SPRING 2020
KENT SCHOOL NEWS
By Antoinette R. Mason, BSW Student

This level of health emergency in our country is something that most, if not all, of us have never experienced in our lifetimes. Therefore, our country is dealing with this in so many different types of ways. It has truly changed all of us in a very short period of time. Read more .
Our Kent students are Champions for Change!

We are proud of the persistence they have shown this Spring semester to complete their courses among the uncertainties of COVID-19. While we are excited for the bright futures of our graduates, many of our students’ journeys still continue and additional challenges could await.

The BSW Program presented the 10th Annual Bachelor of Social Work Capstone Project Poster Presentations virtually this year. Please explore the projects our BSW students have created to make a difference in social work service agencies and/or the community. All videos are posted on YouTube. Read more
ALUMNI
Kent Alumni on the Move

Kent Alumni are actively working and involved in our community. Learn more about what fellow alumni are doing to make a difference! Featured alumni: Deshara Doub, MSSW who graduated from the Kent School in 2018 with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy. As a Kent student, DeShara was actively engaged in her studies. While in the MSSW program she had her first international travel experience Read more .

The Council hopes that everyone is doing as well as possible amid these challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are not familiar with the Louisville Alumni Council, we are a diverse group of Kent Alumni who have an interest in promoting the values and initiatives of the social work profession. The Council's mission is to enhance the quality and reputation of the Kent School through continuing relationships among alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Read more
RESEARCH
For 85% of children with ASD, developmental concerns are documented by 36 months of age. However, only 42% receive a comprehensive evaluation by this time. Given evidence that earlier intervention results in better outcomes, earlier diagnosis is critical. Recently, Dr. Yingling published a study in The Journal of Pediatrics Read more .

The 70 photographs range from colorful, flowering trees to sorrowful, shocking images of drug use and sexual exploitation. They were taken in Hai Phong, Vietnam, by youth participating in a month-long photovoice project facilitated by UofL students and faculty. The youth, aged 12-19 years old Read more.

Over the past six years, Kent School faculty and staff have been working closely with the Kentucky child welfare and Project SAFESPACE behavioral health agencies to transform the way they respond to the needs of children in foster care and residential treatment. Read more.
STUDENTS IN ACTION
Berrac Strode, a father of four with a passion for serving his community and underserved populations, was already working as a social worker, but wanted to take his career and impact even further. Finding the Kent School's top-rated MSSW online program at UofL has helped him to balance furthering his education with his job and family time bringing him one step closer to his future career goals.
Olivia Hilbert, a BSW sophomore, chose social work because she is “a strong believer in doing good with what you have, whatever that may be.” This belief inspired her to pursue a path in the social work field to fulfill her desire to help people in many different capacities. The Northern Kentucky native said “I have grown to love social work even more through UofL and the phenomenal people I have met here.
Monica Adams decided to pursue the social work profession because she always enjoyed working with and helping people. “In Jr. High I was a Candy Striper at a local hospital. In high school I worked in a daycare center. I initially wanted to be a teacher, but felt I could make a greater impact as a social worker.
FACULTY

Edgardo Mansilla grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied at the International Theological Baptist Seminary, in Buenos Aires, receiving a bachelor’s and a Licentiate in Theology and a Master’s in Social Work at the Carver School of Social Work. He spent most his professional life serving  low income families Read more .

Kent faculty are actively involved in the community as well as the classroom and are often featured in the news media, speak at conferences, involved in community projects, and more. This newsletter edition features: Drs. Emma Sterrett-Hong, Lesley Harris, Karen Kayser, Eli Karam, Armon Perry, Stephanie Prost, Jennifer Middleton, Maurice Gattis, and Bibhuti Sar.
May 2020 Graduation Virtual Event #UofLGrads2020

Congratulations to our graduates! Although we regret the cancellation of Spring Commencement, the University and the Kent School of Social Work still want to celebrate this achievement of our graduating class. We have a special video to celebrate our Kent graduates that will be available on Kent's website and social media to view beginning May 9th at 10 am . Please be sure to visit the website to watch the video and leave congratulatory comments on Kent's social media for our graduating Class of 2020! The University online celebration can be viewed here
In response to COVID-19 and to continue ensuring the safety and well-being of all of our campus community, all summer term 2020 courses will be delivered online. Kent School Summer Course Dates: May 11-July 25. More information available online.
Send Kent School news, events and announcements for the next newsletter to the editor, Diandre Glover-Thomas