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Distinguished Alumni Awards

Distinguished Alumni Awards and Distinguished Recent Alumni Awards honor outstanding UNC School of Social Work alumni for their leadership, passion, commitment, and contributions to the field of social work each year. The awards are presented annually during our School’s commencement ceremony in May.

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have achieved distinction in the social work field, who embody social work values and who carry our mission of service into the world. To qualify, a nominee must be a graduate of the School and meet a combination of the following criteria:

  • Have demonstrated outstanding leadership and have made significant contributions to the field of social work.
  • Have demonstrated a deep commitment to high ethical social work standards.
  • Have developed and/or implemented major innovations that have improved the quality of life for members in the individual’s community.
  • Have benefited an individual’s clients, the professional community, and the social work profession through special contributions, advocacy, and involvement in professional, civic, or community organizations.
  • Have worked as an effective advocate for social work issues.

The Distinguished Recent Alumni Award to recognizes recent graduates for achievements that have brought credit to the school, the social work profession or society. To qualify, nominees must meet the following criteria:

  • Have demonstrated accomplishment in the social work profession or society.
  • Have demonstrated a high level of community involvement.
  • Have graduated within the past 10 years.

The Nomination Process

You are invited to help identify and nominate candidates for recognition. Nominees must be a graduate of UNC School of Social Work (either MSW or Ph.D.) to be considered for this award. Nominations must be received by March 29, 2024 to be considered for the award presentation in May.

How to Nominate

To nominate an individual, please use the nomination form linked from the button below. You may submit more than one nomination by submitting each nomination separately via this form.


Past Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award

In some years, no award was presented.

2023
Karen Randolph, Ph.D. ’00 (Distinguished Alumni Award)
Charity S. Watkins, MSW ’13, Ph.D. ’19 (Distinguished Recent Alumni Award)

Prior to 2023, all awards were Distinguished Alumni Awards:

2022
Lori Messinger, MSW ’96, Ph.D. ’99
Nora El-Khouri Spencer, MSW ’17

2021
Sydney Batch, MSW ’06
Tanya Smith Brice, Ph.D. ’03
Bobby Cagle, MSW ’98
Ebon Freeman-James, MSW ’02
Jill Gammon, MSW ’72
Charrise Hart, MSW ’13
Rick Miller-Harraway, MSW ’89

2019
Susanna Stepp Birdsong ’08
Noel Sebastian Bost ’96
Jessica Nakell Burroughs ’98
Mia Ives-Rublee ’09
Marcia Lynn White ’78

2018
Veronica Creech ’98
Constance Fraser Gray ’91
Mark A. Oliver ’98
Anna Marie Scheyett ’89
Jovetta L. Whitfield ’95

2017
Sharon Warren Cook ’95
Dana Courtney ’74
Karen McLeod
Phyllis Thomas-Thorpe ’82
Irene Zipper ’73

2016
Gary Bowen ’76
Desdemona Faison ’85
Justin Perry ’09
Stephen Douglas Trantham ’92

2015
Easter Maynard ’97
Michael Newton-Ward ’84

2014
Seanee Garris Alexander ’99
Mary Deyampert-McCall ’80
Chris Estes ’00

2010
JoAnn McCatchern Swart ’78
Myrna Miller Wellons ’96

2009
Bobby Boyd ’69
Ella Craig ’50
Michelle Hughes ’95
Constance Renz ’74

2008
Diann Dawson ’74
Debra Jenkins ’77
Amanda Stone ’94

2007
Holly Bowles Blanton ’77
Isabel Geffner ’02

2006
Connie Bonebrake ’86
Louise Coggins ’80
Robert Gorman ’78

2005
Edwin Chapin ’67
Gay Morris ’81
Matt Sullivan ’97
Gail Varley ’80

2003 
Sarah Austin ’64
Andrea Bazan Manson ’95

2002
Molly Barker ’89
Sonja “Yvette” Murphy ’90
Robert Stump ’69

2001
McCray Benson ’90
William Pollard ’69

2000 
Bill Brittain ’65
Marilyn Maxwell ’72

1999
Linda Miller Summer ’48

1997 
Ruby Demesme ’79

1996
Frank Raymond ’65

1995 
Martha Beach ’75

1993
Yangcha Crabb ’74

1992
Sandra Mastin Cook ’74