VCU Social Work 2020 Commencement Program

Congratulations Class of

2020

2020 Commencement 11 a.m., Friday, May 8

Order of excercise Welcome

Beth Angell, Ph.D., dean

Commencement speaker

Reading of M.S.W. graduate names Mary Jackson, adjunct faculty Joseph Walsh, emeritus faculty

The Honorable Jennifer L. McClellan, Senate of Virginia, 9th District

Recognition of B.S.W. graduates Ananda Newmark, Ph.D., director of B.S.W. program

Special student recognitions

B.S.W. student speaker

Humberto E. Fabelo, Ph.D., associate dean for academic and student affairs

Felicia A. Smith

Recognition of Ph.D. graduates

J. Denise Burnette, Ph.D., director of Ph.D. program

Daryl V. Fraser, associate professor in teaching Allison K. Ryals, associate professor in teaching

Recognition of M.S.W. graduates

Closing remarks

Melissa L. Stewart, Ph.D., director of M.S.W. program

M.S.W. student speaker Nachel Mathoda

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.

Production of virtual ceremony by Advanced Visual Productions.

Reading of B.S.W. graduate names

Beth Angell, Ph.D.

The Honorable Jennifer L. McClellan, Senate of Virginia, 9th District

Jennifer McClellan was elected to the Senate of Virginia in January 2017. She serves on the Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources, Finance, Judiciary, Privileges & Elections, and Transportation Committees.

Sen. McClellan chairs the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission, and serves on the Virginia Indian Commemorative Commission and the Task Force on the Preservation of the History of Former Enslaved African Americans. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, and is a member of the Rural and Women’s Health Care Caucuses. Jennifer also serves as Vice Chair of the Southern Regional Education Board Legislative Advisory Council. She is a member of the Class of 2019 NewDEAL Leaders and a 2017 Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellow.

Before her election to the Senate, she was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for 11 years.

Sen. McClellan has been a leader on improving education, breaking the school-to-prison pipeline, criminal justice reform, expanding access to affordable housing and health care, combatting domestic and sexual violence, diversifying Virginia’s economy, civil rights and ethics reform.

As the only House member to be pregnant while in office, she has been a fierce protector of women’s reproductive rights, children, and families.

Sen. McClellan’s legislative accomplishments include establishing anti-bullying and lactation policies in public schools, reporting school discipline outcomes by race, gender, ethnicity, and disability, clarifying responsibilities of school resource officers, strengthening the Family Life Education curriculum to address sexual harassment, sexual assault, child abuse and child sexual exploitation, increasing penalties for stalking, strengthening law enforcement tools to combat crimes against children, reforming Virginia’s child marriage laws, authorizing new business models such as benefit corporations and contract brewing, establishing protections against predatory lending, and eliminating mandated waiting periods for sterilization.

University Honors School Honors and Awards The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

M.S.W. Amy Katherine Callahan Margaret Leigh Cheatham Caitlyn de Haas Jillian Foraker Nicole George Jessica Jones Madeline McGovern Megan Miller Morgan Potts Jordan Rumke Jaeger Spratt Caitlin Tyree Katherine Weeks B.S.W. Heather Ashbeck Brianna Dickerson Morgan Scott

School of Social Work Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi M.S.W. Nicole George B.S.W. Heather Ashbeck Felicia A. Smith

Black History in the Making Award M.S.W. Nicole George Briana Harris Jasmine Lackey B.S.W. Tene` Dixon Malik Ellis

David N. Saunders Legislative Award Sophie Fontaine

Elaine Rothenberg Social Work Award M.S.W. John Gyourko B.S.W. Heather Ashbeck

Student Field Impact Award M.S.W. Lindsey Brown Caroline Lavoie Katherine Marshall B.S.W. Ciara Carr Kiara Mickins

Phi Alpha National Honor Society for Social Work Students M.S.W. Stephanie Alvarado Sylvia Nicole Bailey Maegan Olivia Beck Amy Callahan Margaret Leigh Cheatham Fiorella Stefany Carrillo Jennifer Farnsworth Nicole George Katherine Gillies John Gyourko Briana Harris Jessica E. Jones Jasmine Olivia Lackey Nachel Mathoda Alice McGuin Julie O’Brien Morgan Zaddie Potts Emma Roney Julia Cattelain Sauer Jaeger Spratt Aundraya N. Taylor Caitlin Tyree Akiko Ueda-Zecca Van Vox Zara Walker Katherine Weeks Megan L. Whitehurst B.S.W. Heather Ashbeck Gabrielle Beaven William Samuel Jackson, Jr. Meghana Mallampati John Ruane Querida Lanise Sarrer Morgan Brittany Scott Laura Beth Spaulding

School of Social Work Leadership and Service Awards M.S.W. Ahjanae Braxton Nicole George John Gyourko Hanan Kourtu Van Vox B.S.W. Heather Ashbeck Angela Couch Meghana Mallampati Trista Monroe Alisha Robinson Austin Swift

Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctoral Support Scholars

The Adelante Scholarship: Sirviendo la Comunidad Hispana Diana Galdamez

Cesare and Ida Sclarandis Scholarship Analynne Escobar Hanan Kourtu

Child Welfare Stipend Program Andrea C. Aron-Schiavone Caitlin Clifton Caitlyn de Haas Claire Friedmann Carson Hanna Briana L. Harris Cynthia Joyner Paola A. Martinez Andrea I. Perez Thomas Pollard Alison Pulliam

David P. Beverly Memorial Scholarship Nicole George Maryn Wood

Federal Policy Fellows M.S.W. Lindsey Brown Ashley Stupak B.S.W. Michaela Hatton Calvin Anderson, Jr. John Ruane

Fostering Success Scholarship Cynthia Joyner

Grace E. Harris Merit Scholarship Jacob Givler Heba Hatoum

Hurtado Family Endowed Scholarship Van Vox

Joanne Kerbs Caramanica Scholarship Carson Hanna

Kimberly K. Giancaspro Scholarship Madeline McGovern

Martin S. Schwartz Scholarship Rebecca Ledingham

Mel C. Whipple Scholarship Nicole George

M.S.W. Distance Education Scholarship Rebecca Ledingham Sasha Wilson

Pamela Nystrom Memorial Fund Heather Ashbeck Heba Hatoum

Peer Mentors M.S.W. Alison Pulliam

Rachel Wilkerson Memorial Scholarship Jordan Rumke

Rita Schleuter Memorial Scholarship Angela Royal-Stone

Robert Green Just Research Scholarship Maria Lopez Carbajal

Social Work Administration, Planning and Policy Practice Scholarship Christine Bethune Van Vox Maryn Wood

Thomas Carlton Memorial Scholarship Christine Bethune Amy Callahan

Virginia Council on Social Welfare Scholarship Heather Ashbeck Hallie Baumgardner William Samuel Jackson, Jr. Sarah L. Stryhn

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Jonathan Bishop Jordan Rumke

Dual Degree, Certificate, Cooperative and Certification Program Recipients Certificate in Aging Studies Jonathan A. Bishop Jordan N. Rumke

Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention Amy K. Callahan Heba K. Hatoum Cali S. Jackson Destiny R. Spain Sarah R. Spinner Van Vox Amber N. Zarger

Certificate in Nonprofit Management Daronte O. Rollins Kristen E. Tully Rachel A. Vamenta Maryn C. Wood

Certification for School Social Work Practice Megan S. Adair Lindsey M. Brown Kishla A. Conner Katherine E. Crusco Susan E. Durham Jacqueline M. Dybuvarang Kailyn R. Hampton-Studivant Jenna Mukai Tiffany P. Patton Morgan A. Pennington Lauren Shifflett Akiko Ueda-Zecca Jarrod D. Wallace Sasha A. Wilson

Ph.D. Graduate Mary B. Stebbins Dissertation Factors that influence mental health services utilization by children who have experienced adversity Dissertation Chair Karen Chartier, Ph.D. Committee Joseph Walsh, Ph.D. Jamie Cage, Ph.D. Michael Southam-Gerow, Ph.D., VCU Department of Psychology

M.S.W. Graduates Adair, Megan S. Alvarado, Stephanie Aron-Schiavone, Andrea C. Asim, Hurmat B. Bailey, Sylvia N. Barbagallo, Carrie L. Barry, Terra A. Bat, Lindsey A. Beale, Shavon D. Beck, Maegan O. Beck-Berman, Rachel V. Bell, Katherine A. Bethune, Christine J. Bishop, Jonathan A. Bissell, Emily L. Blythe, Jessica A. Bowles, John Braxton, Ahjanae I. Brink, Carolyn J. Broas, Abigail Brown, Ebone C. Brown, Jessica L. Brown, Lindsey M. Brown, Willnetta P. Callahan, Amy K. Camero-Searles, Barbara J. Cameron, William N. Card, Jennie M. Caron, Michelle E. Chafin, Morgan T. Clifton, Caitlin Conner, Kishla A. Cooperman, Anna M. Crane, Ashley E. Crusco, Katherine E. Dannemiller, Melissa H. De Haas, Caitlyn Drozd, Nicole Durham, Susan E. Dwyer, Casey E. Dybuvarang, Jacqueline M. Earp, Sarah E.

Eppihimer, Hillary A. Eure, Charlotte P. Faison, Iyana W. Farnsworth, Jennifer J. Feero, Sarah C. Fontaine, Sophie M. Foraker, Jillian E. Forrest, Leslie P. Friedmann, Claire I. Frye, Lakyn D. Garland, Sarah R. George, Nicole Gillies, Katherine M. Green, Chanel S. Greenberg, Emma L. Gyourko, John R. Hall, Michelle E. Hampton-Studivant, Kailyn R. Hanna, Carson Harper, Katherine G. Harris, Briana L. Harris, Jenny Hatoum, Heba K. Hunter, Madeline N. Jackson, Cali S. Jackson, Destinee M. Jacobi, Allyson N. Jones, Cassidy L. Jones, Harley S. Jones, Jessica E. Jordan, Ashley N. Joyner, Cynthia M. Junes, Nicholas Kemmerer, Aaron M. Kiehl, Stephanie L. Kim, Catherine Y. Kincaid, Cristina B. Kourtu, Hanan M. Lackey, Jasmine Landis, Carrie D. Lavoie, Caroline E. Ledingham, Rebecca G. Lee, Siena Levine, Caitlin E. Libibe, Benedicte B.

Marano, Elizabeth C. Marshall, Katherine M. Martinez, Paola A. Mason, Jessica R. Mathoda, Nachel K. Mayton, Megan J. McClain-Magee, Melinda G. McGovern, Madeline McGowan, Tracy T. Merenda, Claire J. Miller, Megan Moore, Sharon R. Mukai, Jenna Myers, Malia S. Nguyen, Zenny D. Norton, Rebecca L. O’Brien, Julie A. Olivares, Norma Papathanassiou, Elena M. Parker, Hallie Patton, Tiffany P. Pennington, Morgan A. Perez, Andrea I. Picard, Abigail L. Piland, Shelton A. Pollard, Thomas E. Potts, Morgan Z. Pulliam, Alison M. Robinson, Amoya R. Rodriguez, Alyssia M. Rollins, Daronte O. Roney, Emma R. Ross, Kaylin Z. Rumke, Jordan N. Sauer, Julia Schapiro, Lucy Scriven, Stephanie L. Sepelyak, Caitlin M. Shifflett, Lauren Silas, Danielle M. Somel, Laura Y. Spain, Destiny R. Spinner, Sarah R. Spratt, Jaeger E. Staples, Sarah E.

Steel, Brianna J. Stewart, Ashley N. Stryhn, Sarah L. Stupak, Ashley N. Taylor, Allison M. Taylor, Aundraya N. Tully, Kristen E. Ueda-Zecca, Akiko Utz, Kelsie F. Vamenta, Rachel A. Veasey, Katherine M. Vox, Van Walker, Zara A. Wallace, Jarrod D. Weeks, Katherine M. Westry, Darjane L. White, N’Kyrah C. Whitehurst, Megan L. Wilkerson, Taylor M. Williams, Marchelle C. Wilson, Sasha A. Wishmeyer, Meghan A. Wood, Maryn C. Zarger, Amber N.

December 2019 graduates Downey, Hailey E. Israel, Erin A. August 2020 graduates Carbajal, Maria Lopez Carrillo, Fiorella Stefany Cheatham, Margaret Leigh Gibson, Magaly J. Hill, Khalif Matthew Kellett, Jennifer Dawn Lasher, Brianna McGuin, Alice McLeod, Jennifer Neiderer, Connor Fleming Reynolds, Julia R Tyree, Caitlin Williams, Taylor

B.S.W. Graduates Abuhammoud, Izdihar T. Acheampong, Maureen V. Adu-Gyamfi, Elizabeth A. Ahn, Kaylee A.+ Alby, Sarah E.+ Anderson, Calvin M.+ Andrade, Geovanni A.+ Ashbeck, Heather A. Baltz, Timothy M. Baumgardner, Hallie J.+ Beaven, Gabrielle C.+++ Bray, Tyler J. Brown, Alison K.++ Brown, Arianna B.++ Brown, Mackenzie E.+ Carr, Ciara M.+ Condon, Erin A.+ Conmy, Melissa R. Couch, Angela M.+ Cox, Montana M. Dickerson, Brianna C. Dinh, Vivian+ Dixon, Tene’ M.+ Doty, Kohlson T. Doughten, Kira E. Eline, Lauren Ellis, Malik N.++ English, Tiffany S. Escobar, Analynne T.+ Fernandez, Saimy+ Flinchum, Ashlynn T. Foster, Taliah N. Fox, Devin A. Funderburk, Jasmine M.+ Gainyo, Doris C. Galdamez, Diana Gammon, John C. Garzan, Omid E.+ Gerrald, Tiffany E.

Givler, Jacob J.+ Hall, Breonna R. Hatton, Michaela G. Howard, Beverley A. Hunt, Katlynn Jackson, William S. Jefferson, Tiffany M. Kaulia, Ratchaneekorn K.+ King Carr, Phyllis A.++ Kremer, Liza A.++ Langston, Rashaa R. Loewen, Isaac K.++ Lynch, Akia+ Mallampati, Meghana++ Mccormick, Asia Mccullough, Paige M. McGuire-Ruiz, Isabel M.+ Mckeithan, Rasheeda N. Meaza, Hana R.++ Mickins, Kiara M. Mills, Lakiera R. Montes, Jennifer L. Moyer, Taylor E. Mugford, Mary P. Newton-Kraj, Renata K. Nolan, Salisa S.++ Oladejo, Muftau O. Pena, David D. Ragan, D. D. Renes, Drew C. Richards, Eleanor B. Robinson, Alisha A.++ Roussey, Alexis M.+ Ruane, John F.+++ Rubio, Liseth A. Ruiz, Kristan A. Ryan, Elizabeth A. Sarrer, Querida L. Scott, Morgan B. Sejas-Padilla, Graciela N.+ Sexton, Taylor B.+

Sharpe, Aaron M.+ Spaulding, Laura B. Srock, Caitlin A.+ Stancil, Nydra L.+ Swift, Austin T.+ Tann, Erica C.+ Tanner, Heather L. Thomas, Shelby Tice, Christine C.++ Tippl, Ruby L.++ Trainum, Nicole K. Tyler, Tayajah A.+ Valencia Rojas, Flor S. Vargas, Kaitlyn E. Vaughan, Erica C. Vitola, Gabriela+ Wade, Alayna M. Wekenmann, Noelle M. Williams, Savannah L. Williamson, Katryn J. Wilson, Holly R. Yacovone, Jeremy T. December 2019 graduates Bavin, Chloe Cruppenink, Corey D. Easley, Taylor J. Gillespie, Daniel B. Hinton, Giovonni M. August 2020 graduates Arbisi, Emily L. Cardenas, Grecia David, Deniecea K. Downs, D’Andrea C. Jimenez, Stephanie Monroe, Trista Royal-Stone, Angela Smith, Felicia Trujillo, Arlen

+++ ++ +

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., dean and professor Frank R. Baskind, Ph.D., dean emeritus and professor Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., LCSW, professor Matthew Bogenschutz, Ph.D., associate professor J. Denise Burnette, Ph.D., Samuel S. Wurtzel Endowed Faculty Chair in Social Work and professor 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 Clark, M.S.W., assistant professor in teaching Kimberly S. Compton, M.S.W., Instructor Nicole Corley, Ph.D., assistant professor Elizabeth P. Cramer, Ph.D., professor Patrick V. Dattalo, Ph.D., professor Humberto E. Fabelo, Ph.D., LCSW, associate professor Daryl V. Fraser, M.S.W., associate professor in teaching Maurice N. Gattis, Ph.D., iCubed Visiting Scholar and associate professor Basil I. Gooden, Ph.D., iCubed Visiting Scholar, Sustainable Food Access

Carrie A. Hartwell, Ph.D., LCSW, Instructor Hyojin Im, Ph.D., associate professor Muthoni Imungi, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching Kyeong M. Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor Youngmi Kim, Ph.D., associate professor Abigail D. Kinnebrew, LCSW, associate professor in teaching Miriam Kuttikat, Ph.D., associate professor Nicole L. Lee, Ph.D., associate professor in teaching Shelby E. McDonald, Ph.D., assistant professor Hollee A. McGinnis, Ph.D., assistant professor Ananda Newmark,Ph.D., associate professor in teaching Nicole L. O-Pries, LCSW, assistant professor in teaching Sarah K. Price, Ph.D., professor Naomi Sutton Reddish, M.S.W., instructor Christina E. Remmers, M.S.W., assistant professor in teaching Allison K. Ryals, LCSW, associate professor in teaching Sunny H. Shin, Ph.D., associate professor Melissa L. Stewart, Ph.D., associate professor M. Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., associate professor Traci L. Wike, Ph.D., associate professor

Administration and staff Beth Angell, Ph.D., dean Allison Bell, executive assistant to the dean Jacob Branigan, M.F.A., B.S.W. student success adviser Whitney E. Brown, M.Ed., human resources administrator J. Denise Burnette, Ph.D., director, Ph.D. Program Sarah Burton-Everette, M.Ed., administrator for student retention initiatives Cameron D. Carter, M.S.W., assistant director of field education Leslie A.C. Aitken, D.Ed.Min., Ph.D. Program coordinator Stevara Clark, M.S.W., M.S.W. Online coordinator J. Doug Critcher, B.S.W. Program assistant Humberto E. Fabelo, Ph.D., LCSW, associate dean for academic and student affairs Cinnamon M. Francis, M.S.W. Program Assistant Anna Givens, M.P.A., development specialist Kristin A. Hopkins, M.A., M.S.W. admissions assistant Muthoni Imungi, Ph.D., director, Office of Field Education Daniela Isayev, MA.Ed., M.S.W. program coordinator Katelynn Jarrells, M.S.W., B.S.W. student success adviser Casey Jensen, M.S.W., administrator for student recruitment initiatives Sharon Johnson, business manager Kimberly King, office of field education administrative assistant Nicole L. Lee, Ph.D., M.S.W. assistant program director Geoff LoCicero, M.L.I.S., director of communications Jackie Maroney, fiscal services specialist Quinn Mathlin, academic and student affairs administrative coordinator Benjamin N. Montemayor, M.S., research associate Ananda Newmark, Ph.D., director, B.S.W. Program Susan L. O’Shea, CPA, assistant dean of finance & administration Daniel S. Park, M.P.A., senior financial administrator Nicole Passmore, communications specialist Jay W. Pearman, information technology analyst Jaime Petrasek, director, research administration Joanna Pinto-Coelho, Ph.D., student success writing adviser Sarah K. Price, Ph.D., associate dean for faculty development and professor Dana Regusters, M.S.W., M.S.W. student success adviser Christina Remmers, M.S.W., field education coordinator and assistant professor in teaching Mary Riddick, M.P.A., director of development Melissa L. Stewart, Ph.D., director, M.S.W. Program Jacob A. Ulmschneider, M.A., M.S.W. admissions assistant Stephanie B. Walker, M.A., enhanced learning spaces specialist Madison Woodroof, M.S.W., M.S.W. student success adviser

Farewell Dan Park

Financial administrator

Dan Park is retiring June 1 after 22 years with the VCU School of Social Work. He has been the financial administrator for the VCU Senior Fiscal Administrator of Social Work. Dan has served five VCU deans and provided School of Social Work administrators, faculty and staff support in areas of budget, accounting and audit.

Dan has been seen on many occasions in the hallway of the Academic Learning Commons assisting students in finding their needed points destinations.

Before VCU, Dan was employed by other Commonwealth of Virginia Agencies, notably the Department of Human Resource Management and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. In total Dan has served the Commonwealth of Virginia 35 years.

“As my tenure at the Social Work draws to a close, I want to thank all the administrators, faculty, staff, and students for letting me serve you.

I have done my best to do just that. Nothing more, nothing less. Wish me well as I continue my journey by setting a different course towards new horizons.�

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