keep justice and equity at the forefront, and be unafraid to speak up and show up for those who are marginalized and oppressed.”
Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., LCSW
Farewell
Professor
As a master’s graduate considering the possibility of pursuing her Ph.D., Kia J. Bentley had one of those “aha” moments with the universe. A letter arrived, addressing her, mistakenly, as Dr. Kia J. Bentley. “I thought, mmmmm, that looks right somehow,” she says. A few years later, in 1987, it was official – Dr. Bentley had earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University. And two years later, after a stint teaching at Louisiana State University, she began her career at the VCU School of Social Work. Having completed her 33rd academic year with the school, Dr. Bentley will retire in June as tenured professor. Mentoring students, particularly those in the doctoral program during her time as program director from 1999-2012, is a clear highlight. “There is no question that my advising/mentoring of my 11 doctoral graduates, 10 here in this school, have been the most memorable and rewarding aspects of my career,” she says. “Here is what I recently told those students on Facebook: ‘I have loved my work and been privileged to be able to teach and write and serve the profession and community for 35 years, 33 at VCU. As I have said to many of you, my time as your dissertation chair, advisor and mentor have been the most satisfying and rewarding of anything I have ever done professionally. ‘As a woman without children, you have helped to give my life direction, meaning, purpose and joy, and I am grateful to each of you for letting me in and staying with me in so many ways all these years.’ :-)
“I am certainly also very proud of the culture of completion and the successes experienced by all the 100 or so doc students whom I recruited, taught and shepherded through the program when I was chair for those 13 years. We truly built a lovely community of young-in-career scholars. I have also done considerable formal and informal mentoring of faculty here at the school and university and with one or two nationally. “I am also proud of the mental health courses I developed and curriculum consultations I have done here at VCU and around the country.” What will you miss most as you retire? “Standing in front of the classroom and seeing a student write down something I said. Catching up with beloved colleagues at national conferences.” What advice do you have for graduates? “For M.S.W. graduates, I ask them to consider that they really do know what to do with clients, no matter what. Always, always, always: Lead with empathy, follow with hope. For Ph.D. graduates, be clear about your professional mission: Develop a compelling statement, articulate it explicitly, and whenever you share what you are doing, start with how that project fits into that mission. Advice for everyone, put more into your 401K!” :-) What is next for you? “More golf, more visits to gardens and art museums, more wine and cheese-related travel, perhaps a tiny internet business selling kitchen stuff, perhaps compiling a seafood cookbook for family and friends. But, for sure, more piddling around the house and yard with Marti, my spouse of 44 years.”
Pat Dattalo, Ph.D.
Farewell
Professor
Dr. Dattalo, who joined the VCU School of Social Work full time in 1986, retired in October 2021. A two-time VCU alum, Dr. Dattalo (M.S.W.’80/ SW; Ph.D.’93/H&S) started teaching as an adjunct instructor in the early 1980s. He became a fixture, teaching three courses each year before becoming director of continuing education. He continued to teach – macro courses, policy courses, human behavior, and research courses across the B.S.W., M.S.W. and Ph.D. programs. “That was a point of pride,” he says. Dr. Dattalo published three books on advanced statistical methods between 2008-2013, including one, Determining sample size: Balancing power, precision, and practicality, that was translated into Chinese. Even before retirement, Dr. Dattalo connected with another group with which he can listen and learn. Having started several years earlier as a volunteer with Powhatan County Fire and Rescue, he is continuing in his role as an ambulance driver and a nationally certified emergency medical technician and trainer. “I really loved my time with the VCU students, and it’s one of the reasons why I’m helping with EMS training,” he says. “I just helped with a four-hour class and told my wife, Marie Guay, that it was great. I wondered if I’d still enjoy being in the middle of a crowd of students, and I still do.”
As he has transitioned from his academic life, Dr. Dattalo sees commonality between the roles of social worker and emergency medical technician in helping underserved populations by addressing physical trauma and mental health needs of patients. “Powhatan is mostly rural, and in need of EMS services; transport time to the nearest hospital can take up to an hour, depending on which end of the county you’re on,” he says. “There are a lot of underserved people in the western portion of the county. It’s tough. “There is a strong relationship between social work and emergency medical services, since both require a basic understanding of the human condition and the ability to communicate clearly and kindly at the level of the patient. It’s a real mix of people problems, and that’s basically the breadth of social work. “We debrief as a team after every traumatic call. For some of them, it’s the first time they’ve seen someone who had just died, so we talk about that. … I have a voice that I try not to overuse, and it’s very much a social work voice.” His younger work colleagues, he says, are “not such a different crowd than VCU students, and that’s really comforting to me. I do miss the VCU students, and the good news is that a lot of the beginning EMS students are in their 20s. When you spend 12 to 24 hours with people once or twice a week, you get to know them pretty quickly. I give them my time, but I get 100 times more back. I have learned much more about EMS from them than they can ever learn from me.”
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