September 28, 2020
Pitt School of Social Work Weekly E-blast
Welcome to our new look! We'd love to hear from you! Please share our e-blast with your contacts and send any story ideas to shm87@pitt.edu.
Pitt Social Work releases anti-racist statement
We hold ourselves responsible and accountable for assuring that the Pitt School of Social Work fully embraces and embodies anti-racism. See the whole statement and commitment to action steps here.
September retirements include some long-standing staffers
This September 30th will be the last day for some of the longest serving members of Pitt Social Work's staff, including: Mary Pat Elhattab, Academic Administrator for the BASW Program; Marcia Piel, Recorder, Academic Administrator; and Rosie Rinella, Executive Assistant to the Dean. Read more.
Faculty members pens article about improving interprofessional gerontology skills
Research Associate Professor Mary Beth Rauktis worked with Pitt School Of Social Work, Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education (HPPAE) students, alumni, and faculty and guest consultants to create the Guide for aging in place with pets in Allegheny County. The guide has modules for professionals, caregivers and pet owners. The final section is a list of resources and appendices. Get the guide online.

Rauktis also penned "Food Security Challenges and Health Opportunities of Companion Animal Ownership for Low-Income Adults" for the Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, along with Hyunji Lee, Laura Bickel, Holly Giovengo, Madeline Nagel, and Helen Cahalane.
Former Dean Davis spoke about race in America
Dean Emeritus Dr. Larry Davis's September 22nd lecture “Will Race Always Matter?” was sponsored by the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy at University of Pittsburgh and Pitt’s Honors College. Read about the talk in the Tribune-Review.
Alumna's COSA work faces challenges due to COVID-19
When unprecedented hardship struck Pittsburgh's Latino population, Pitt School of Social Work alumna, and Executive Director of Casa San Jose, Monica Ruiz took action. Read more in PITT Magazine.
PhD student co-authors article
Doctoral student Cortney VanHook, MS, MPH, MSW co-authored "Racial Identity, Masculinities, and Violence Exposure: Perspectives From Male Adolescents in Marginalized Neighborhoods" in the latest issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
New Alumni Speaker Series will feature Tracy Soska
This Wednesday, September 30th at noon, Tracy Soska, Pitt Social Work Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus, will speak about his journey from Pitt Social Work’s MSW program to his current community organizing work. Register here.
ICYMI: SSW Speaker Series now online
"Social Work Speaker Series: Juvenile Delinquency and Violence: Ecological Factors" by
Dr. Mona Khoury-Kassabri, Dean, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Watch on YouTube.
Upcoming Events

  • September 29, 2020: CSWE's "Countdown 2020: A Voting is Social Work Webinar" 1pm. Register here.

  • September 29, 2020: Being Latinx in Academia: Navigation, Support, and Mentoring of Graduate Students and Faculty with panelist Social Work PhD student Ana Flores. 3-4pm. Register here.

  • September 29, 2020: SEC Presents: Anti-Racist Yoga. 5:30-6:30 pm. Zoom Meeting ID: 941 2782 9100

  • September 30, 2020: Alumni Speaker Series: Tracy Soska. 12pm-1pm. Register here.

  • September 30, 2020: Present and Represented: Latinx Mental Health Research, Practice, and Experience in Pittsburgh with host Social Work PhD student Ana Flores. 6-7pm. Register here.

  • October 2, 2020: Continuing Education: Issue’s In the Tissue: Body Oriented Therapy and Our Innate Healing Capacities. 9am-4pm. Register here.

  • October 3, 2020: VIRTUAL Mon-Valley HIV/AIDS Awareness Walk 2020. 9am. Register here.

  • October 5, 2020: "Intergenerational Conversations about Gender & Sexuality" with Darren Whitfield. 6:30-7:30pm. Register here.

  • October 19, 2020: Distinguished Alumni Awards Virtual Celebration. 5:30pm-8pm. More information.

For a complete listing of upcoming events please visit the