Message from the Dean
In 1887, alumni classes, which had been active for many generations, established reunions as part of Penn’s Commencement activities. It was the start of Alumni Weekend.
Over one hundred years later, that tradition of returning to campus to reminisce, reunite with old friends, and possibly make some new ones, still is going strong. Alumni Weekend has evolved, however, far beyond a gathering of former classmates. While there are many social and networking activities, alums may partake of a plethora of educational offerings. Multiple opportunities also exist to hear about all that is Penn, from growth of its endowment to plans for expanding the campus.
Though Penn’s 12 schools share a common bond through the University, each is unique in its culture and mission. Many seize the opportunity of Alumni Weekend to express this diversity by holding separate events.
Last year, we joined these, hosting a dedicated Reunion for Social Work and SP² alumni at the Union League of Philadelphia. This year promises to be equally exciting!
We invite you to join us for a number of activities, beginning with an educational workshop (free CEUs) entitled “The Impact of Social Work through the Decades.” Come experience this rare opportunity to hear from Social Workers, who have served in the trenches from the past several decades up until today.
Friday afternoon, there will be a panel discussion with me, and the Deans of the Graduate Schools of Education and Nursing. Together we will discuss how we are “Improving Young Lives,” highlighting our interdisciplinary programs for children.
The celebration continues on Friday evening with a reception for our reunion-year alumni. Enjoy cocktails, appetizers, music and even dancing with your friends.
Finally, bring the whole family on Saturday for a delicious lunch under the tent (cost for adults is $15 if you register before May 5, children under 12 are free). Then, participate with other Penn alumni in an optional march down Locust walk, or simply watch on the sidelines.
The details of all of our exciting Alumni Weekend and Reunion 2006 activities are highlighted in this month’s Upcoming Events section below. If you graduated in a year ending in a one or a six, this is your Reunion year! Register today and/or call (215.573.2648) for more information. I look forward to seeing you in May!Richard J. Gelles
Dean
Feature
Admissions Office Announces
Alumni Admissions Referral Program
Do you know a potential leader in the field of social work, nonprofit/non-governmental leadership, or social policy?
For almost one hundred years, the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice has been committed to educating leaders committed to confronting societal problems. Today, thousands of SSW/SP² alumni have put their social work education into practice to impact change at individual, community, national and global levels. We are certain that every day our alumni meet talented individuals committed to social justice and social welfare who are ideal candidates for our Masters or Doctoral degree programs.
[read more about the Alumni Applicant Referral Program]
Alumni in the Field
Sherisse Laud-Hammond, MSW’05
As a 2005 graduate of the MSW program, Sherisse Laud-Hammond is committed to social change and the future of social work. While these goals are not uncommon among social workers, Sherisse’s method of realizing them is rather unique. Instead of addressing societal issues by working as a clinical social worker in a school, or a policy advocate in Washington, Sherisse strengthens the field of social work as the Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment at the School of Social Policy & Practice. Since accepting this position last summer, she has dedicated herself to recruiting and attracting tomorrow’s leaders in social work, nonprofit / nongovernmental leadership, and social policy.
[read more about Sherisse Laud-Hammond]
School News
The School of Social Policy & Practice is a vibrant community on Penn’s campus. On a daily basis, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni engage in research, discussions, social activities, mentoring, and professional development. Below are some of the most recent pieces of news from the SP² community.
Penn Connections: An Evening of Alumni/Student Networking
In the months and weeks leading up to Commencement, students’ focus begins to move towards planning for life after graduation. To help our students as they begin (or renew) their social work careers, the School hosted Penn Connections on the evening of Thursday, March 16. Over fifty students and alumni attended this premiere networking event that was held in Irvine Auditorium.
[read more about Penn Connections]
Remember the School of Social Policy & Practice and Create Your Legacy
Many Penn alumni and friends have provided for the future of the School of Social Policy & Practice by naming the school as a beneficiary of their estates. These gifts have been crucial to the School’s success since its founding, and remain among the largest sources of support each year.
[read more about creating your legacy at Penn]
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.
Ram Cnaan, Ph.D.¸ was quoted in a March 11 Boston Globe article entitled “Church’s Rift With Beacon Hill Grows.” The article discussed the Catholic Church’s decision to discontinue adoption services in order to avoid placing children with gay foster parents. Dr. Cnaan’s quote referenced the discussions in many denominations regarding the intersection of religious values and social services.
Joseph McBride, MSW, BCD, had a chapter published in Crisis Intervention Handbook: Assessment, Treatment, and Research, 2005 Third Edition, Ed. Albert R. Roberts. The chapter, which was co-authored by Eric Johnson, is entitled, “Crisis Intervention, Grief Therapy and the Loss of Life.” Additionally, McBride presented two Social Work Month Lectures. The first lecture, “The Limits of Compassion,” took place on March 13, 2006 at A.I. Dupont Children's Hospital in Wilmington, DE. The second, “Crisis, Grief and Trauma: Impact and Intersection,” was presented on March 28, 2006 at Capitol Health Systems in Trenton, NJ.
Irene Wong, Ph.D., was invited to present a paper at John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Mandated Community Treatment in February 2006. Phyllis Solomon, Ph.D., was also invited to present the paper, entitled “Community Integration, Supportive Housing, and Treatment Leverage.” Sungeun Lee (Ph.D. candidate) was a co-author of the paper.
In January 2006, Dr. Wong presented two papers at the Tenth Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research. The papers drew on her work on community integration and permanent supportive housing for psychiatric consumers in Philadelphia. The first paper was entitled “Beyond Neighborhood: A Mixed-Method Approach for Understanding Community Integration” (co-authors: Roberta Sands and Phyllis Solomon). The second paper was entitled “Departure from Permanent Supportive Housing and the Post-Departure Careers of Persons with Serious Mental Illness” (co-authors: Steve Poulin, Trevor Hadley, and Morris Davis).
Alumni in the News
Darin Toliver, MSW’02 was interviewed on Philadelphia’s Fox 29 10pm News on Sunday, March 26. Mr. Toliver is the Vice President and Co-Founder of the Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc. He has been selected by State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas to lead several major initiatives designed to curb violence in the Black Community, and was interviewed in relation to this. During the interview, he spoke about the need for social workers to emerge as social change agents.
Future Leaders
Delfin Bautista
Delfin Bautista’s path into social work was a natural, yet winding, one. Currently a 2006 MSW candidate, he grew up doing missionary work and social work, “in the sense that helping others was always part” of his family. As a teenager, he volunteered at a shelter serving meals, and worked closely with an order of religious sisters and priests called Union Lumen Dei. Although he never visited missions outside of the country while he was growing up, he still developed a sensitivity for the needs of others.
[read more about Delfin Bautista]
Upcoming Events
Alumni Weekend:
Friday, May 12 – Sunday, May 14, 2006
Welcome back! Penn SP² and the University of Pennsylvania have planned an exciting Alumni Weekend and Reunion! Whether it has been five years or fifty years since you graduated, we hope you will join us for this important weekend. With a full schedule of events, there’s something for everyone:
Friday, May 12
8:30am-12:30pm: The Impact of Social Work Through the Decades
2:00pm-3:30pm: Improving Young Lives (Welcome by President Gutmann)
5:30-7pm: Reunion Reception at the Union League of Philadelphia (for the Classes of 1941, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001)
Saturday, May 13
Noon – 4pm: Alumni Weekend Picnic and Parade
In addition, there are many University events that are open to all alumni.
[click here for Alumni Weekend Details and Registration]
The Field Center Spring Breakfast Meeting:
Tuesday, May 9, 8:30 – 10:30am
University of Pennsylvania Law School, Levy Conference Center
3400 Chestnut Street
Dr. Howard Dubowitz, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of University of Maryland’s Center for Child Protection, will offer a critical presentation on Child Neglect.
To register, email fieldctr@sp2.upenn.edu. There is no charge for the seminar and two Social Work CEUs are available for $20, payable by check at the door. Questions can be directed to the Field Center at 215.573.5442.
The University of Pennsylvania Center for Spirituality and the Mind presents the Templeton Research Lectureship Program on the Constructive Engagement Between Science and Religion (2005-2008):
The 9th Annual Spirituality Research Symposium: Beliefs in Health
April 25, 2006: 12:30 - 5:00pm
Hall of Flags, Houston Hall (3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia)
Joy: The Scariest Emotion
April 27, 2006: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Austrian Auditorium, Clinical Research Building (422 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia)
For more information, or to register for either program, visit www.mindreligion.com or contact Nancy Wintering, MSW’02 at 215.614.0332.
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. The Sociolog Online offers a way to highlight happenings and information in a timely manner. It acts as a supplement to the printed Sociolog, which will still be mailed to you every September. We welcome your feedback and suggestions about the Sociolog and Sociolog Online. Please email Alumni Relations with questions, comments, feedback, and suggestions.
The Sociolog 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, Sociolog and Sociolog Online