BUSSW Celebrates 2022 MSW & PhD Graduates at In-Person Ceremony
Boston University School of Social Work celebrated its newest class of graduates on Thursday, May 19, at the School’s 2022 Commencement ceremony at the Walter Brown Arena.
More than 300 students were awarded the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the School’s multiple campuses and program formats, including the Charles River On-Campus Program, the Online Program, the Worcester Hybrid Program, and the Off-Campus Program.
Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor At-Large, gave the convocation address.
Three student speakers also took the stage:
- Katherine Ferrier Romagnoli, Off-Campus Program (Fall River)
- Santiago Miguel Thompson, Charles River On-Campus Program
- Claire Elizabeth Wittek, Online Program
After inspiring addresses from the student speakers, Clinical Associate Professor Janice Furlong presented prizes and gifts to thirteen graduating students:
- The Saul and David Bernstein Prize for group work students who demonstrate outstanding merit in the classroom and the field was awarded to Joshua Borges and Katherine Ferrier Romagnoli.
- The Herbert R. Strean Memorial Prize for psychodynamically oriented clinical practice students who demonstrate outstanding merit was awarded to Riley Elizabeth Shaffer and Lauren Startup.
- The Carl D’Ettore Memorial Prize for a clinical practice student placed in a health care setting who demonstrates outstanding merit was awarded to Gloria Wing-See Ng.
- The Sarah B. Lange Changemaker’s Prize for macro practice students who demonstrate commitment to social justice through work, community service, volunteerism and/or field placement was awarded to Nihaarika Sharma and Courtney White.
- The Dean’s Award for Leadership in Social Work for a part-time student who demonstrates outstanding merit in the classroom, field and community was awarded to Alyssa Mareiro.
- The Faculty Award for Excellence in Social Work Practice for students who demonstrate outstanding merit in the classroom, field and community was awarded to Heather Hoi-Yi Ho and Santiago Miguel Thompson.
- The Frances (Frankie) Frank Award for outstanding students in the Advanced Lowy-GEM Program in Aging and/or Aging Specialization was awarded to Allyson McHugh and Tay Wensley.
- The Online Program Leadership Award for an online student who demonstrates outstanding leadership excellence in the classroom and the field was awarded to Luan Hu.
Associate Dean Wade Taylor presented the Excellence in Teaching Award to Faith Little, a longtime lecturer who has inspired and supported countless students in her Social Work Research I and II classes; and Dean Jorge Delva and Denita Johnson, assistant dean of field education, presented the class gift, a contribution to the Judith Perlstein Field Education Fund which will support future MSW field interns at BUSSW.
The awarding of diplomas and hooding marked the official transition from student to graduate. Dean Jorge Delva conferred the MSW degrees, and Associate Professor Daniel P. Miller, director of the PhD program, conferred the doctoral degrees to the four graduating students from BUSSW’s PhD in Social Work program:
Rachel S. John, MSW, MPH
- Dissertation: Cultural Stress and Behavioral Health: A Mixed Methods Study of Indian American Youth in the United States
- Hooder: Maryann Amodeo
Kendall G. Morris, MSW, LCSW
- Dissertation: The Tale of Two Cities: A Qualitative Investigation of the Experiences of Black Survivors of Homicide Victims in Boston and Detroit
- Hooder: Judith Scott
Megan Smith, MSW
- Dissertation: Situating Homelessness, Criminal Legal System Involvement, and Eviction as Interlocking Mechanisms: Toward Generating Structural and Contextualized Policy and Practice Recommendations to Further Social Justice for Those Impacted
- Hooder: Thomas Byrne
Catalina Tang Yan, MS
- Dissertation: Narratives And Critical Reflections From Researchers And Community Stakeholders Interrogating Power and Oppression While Working In Coalition Towards Racial, Economic, And Social Justice: Recommendations For Social Work Research and Practice
- Hooder: Linda Sprague Martinez
With the degrees conferred, Dean Delva gave closing remarks congratulating the Class of 2022 on their incredible achievements. “We know you will change this world for the better – and we are better for having taught and worked with you.”
Photo Highlights
All photos by Dana J. Quigley Photography
