Skip to main content

Student briefs: Absher, Brodziak, Cash, Gadd, Harrison, Jensen, Mercer, Wessel, Yoselle

Lauren Absher, who interned this year at NASW-NC, has compiled an e-book for the organization, entitled “The Odd Couple? Social Work and Politics in North Carolina.” Available as a free download, this 32-page publication is intended as a tool to highlight the fit of social work presence in politics and advocacy. It profiles social workers from across North Carolina who use their social work degrees to actively shape the systems in which we practice.

Two students have received post-graduate fellowships after they graduate in May. Kerry Brodziak will be at the Dept. of Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Julia Wessel will be at the Yale Child Development Center.

Antoinetta Cash was a presenter in an April 11 National Child Welfare Workforce Institute webinar for students entitled, “Transitioning Your Child Welfare Career After Graduation.” The webinar addressed some of the questions and concerns students and recent grads have about transitioning their careers after graduation. Cash addressed rural social work and the importance of self-care for child welfare workers. She is a North Carolina Child Welfare Workforce Leadership Scholar and a child protective services investigator with the Person County Department of Social Services.

Jenny Gadd was interviewed on March 29 on 103.5 Carrboro Community Radio, about her advocacy and work with mental health group homes. Listen (mp3)

Allison Harrison, a graduating Community, Management and Policy Practice concentration student, spoke at an April 10 Voter ID hearing. The House Elections Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would require voters to present photo identification at the polls. The hearing was recorded by WRAL-TV, and Harrison appears in this video at about the 2 hour 26 minute mark.

A research study by Todd Jensen, incoming doctoral student, is featured in an April 9 article on ScienceBlog.com, entitled “Research shows stepdads how to avoid missteps.”

Rex Mercer organized a School of Social Work team to walk in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro CROP Hunger Walk on April 21.  All proceeds were for hunger relief programs.

Julie Yoselle is organizing a School of Social Work team called the “Stigma Busters” for the NAMI Walk on May 4 in Raleigh. NAMI is the largest advocacy organization for persons living with mental illness and offers support, education and resources to people who live with mental illness, their families and friends. The money raised by our team will be shared between NAMI NC and NAMI Orange. Everyone is invited to join the team and walk, or to sponsor. Contact jyoselle@med.unc.edu with questions.

Julie Yoselle, Jenny Gadd, and other students have come together to form a student Mental Health Caucus through SOWOSO, the social work student organization. They have started a Facebook group for the caucus. Faculty member Bebe Smith is advising the caucus.