May 2008—Volume Three, Issue Five    |    Penn Matters Archive

Dean's Welcome-New Beginnings

Last week, SP2 was abuzz with talk of endings: classmates talked about writing last papers, faculty talked about grading final assignments, and friends talked about attending last classes together. But if April is known for its endings, then May is surely the month of beginnings - for students and alumni alike.

On May 19, we will graduate approximately 160 students from the MSW, PhD, and NPL programs, and celebrate the accomplishments of the students in the MSSP program. Commencement means “beginning,” and for our students, “beginning” is exactly what will happen. They will begin careers in social work, social welfare, social policy and nonprofit/nongovernmental leadership. They will begin the journey to become leaders in their fields and make new strides in the struggles for social justice. And they will begin their lifelong role as alumni of the School of Social Policy & Practice.

So it is only fitting that Alumni Weekend and Reunion 2008 take place just days before the Commencement ceremonies. If past years are any indication, May 16 and 17 will once again be a time of new beginnings for alumni. I invite you to return to campus to reconnect with friends and classmates, re-engage with your alma mater, and celebrate what it means to be a Penn alum. As an alumnus/a, you are part of a phenomenal community that spans the globe. In this issue of Penn Matters, you will find highlights and updates from alumni and faculty in our local, national, and international communities who work to bring about new beginnings every day.

I look forward to seeing you at Alumni Weekend in two weeks.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Gelles, PhD
Dean

Feature Article

Reconnect and Reengage at Alumni Weekend and Reunion 2008
Whether you’re looking to socialize with old friends, learn about a new area of social work practice, or enjoy a family-friendly picnic, Alumni Weekend has it all. And for alumni celebrating a Reunion this year, there is even more reason to return for the festivities. For the fourth year in a row, the School will be hosting a Reunion Reception at the Union League of Philadelphia for all reunion-year alumni and their guests. (Not sure if this is a reunion year for you? If your graduation year ends in a ‘3’ or an ‘8’, you’re a reunion-year alum.) In its short history, this event has become an immensely popular tradition at the School, attracting more than 100 guests in 2007.

Click here for complete article

School News

Dr. Spigner Receives Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching
Carol Wilson Spigner, DSW, the Kenneth L.M. Pray Distinguished Professor/Clinician Educator in the School, is a recipient of the 2008 Lindback Awards for Distinguished Teaching. As reported in the Almanac, “her students praise her ability to inspire and support them while challenging their assumptions: ‘I received a B+,’ reports one alumnus, ‘and I was more proud of it than any ‘A’ I received during my academic career.’ They also note her skill at transmitting her experience and knowledge without dominating the classroom.
Read more.

SP2 Announces the Creation of The Second Century Society
The School of Social Policy & Practice is now 100 years old and stronger than ever! The School is committed to ensuring that SP2 continues to be a leader in social work education and embody Penn’s historical commitment to social justice for at least another 100 years. Toward this end, the Dean has created the Second Century Society for the School’s most loyal alumni and friends who wish to consider SP2 in their estate planning. A planned gift offers a viable alternative that provides resources and creates extraordinary opportunities to help preserve the School’s future. There are myriad gift options from which to choose – from naming SP2 as a beneficiary of a will to a more complex trust arrangement.
Read more.

Continuing Education Survey
The SP2 Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development is conducting a brief survey to garner feedback on its programs. Alumni and other area social workers are invited to complete the survey so that the School can best shape its CE programs to meet the needs of the professional social worker in the Philadelphia region. Click here to complete the survey. For more about the programs offered by the Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development, click here.

Alumni News

Amy Cirincione, MSW’05, is a field therapist at Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Programs in Oregon. She authored an essay about the work that she is doing that appeared in the March/April issue of The Pennsylvania Gazette. Click here to read the full Gazette article.

Faculty Notes

Our full- and part-time faculty are leaders in research and practice. They are experts in fields such as gerontology, child welfare, family violence, international social work, homelessness, mental health and health. This section of our newsletter will keep you up to date on the most recent research accomplishments of the School of Social Policy & Practice faculty.

Richard Estes, DSW, has been on sabbatical during the Semester. The bulk of his sabbatical has been divided between Hong Kong (China), Seoul (Korea) and Mangalore (India).  In each country he has been hosted by local universities as a Visiting Professor to provide a series of lectures on "Social Work, Social Welfare and Social Development". Dr. Estes will return to teaching at Penn in September.

Femida Handy, PhD, will be promoted to full professor with tenure effective July 1, 2008. Additionally, she was invited to give a four day seminar at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Governance, Accountability and Ethics in Nonprofits in April, 2008.

Eileen R. Heisman, a part time faculty member and President & CEO of the National Philanthropic Trust, has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising at New York University. The Heyman Center enrolls about 1,000 students per year and offers 30 courses each semester on every aspect of fundraising and grantmaking, including ethical issues, planned giving, state and federal laws, and technology. Ms. Heisman is a nationally-recognized expert on philanthropy and planned giving, and frequently is engaged as a keynote speaker and panelist at major philanthropic and estate planning conferences. In addition, she was among the first fundraising professionals nationally to earn the distinguished ACFRE certification, and currently serves on the Boards of several charitable organizations. For more about the National Philanthropic Trust, click here.

Alumni in the Field

SP2 alumni are actively engaged in the global community in myriad ways. This month, we highlight two recent alumnae - Anastasia Shown, MSW'07 and Amanda Grant, MSW'07 - whose work with Africa highlights the international scale of social work.

Anastasia Shown, MSW’07
In the 2007 SP2 Review, we highlighted Anastasia Shown, MSW’07, and the ways in which she shaped her social work education to complement her devotion to Africa. Last month we checked in with her to see how she has been putting her passion into practice as the Assistant Director of the African Studies Center (ASC) at Penn.

Simply stated, the position is a perfect fit for Anastasia. The combination of her personal ties to Ghana, the time she spent living there as a student and volunteer, and her critical understanding of the strengths and needs of the continent have created a wealth of knowledge that she is eager to share. For instance, she is quick to point out that Kwame Nkrumah, one of the most influential Pan-Africanists of the 20th century and former president who led Ghana as the first black African country independent from colonial rule, earned two Masters Degrees from Penn.
Read more.

Amanda Grant, MSW’07, leads the Department of Special Education at Sebastian Kolowa University College (SEKUCo) in Magamba, Tanzania. In this role, she not only teaches but is also helping to “develop the school’s and the country’s first special education program.” Amanda points out that her “background as a special education teacher and [her] degrees – a BS in special education from the University of Arizona and an MSW from Penn – laid a dynamic foundation” for the work she is doing now. But even with that background, and the six weeks she spent in Magamba between her first and second years in the MSW program, she explains that “much of her job had to be learned in the country.” Although her first few months in Tanzania included “language lessons and a crash course in university systems,” by October she was “teaching to packed lecture halls.”
Read more.

Future Leaders

Kimmie Weeks, NPL’08, an internationally acclaimed Liberian child rights activist of Youth Action International was a featured speaker at the 2008 Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF), an annual gathering of cutting edge donors committed to international causes. He shared the stage with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former UN Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Virgin Atlantic’s Sir Richard Branson, Google.org’s Lary Brilliant, scholar Samantha Power and singer Annie Lennox in a discussion of “Human Security, Human Rights and the Shared Responsibility to Protect.”

Noel Ramirez, 2009 MSW candidate, has been selected for the 2008 – 2009 Greater Philadelphia Schweitzer Fellows Program. The program, which is one of eight such programs in the nation, aims to help Fellows improve skills in working with communities including basic knowledge about approaches to community work, community outreach, community building, networking, publicity, fundraising, and advocacy; gain exposure to the impact of health disparities and health policies on local communities; learn about other health-related professions; develop their overall capabilities for leadership in service; and align with a voluntary network of over 1,000 Fellows for Life who seek to include service in their personal and professional lives. For more information about the Schweitzer Fellows Program, click here.

Joel Caplan, PhD’08, invented The Eyeriser, a new laptop and document stand that elevates both a laptop screen and documents directly in front of the user. Its design “lets you sit in a more comfortable position, while using tabletop space efficiently.” And, Joel has decided that, “in the spirit of my friends at SP2, and in the tradition of the Doctoral Student Steering Committee (DSSC), a portion of net proceeds raised during the next quarter will be used to buy and then donate new socks, underwear, toiletries, and other items to the New Visions Community Center (Camden Homeless Shelter).” For more information on The Eyeriser, visit www.eyeriser.com.

Upcoming Events

GradFest
Saturday, May 3, 2008
College Green, Wynn Commons, Houston Hall, and The Graduate Student Center
12:00 – 5:00 pm: Carnival, Picnic, Quizzo and Tours
5:00 – 7:00 pm: Reception and Casino
11:30 pm – 2:30 am: Boat Cruise
Open to all current graduate and professional students, and all graduate and professional school alumni. For more information on tickets and events, visit www.gsc.upenn.edu/gradfest.

Reunion 2008
For all SP2 alumni with graduation years ending in ‘3’ or ‘8’ and their guests
Friday, May 16, 2008
5:30 – 7:30pm
Union League of Philadelphia (140 S. Broad Street)
Catered Appetizers, Cash Bar, Music, and more. Reconnect with friends, classmates, and professors. Click here to register.

Alumni Weekend 2008
Featuring the All-Alumni Centennial Picnic
Saturday, May 17
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Caster Courtyard
Fun for the whole family: catered picnic, children’s activities, social activism photography show, tours of the Caster building, and more. Click here to register.

Other Alumni Weekend events include:
- Current Issues Panels on Evidence Based Practice, GIS Mapping, and Enhancing your Social Work Career
- State of the School Address and Networking Luncheon
- Discounted Tickets to Pilobolus Dance Theater
- Class of 2007 Class Gift Dedication

For a full schedule of events, click here.

Kickoff Fundraising Event for the Open Mind Grant for Africa
in Honor of Louise Shoemaker
Hosted by the Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania
Friday, May 30, 2008
6:00 – 8:00 pm
The LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania
3907 Spruce Street, Philadelphia

Tickets:
Before May 1st: $55, $40 students and staff
After May 1st: $75, $60 students and staff

Join the Christian Association in honoring Dr. Louise Shoemaker, SW’65, former Dean of the School of Social Work, for her commitment to social justice issues. The Christian Association is raising $100,000 to establish the Open Mind Grant for Africa in Honor of Louise Shoemaker to award financial grants to undergraduates or social work students to pursue studies or projects that will further social justice in Africa and raise awareness of African issues. For more information on the Kickoff Event and the Open Mind Grant, click here.

Services and Announcements

The SP2 Alumni Relations Office often receives requests to share relevant information with our alumni community. The announcements and advertisements included in this section are posted for the benefit of our alumni. When applicable, we indicate which announcements have been submitted by alumni, but please note that the School cannot always verify the information in these submissions. If you wish to advertise a service or announcement in this section of Penn Matters, please email it to alumnirelations@sp2.upenn.edu.

Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Committee Fundraisers [Alumni Submission]
The Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Committee is planning two fundraisers to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The Committee gives scholarships to students who live within the boundaries of 46th to 52nd Streets and Larchwood to Kingsessing Streets.

Dock Street Brewery and Restaurant
Sunday, May 4, 5:00 – 7:00pm
$30 in advance, $35 at the door. Price includes pizza and beer. There will be a cash bar from 7 – 8pm. 50/50 Raffle, Silent Auction, and Live Music.
Click here to download the flyer.

Abbraccio Restaurant
Friday, May 9, 8:00 – 10:00pm
$25 includes all you can drink draft Yuengling and house red and white wines, and bruschetta and nachos. There will be live music.
Proceeds from both events benefit the Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Committee.
Click here to download the flyer.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Laurie Friedman at lauriefr@msn.com or 215-747-1910.

Academica Centroamericana de Español (ACCE)
A Language and Cultural Immersion Program for Social Workers
The objective of program is to give social workers the opportunity to improve their Spanish language skills, enhance their cultural competency, and learn about the social work profession in Costa Rica. The California Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-CA) assisted in planning this two-week program. Click here for additional information, or visit the ACCE website at www.acce.co.cr.

Wild for WePAC (West Philadelphia Alliance for Children)
WePAC Fundraiser at the Philadelphia Zoo

Saturday, May 17, 2008
Zoo opens at 8:30am for WePAC guests only
Join WePAC and the 2008 Class of the University of Pennsylvania for a day of fun at the Philadelphia Zoo. Guests at the event will enjoy:
- Zoo on Wheels presentation
- Event t-shirt
- Chance to win a balloon ride and other exciting prizes

Program presentations will be given at 9:30, 11:30 and 12:30
(choose to go to any program and roam the zoo at your leisure)

Tickets: $20/adult, $15/ages 2-12
To purchase tickets, call WePAC at 215-452-0333 or email aa@wepac.org

Editor's Note

We are always seeking to better serve our alumni and offer a more convenient way to share news with the Social Policy & Practice community. Penn Matters Online offers a way to highlight happenings and information in a timely manner. It acts as a supplement to the printed Penn Matters , which will still be mailed to you every September. We welcome your feedback and suggestions about Penn Matters and Penn Matters Online. Please email Alumni Relations with questions, comments, feedback, and suggestions. 

Penn Matters Online is created using Cascading Style Sheets according to W3C web standards for compliance and accessibility. It is accessible for Braille, aural, and handheld readers, and the layout is fully resizable through your Internet browser preferences. For your convenience when printing, all images will be omitted and the text will be set to a 12 point Arial font. Please contact Lizza Robb with any questions or suggestions.

Emily M. Brueckner, MSW’05
Editor, Penn Matters

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