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School well-represented at SSWR annual conference

The UNC School of Social Work was well-represented at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 19th Annual Conference, Jan. 14-18, in New Orleans.

This conference is the major place where social work researchers meet to share ideas and findings from research. It was formed, in part, to accelerate the contribution of social work to the evidence base for practice and, alternatively, to provide more rigorous information about the impact of public policies.

Conference presenters this year included faculty members David Ansong, Sarah Bledsoe, Gary Bowen, Natasha Bowen, Gina Chowa, Trenette Clark, Allison De Marco, Mat Despard, Dean Duncan, Mark Fraser, Matthew Howard, Anne Jones, Paul Lanier, Rebecca Macy, Sarah Marsh, Gary Nelson, Roderick Rose, Paul Smokowski, Susan Snyder, C. Joy Stewart, Amy Blank Wilson and Lisa Zerden; doctoral students Kanisha Coleman, Katie Cotter, Caroline Evans, Will Hall, Todd Jensen, Candace Killian-Farrell, Wen Li, Brianna Lombardi, Rainier Masa, Jennifer O’Brien, Jenna Tucker, Charity Sneed Watkins, Kevin White, Christopher Wretman, Qi Wu, Shiyou Wu and Angela You; and MSW students Justin Kretzschmar, Cathy Nguyen and Hannah Welch.

Assistant Professor Trenette Clark was presented the prestigious 2015 Society for Social Work and Research Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award. In conferring the award, the Society recognized that her accomplishments reflect innovative scholarship, a rigorous approach to social work research, and work that exhibits an emerging influence in the field and her contribution to advance the profession is noteworthy. Read full story

Faculty members Natasha Bowen, Rebecca MacyRoderick Rose and Paul Smokowski were inducted into the 2015 Class of Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research at an awards presentation, as were doctoral alumnae Darcy Seibert (Ph.D. ’01) and Patricia Kohl (Ph.D. ’06).

Matthew Howard, Frank A. Daniels Distinguished Professor for Human Services Policy Information, was selected to deliver this year’s Aaron Rosen Lecture, which was on Friday, Jan. 16 at 1:15 p.m. “This is an amazing honor bestowed by SSWR and our social work academic colleagues,” said Dean Jack Richman. “It denotes great respect and esteem for Matthew’s work, and admiration for his positive impact on our profession.”

The School hosted a reception in conjunction with the conference, on Jan. 16 from 7:45 to 9:00 p.m. in Galerie I at the New Orleans Marriott.

Story updated 1/21/15