Students, faculty and their families swarmed to the Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building on Saturday, Nov. 9, for the event, celebrating the season with yard games, crafts and fellowship with their classmates and friends.
Hosted by the School’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs, the event also featured food, a mobile ice cream truck, and a raffle with School of Social Work swag. Group wellness activities were hosted and student and staff groups — including the School’s Global Caucus and a pair of peer well-being coaches — were featured.
Check out more of the scenes from this month’s Fall Festival.
UNC School of Social Work’s Registrar Beth Sauer, left, Assistant Dean, Recruitment, Admissions and Financial Aid Sharon Thomas, center, and Assistant Director of Admissions, Recruitment, and Financial Aid Caroline Blessing, right, welcome students, faculty and their families to the Fall Festival 2024.
Two-year MSW macro student Priskila Arulpragasam paints a pumpkin at the Fall Festival 2024.
Ph.D. student Joan Wangui Wanyama invites students to learn more about the School’s Global Caucus.
Students and members of the School’s Global Caucus were a part of the Fall Festival 2024 wellness activities.
Jong Seo Won shows off his pumpkins during Fall Festival 2024.
Debby Kanemerea works on her pumpkin during the Fall Festival 2024.
Not only were School of Social Work students and faculty invited to the Fall Festival 2024, but family members made visits as well.
School of Social Works students Justis Mitchell, left, Jen Persia, center, and Emma DeMartino, right, hang out at the Fall Festival 2024.
Many students shared how meaningful it was to experience this collective joy and build a sense of belonging within our school community. Hearing them speak about the event’s impact on their feeling of togetherness was truly heartwarming. The Fall Festival was more than just a gathering — it was a celebration of community, camaraderie, and the shared journey of social work.
— Andrea Murray-Lichtman, Associate Dean for MSW Education
Festival goers grab food during the Fall Festival 2024.
School of Social Work students grab plates of food from Al’s Burger Shack.
Alsies Ice Cream Truck also made a visit to the Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building.
Master of Social Work students Kristen Key, left, and Samantha Cohane, right, pose for a photo at the festival with their friend Julie Bugg.
Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson, Executive Assistant Aisha Stocks, and Associate Dean for MSW Education Andrea Murray-Lichtman pose for a photo at the Fall Festival 2024.
Master of Social Work student Kate Wirth, left, and her parents, Karen and Peter, attended the Fall Festival 2024.
Kate Wirth, from left, Jonathan McLamb, Lindsey Cunnane, Alexys Weigl, and David Balter hang out at the Fall Festival 2024.
Third-year MSW student Kierra Campbell, left, and Director of Digital Learning and Instruction Tina Souders, right, smile for the camera.
Master of Social Work student David Balter blows bubbles.
Nikki Lentz, left, and Zoe Sawdon, right, pose at the Fall Festival 2024.
Advanced standing students Lauren Bryant, left, and Breanna Bivens, right, hang out at the Fall Festival 2024.
This is the first event of its kind in nearly five years and it was a wonderful opportunity to connect faculty and students outside of the classroom. It also provided a time for folks to bring their families and loved ones to a SSW event and introduce them to part of their graduate school community.
— Sharon Thomas, Assistant Dean of Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid
Master of Social Work student Roxanna Keesler brought her dog to the Fall Festival 2024.
Peer Well-being Coach Min Jae Kim hosts a table at the Fall Festival 2024.
Clinical Assistant Professor Sasha Frinzl and her daughter share ice cream.
Coordinator of Student Affairs Carly Walters, from left, Executive Assistant Aisha Stocks, Michael Cammer, and Administrative Support Specialist Jessica Cammer welcome visitors to the Fall Festival 2024.
Ph.D. student Emmanuel Amoako, left, and Clinical Instructor Adam Milano hang out by the festival’s raffle table.
Assistant Dean, Recruitment, Admissions and Financial Aid Sharon Thomas, left, and MSW student MaryAshley Moody attend the Fall Festival 2024.
Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson, left, has lunch with students during the festival.
Master of Social Work student Lauren Wallace, right, and her partner Garrett Hubbard take in the festival.
Ima Varghese Mac smiles while painting a pumpkin.
Al’s Burger Shack served up food for lunch at the Fall Festival 2024.
Seeing students, staff and faculty from every part of our SSW community come together to enjoy the festival was incredibly rewarding!
— Jessica Cammer, Administrative Support Specialist
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