UNC School of Social Work faculty, staff and students attended the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting (APM) from Oct. 26–29, 2023, in Atlanta, Ga. This year’s APM theme was “It’s Time to Act: Defining and Reckoning With Anti-Racist Social Work Education.” School of Social Work attendees presented on topics ranging from off-site field instruction to peer support to address wellness crises. The School also hosted a reception for alumni and friends and had a strong presence in the exhibit hall throughout the weekend.
Associate Professor Lisa de Saxe Zerden presents the oral paper “Social Work and Dental Education: Addressing Behavioral Health through Praxis.”
Left: Associate Dean for DEI Travis Albritton, Sofia Lawrence ’25 (MSW) and Shawnesi Russell ’25 (MSW) present an interactive workshop on “Centering Blackness: Professor and Student Perspectives on Creating and Maintaining an Anti-Racist Classroom.” Center: Albritton, Russell and Lawrence pose for a photo. Right: The presenters are joined by Selena Nguyen ’25 (MSW), Devon Pelto ’25 (MSW) and Clinical Associate Professor Laurie Selz-Campbell.
Clinical Assistant Professors Amy Levine and Karon Johnson, and Director of Practicum Education Andrea Murray-Lichtman conduct the panel discussion “Anti-Racism Practice Within Criminal Legal Settings: Infiltration vs. Assimilation.” The presentation also included contributions from Amaya Wallace ’24 (MSW) and Ian Goymer.
School Director of Wellness Robin Sansing (left), Whitley Harris (center) ’24 (MSW) and Melinda Hunt (right) ’24 (MSW), present the interactive workshop “Sharing the Load: Peer Supports Key to Addressing Wellness Crises Among Social Work Students.” Harris and Hunt completed their practicum placements as peer well-being coaches at the School during the 2022–23 academic year.
Friday evening, the School hosted a reception at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Faculty, friends, alumni and colleagues stopped by to catch up, network, take photos and enjoy an evening of fellowship together. The room was adorned in Carolina blue, including a flower wall and neon sign.
Graduate College of Social Work Associate Professor Sheara Jennings (left), UNC School of Social Work Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson (center) and University of Tennessee College of Social Work Dean Lori Messinger (right) ’96 (MSW), ’99 (Ph.D.).
Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson and former School of Social Work Dean Richard Edwards.
School of Social Work students Sofia Lawrence ’25 (MSW), Selena Nguyen ’25 (MSW), Shawnesi Russell ’25 (MSW) and Devon Pelto ’25 (MSW) pose for a photo.
School of Social Work colleagues pose for a photo in front of the flower wall during the reception.
Day 3: Faculty and Student Presentations
Devon Pelto ’25 (MSW) and Selena Nguyen ’25 (MSW) present an interactive workshop titled “Anti-Racist Social Work Education for Substance Use Disorder.”
School of Social Work faculty and students pose for a photo with Pelto and Nguyen after their presentation concludes.
Clinical Associate Professor Ronni Zuckerman (center) and Clinical Assistant Professors Amy Levine (not pictured) and Jessica Lambert Ward (left) present the interactive workshop “Dynamic Discussions About Off-Site Field Instruction: Strategies for Success” that allowed attendees to break off into small groups for further discussion.
UNC School of Social Work community members came away from CSWE’s 2023 Annual Program Meeting gaining valuable knowledge and building connections with social workers around the country. See everyone in Kansas City, Mo. in 2024!
