SSW Weekly Update: 10-20-25

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Social Welfare Faculty Awarded Seed Grants to Advance Groundbreaking Research

Professors Amy Hammock, PhD, MSW, and Kristen Brock-Petroshius, PhD, MSW, have been selected as recipients of SBU’s Office for Research and Innovation’s Seed Grant Program Award.

The OVPR Seed Grant Program is designed to catalyze innovative scholarship by supporting preliminary research that can evolve into larger, externally funded projects. Faculty were asked to submit an abstract and a brief proposal, including a timeline that demonstrated how the seed funding would help to develop a highly competitive proposal for extramural funding.

Dr. Brock-Petroshius’s project is focused on researching messages to build support for transgender youth-affirming policies in the domains of healthcare and sports.

Dr. Hammock, in collaboration with Alina Denham (Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine) and Mohammad Delasay (College of Business), is conducting research focused on New York State Medicaid reform to address health-related social needs. Their research will focus on improving operations and access to services.

Congratulations to Dr. Hammock, her colleagues, and Dr. Brock-Petroshius on this well-deserved recognition of their impactful and forward-thinking research!

Professor Monahan’s Telehealth Competency Course Featured at National Conference

An innovative interprofessional course taught by Associate Professor Kathleen Monahan, DSW, during the summer of 2024, was recently featured at the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) Conference in Indianapolis.

Dale Coffey, EdD, OTR L,

clinical associate professor and chairperson, Department of Occupational Therapy, presented on the course’s design and outcomes, which address the growing need for future clinicians to master telehealth competencies in communication, patient safety, equity, and ethics while working collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.

The eight-session curriculum engaged students from medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, and social work in patient simulations, fostering a deeper understanding of diverse professional roles and the complex needs of patients in virtual care settings.

Dale A. Coffin Ed.D, OTR/L, Clinical Associate Professor & Chairperson Department of Occupational Therapy

This roundtable discussion will feature SSW Student

Kamilah Pasha, presenting on “Mental Health ToolBox”

Social Work Interns Making an Impact in Local Libraries

This year, 28 social work students are placed across 30 libraries in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Collectively, they've already logged over 200 encounters—connecting patrons to vital resources, supporting access to food and housing, and helping libraries remain safe, trauma-informed, and welcoming spaces for all.

When You Can’t Get to the Job Fair…Bring the Job Fair to You!

Clinical Lecturer Haylee Hebenstreit, PhD, LMSW, ensured her CPPSA (570) class didn’t miss out on career opportunities.

Since the students couldn’t attend the SBU job fair, she brought it directly to them — connecting future social workers with agencies and employers right in the classroom.

2025 Dean’s Challenge:

Help the SSW Bring Home

Our Third Consecutive Win!

Your support helps us secure a $250 book scholarship for one of our students — let’s make it happen again!

Tickets are FREE! Come on your own or bring friends, family, co-workers, and join your SSW family for a spirit filled afternoon!

Get Tickets Here

Join Zoom Here

The Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility supports both critical and applied scholarship while creating opportunities for social action and policy engagement for faculty, students, and the broader New School community.

Visit their website to explore a full calendar of upcoming free workshops, seminars, and conferences focused on migration, mobility, and global justice: https://zolberginstitute.org/about/