Thank you for visiting Penn Matters!
Congratulations to the winner of the October Penn Matters Readership Raffle: Robert Neubauer, MSW’61 has won a copy of the 2008 Centennial Edition Alumni Directory.
Click here to enter the November Readership Raffle for a chance to win a copy of the SP2 Centennial Edition Alumni Directory.
Alumni Benefit of the Month
Being a Penn alum has many benefits. Each month, we highlight a benefit available to the SP2 alumni community. A full list of alumni benefits can be found on the Penn Alumni site.
Ice Rink Discount
Alumni with a PennAlumni card are entitled to $1.00 the price of admission to public skating times at the University of Pennsylvania Class of 1923 Ice Rink.
NEW! SP2 Alumni Yellow Pages
Do you have a business or a service that would be of interest to other SP2 alumni? If so, advertise in the SP2 Yellow Pages. Or, if you’re looking for something, browse the yellow pages and support the enterprises of your fellow alumni.
To submit a posting, click here to email Emily Brueckner.
To browse the yellow pages, click here.
Printed Alumni Directory
The Centennial Edition Alumni Directory is complete! If you pre-ordered your copy you should have already received it. Please contact the Alumni Relations Office if you have not.
Become an Alumni Ambassador!
The Alumni Ambassadors program offers alumni opportunities to volunteer at the School. This flexible program allows you to choose which activities and opportunities best match your interests and your schedule. For more information, or to become an Alumni Ambassador, click here.
Job Announcements
Sign up for the Career Services job listserv (there are separate listservs for clinical and macro job opportunities). If you would like to advertise a job announcement to our alumni through the Career Services listserv please email the information to Alumni Relations. To sign up for the Career Services listserv, click here.
Join QuakerNet – Penn’s Online Community!
A classmate may be trying to get in touch with you! The online community is password protected and available only to registered Penn alumni. By registering, you will be able to update your own profile, as well as search the directory for the contact information of your classmates. If you haven’t yet registered for the online community, click here to do so today. If you have questions about the online community, please contact Emily Brueckner at embrueck@sp2.upenn.edu.
Need to Contact SP2 Alumni Relations?
We have a user-friendly email address: alumnirelations@sp2.upenn.edu. Send alumni questions, comments, and concerns to this address and we'll make sure it gets to the appropriate person.
"100 for 100" Centennial Campaign
Dean's Welcome
Wednesday, October 29 was quite a day. The Phillies won the World Series, and (more importantly for our readers) the School of Social Policy & Practice hosted a special reception for more than 100 deans and directors of social work programs around the country. This group was in Philadelphia for the Council on Social Work Education’s annual conference (see feature article below).
For me, the highlight of the reception was honoring the 11 Penn Social Work/Social Policy & Practice graduates who now serve as deans and directors of MSW and BSW programs. These alumni—Mona Schatz, DSW’86; Carol Bennett-Speight, DSW ’96 (Rhode Island College), Ira C. Colby, DSW ’84 (University of Houston), Marcia L. Martin, MSW ‘70 (Bryn Mawr College), Linda M. Mauro, MSW ’78, DSW ’85 (Temple University), E. Jane Middleton, DSW ’85 (California State University, Fresno), Jacqueline B. Mondros, MSW ‘78, DSW ’81 (Hunter College), Mark Rodgers, DSW’82 (Dominican University), Todd W. Rofuth, DSW ’82 (Southern Connecticut State University), Marlene A. Saunders, MSW ’72, DSW ‘01(Delaware State University), Mona Schatz, DSW’86 (University of Wyoming), and Paula T. Silver, MSW ’82 (Widener University)—reminded me that for 100 years, our graduates have gone on to become leaders in the field. Fittingly, one of the deans at the reception commented that when he saw the new book on the history of the school, A Century of Social Work and Social Welfare, it was clear that Penn Social Policy & Practice has truly been a leader in social work education for the last century.
With that in mind, and in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to thank each and every one of our graduates for the contributions you make on a daily basis. The services you provide to under-served populations, the policies you draft to further equality, and the resources offered by the organizations you lead all make a difference in the quest for social justice.
Best wishes for a happy and restful Thanksgiving.Sincerely,
Richard J. Gelles, PhD
Dean
Feature Article
Annual CSWE Meeting Held in Philadelphia
As a part of its Centennial Celebration, the School of Social Policy & Practice sponsored the opening ceremonies and special plenary session for the Council on Social Work Education’s 54th Annual Meeting. The conference brought together more than 3,000 social-work educators, students and practitioners at the Marriott Downtown Hotel between October 30 and November 2.
Click here for complete article
School News
Have you seen the face of the future? Refer an applicant to SP2
If you know someone who would be a good candidate for a degree in social work, social policy, or nonprofit/non-governmental organization leadership, we encourage you to refer them to the School of Social Policy & Practice. Applicants to the Master of Social Work, MS in Social Policy, MS in Nonprofit/Non-governmental Organization Leadership, and the clinical Doctorate in Social Work degree programs who are referred by an SP2 alumnus/a will have the $65 application fee waived. Recommending an applicant is fast and easy with our online recommendation form. After you refer someone, a member of the Admissions Office will follow up with the prospective applicant.
Dr. Howard C. Stevenson delivers 2008
Louis H. Carter Lecture
On Thursday, November 6, more than 100 students, alumni, and friends of Professor Carter gathered in Houston Hall for the 2008 Louis H. Carter Lecture. Dr. Howard Stevenson, an associate professor and chair of the Applied Psychology and Human Development Division at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, delivered this year’s lecture. Kathleen Kaye-McKean, MSW’88, whose generosity and support endowed this lecture, gave opening remarks before Dr. Stevenson began his lecture. The mission of the Louis H. Carter Endowed Lectureship is to advance an understanding of Otto Rank’s “psychology of difference.” The Lecture honors the intellectual contributions of the Functionalist School.
Vikas Choudhary, PhD
Vikas Choudhary, PhD, will be joining the Center for High Impact Philanthropy in January to launch its efforts in international economic development. Vikas has been a researcher and practitioner of global economic development initiatives for over 10 years. His management and consulting experience includes serving as the project lead for a $6.2 million USAID Project (GMED) to link poor farmers to commercial value chains in India, coordinating a FICCI-CARE livelihood restoration project to rehabilitate earthquake affected communities in 30 villages in Gujarat, co-founding a handicraft export business, serving as the project manager for the Rajasthan government’s promotion of economic development in the rural non-farm sector, and formulating strategies to promote tribal microenterprises in Madhya Pradesh. Most recently, he has been working with the IFC (International Finance Corporation) and teaching microfinance and development coursework at Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute. He received his PhD (Development Anthropology) and MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse and a PGDFM (~MBA) from the Indian Institute of Forest Management. According to Executive Director Katherina Rosqueta, “He brings precisely that unique combination of frontline field experience, academic training, and a multi-disciplinary approach that we sought for this role. Please join me in welcoming him to our efforts.”
While welcoming Dr. Choudhary, CHIP will also be saying goodbye to Associate Director Kathleen Noonan, who is leaving CHIP to launch a new center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) focused on child and community public health research and policy.
Look for the 2008 SP2 Review
The 2008 SP2 Review—the annual publication of the School of Social Policy & Practice—has been published. It was recently mailed to all SP2 alumni, and if you haven’t already received it, it should be arriving in your mailbox shortly. The 2008 Centennial Edition highlights the accomplishments of the School’s academic programs, research centers, and special programs. It also includes an alumni section and the Honor Roll of donors (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008).
Alumni Enjoy Homecoming 2008
Penn celebrated Homecoming on Saturday, November 1. As in years past, SP2 participated in the all-alumni picnic, Quakerfest on the Green, before the football game. Alumni in attendance enjoyed performances from student groups, remarks from President Gutmann, and children’s activities. Save the date for next year’s Homecoming: Saturday, November 7, 2009.
Meet Frank Barr, SP2 Liaison in the Office of Gift Planning
Each month, Frank Barr, the SP2 liaison in the Office of Gift Planning answers a question about gift planning.
Question: I would like to make a bequest to SP2 - what exactly do I need to do and what language should I use?
Click here for the answer
Faculty News
Joan Davitt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar recently received funding from the Minority Aging Research for Community Health (MARCH) Center to expand her research in Racial Disparities in Medicare Home Health Care. Dr. Davitt will use the funding to conduct focus group interviews with agency staff to: 1) explore the clinical practice factors that influence the relationship between race/ethnicity and home health outcomes; 2) inform the design of a national survey of home health providers related to racial/ethnic disparities. She will be assisted by Dr. Jerri Bourjolly, Associate Dean of SP2 and Dr. Kathy Bowles, Associate Professor of Nursing, and SP2 Doctoral Candidate Rosie Frasso and MSW candidate Katie Arner.
Femida Handy, Ph.D., was awarded a special recognition. Her article, "To Profit or Not to Profit: Women Entrepreneurs in India," published in Volume 17(4) of Nonprofit Management and Leadership, has been selected as the winner of their annual Editors' Prize for best scholarly paper.
Future Leaders
Rachel Blanchard, MSSP’08, and Marjorie Dorime, MSSP’09 candidate, were both recently published. Rachel contributed to the most recent housing policy paper by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (available at www.cbpp.org/9-18-08hous.htm). Marjorie, who spent the summer working for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, authored an op-ed piece with Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, a Senior Research Analyst at the Foundation. The piece was published online in Empower Magazine.
Alumni News
Chad Lassiter, MSW’01, was invited by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to present Dr. Cornel West with a Proclamation and Liberty Bell replica after Dr. West spoke on “A Dialogue on Race in the Church and Society” at the Palmer Theological Seminary.
Patricia Tucker, MSW’00, has accepted a position on the Board of Directors of the Equestrian AID Foundation. This charitable institution provides financial support for medical and basic needs for anyone in the Equestrian World suffering threatening illness, catastrophic accidents, or injuries. Full time, Tricia works for the Office of Systems Change and Transformation, State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Upcoming Events
Fall Forum on American Racism
The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual and Black Leaders in the Second Half of the 21st Century
Presented by: The Center on American Racism and Social Justice at Penn Social Policy & Practice
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
5:00 – 7:00 pm
3701 Locust Walk, 3rd Floor, Room D26
SP2 alumni, faculty, and staff are all invited to attend this exciting conversation between the following invited panelists:
Anthony Monteiro, PhD, Assistant Professor, African American Studies, Temple University
Marc Lamont Hill, PhD, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Temple University
Gregg Seaton, PhD, Assistant Professor, Education Administration and Secondary Education, College of New Jersey
Howard Stevenson, PhD, Associate Professor, Applied Psychology-Human Development, University of Pennsylvania
Dinner will be served. RSVP is required by November 16th to founder1776@comcast.net.
May 15 – 16, 2009
Announcements and Services
Call for Papers: Michigan Journal of Public Affairs
Michigan Journal of Public Affairs is currently considering submissions from graduate and professional students, policy practitioners, and faculty involved with domestic and international affairs. MJPA publishes original research on a wide range of public policy issues, including social welfare, development, health, science, urban, security, and economic policy, as well as other timely and relevant pieces.
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