SSW Weekly Update - 3-27-25 Revised

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Celebrating the Profession of Social Work

The School of Social Welfare hosted its third annual luncheon this week to celebrate Social Work month. We recognized the significant contributions of social workers at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook University Hospital, the Long Island State Veterans Home, and satellite campuses on Long Island. The event brought together more than 120 social workers, many of whom are SSW alums, for lunch and networking with peers and SSW faculty and staff.

UPCOMING

More information

Join virtual sessions here

Students, Professor Deliver Suitcases Full of Supplies

Dr. Anna Hayward and three Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine students, Rohini Guin, Julian Maceren, and Raisa Karim, traveled to Havana, Cuba over spring break where they met with University of Havana faculty and researchers at Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) to learn about medical innovations in Cuba. Before their trip, the team successfully raised over $800 and received donations of medication and clothing. These essential items were then donated to ESPIRAL, a program dedicated to empowering women affected by domestic violence

as well as single mothers raising children with down syndrome, and America Arias, the maternity hospital where over 90% of babies are born in Havana. Many connections for future collaborations were made and the group plans to return to Cuba next year. Students who are interested in future trips to Cuba can contact Dr. Hayward directly: anna.hayward@sbu

GRADUATION

Graduation Photos for Manhattan Students

Graduating students can schedule graduation photos at Thornton Studios located at

210 West 29th Street. Visit the website at

www.ThorntonStudio.com

Use Code: studio

For any questions, contact info@ThorntonStudio.com

Attention Graduating Students!

Consider submitting a speech for the Stony Brook University Commencement Speaker Competition! You must be registered to graduate in May 2025 and the speech can be no longer than five minutes. Submissions are due

Friday, April 4, by 4 pm

Click here for more information

PRE-REGISTER FOR GRADUATION DAY PHOTOS

Island Photography will be taking photos

at the SSW ceremony. If you are interested in viewing/purchasing your photos, pre-registration is required.

Pre-register here

OPPORTUNITIES

OMH Pipeline

Application portal is live, and applications are due by Friday, April 18

More information and application.

2025-2026 SAMHSA funded CSWE MFP Award is now open!

MSW fellowship Opportunity for Final Year or Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Students Committed to Mental Health Services to Underserved Communities.

All current first year students who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply by the May 19 deadline.

Did You Know?

For 6 years, at least 1 of our MSW students has been awarded and they benefited greatly from the mentorship, free professional development opportunities, attendance to CSWE conference, and generous stipend during their second year.

Interested students can also contact

Dr. Melissa Bessaha at Melissa.Bessaha@stonybrook.edu

More information about applying can be found here.

Fellowship Opportunities for Undergraduates & Graduates

The 2025 fellowship application season begins soon and there are a full slate of information sessions coming up to learn more about these external funding opportunities! More information can be found on the calendar event pages.

SSW Well Represented at The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) Conference

Clinical Associate Professors, Leah Topek-Walker, Jeanette Lukas, Hyacinth Spence, along with Suzanne Velazquez, Undergraduate Program Director & Clinical Professor,

attended The Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) conference in Las Vegas last week. Lukas, Spence and Topek-Walker presented on Simulations. Professor Lukas serves on the Board of Directors for BPD. Warren Graham, SSW Adjunct Professor & Associate Dean of Practicum Learning at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, had a poster presentation which won an award. Stony Brook University was recognized for supporting 2 students at the 42nd annual conference.

Student Initiative

BSW students Jennifer Zhuo, Meiqi Zeng, and Georgia Vourou from HWC 310 with Professor Haylee Hebenstreit have launched an advocacy project to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Their initiative, "Retributive Reform," focuses on ending the Three-Strikes Law and advocating for a justice policy that considers intersectionality rather than punitive sentencing.This BSW project collaborates with existing advocacy efforts led by organizations such as the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), amplifying their work to promote meaningful policy change.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Sponsored by USWA

It’s time to nominate student leaders for your affinity groups for next academic year! Please take a moment to complete this nomination form by April 6. You can nominate any student (including yourself) who will be enrolled for the 25-26 academic year. We are currently looking for student leaders for the 2025-2026 academic year for the following four affinity groups:

Black Affinity Group (promoting academic success, celebrating Black culture, and fostering a sense of belonging)
Bridges of Unity (supporting students impacted by immigration)
Marsha P. Johnson Legacy Affinity Group (creating an inclusive and supportive community for LGBTQ+ students)
Success Circle (supportive community for returning learners and parenting students)

Interested in starting a new affinity group? Find at least three students (who will still be enrolled in the 2025-26 academic year) who are willing to play a leadership role in the group. Then send an email request to start a new affinity group, the focus of the group, and names and contact info of the three student leaders to Dr. Kristen Brock-Petroshius at kristen.brock-petroshius@stonybrook.edu