Student Achievements
May/June 2009
Dr. Ram Cnaan award
Kielty Turner
This award is presented to a meritorious student in the clinical Doctorate in Social Work program who has successfully completed preliminary examinations and is continuing the process of completing coursework.
Kielty Turner holds masters degrees in social work and psychology, and is a 2010 candidate in the DSW program. Her dissertation focuses on the impact of mindfulness training on therapists and clients, and stems from an interest she developed during her years in private practice. She is also a part-time faculty member in the MSW program at the School, and plans to combine a career in academics with private practice after graduation.
Hal Levin Award
Sungkyu Lee, Maayan Schori
This award is presented to a meritorious student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare program who is continuing the process of completing course work.
Sungkyu Lee received his MSW from Washington University in St. Louis. His areas of research interest include mental health services for people with serious mental illness, social support and social networks, and racial/ethnic disparities in health and mental health service utilization among immigrant populations. Currently, he is working on his dissertation proposal which focuses on the effects of social networks on medical co-morbidity among people with serious mental illness. Also, he is involved in the research project on disparities in mental health treatment among people with serious mental illness at the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research.
Dean’s Award for Social Policy Excellence
Sara Ansell
This award is presented to a graduating student in the Master of Science in Social Policy program who has demonstrated excellence and a commitment to scholarship, policy advocacy and social change, citizenship, and the shaping of social policy locally, nationally, and/or globally.
Sara Ansell is an MSW/MSSP dual degree candidate. Her first year MSW field placement was at the Center for Research on Youth and Social Policy (CRYSP), where she worked on an evaluation of the Ludlow HOPE VI housing site in North Philadelphia. She completed her second year field placement at Penn's School of Design, Department of City and Regional Planning, and worked as a project manager for a research study on access to healthy foods for women, infants, and children in the WIC program. This summer, she will continue to work with the WIC study and will intern at The Food Trust. During her time at Penn, Sara has focused on the role of research in the social change process and worked as a research assistant for the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services and for the Child Advocates Support Center. After completing the social policy program, she hopes to enter the field of food policy in the future.
Emerging Leader Award
Kathleen Malliarakis
This award is presented to a graduating student in the Nonprofit/NGO Leadership Program who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of collaboration, motivation, community building, integrity, innovation and leadership, while exhibiting significant growth and maturity as a student at the School of Social Policy & Practice.
NICOLE GANT Alumni Council leadership Award
Annie Funke
This award is given to a graduating student who, through their participation in School activities and support of the School’s mission, has been a leader in the SP2 community and contributed to the advancement of the School of Social Policy & Practice during their time as a student.
Annie completed field placements at Saint Joseph's Hospital and the PHMC Care Clinic. During her time at SP2, she participated in two trips to Penn in the Gulf (winter and summer), was a social work coordinator for United Community Clinics (the free health clinic in North Philadelphia), was a Bridging the Gaps summer intern at Early Head Start where she was the social work student coordinator for Penn; and she served as the SP2 Student Council Secretary last year. Following graduation, Annie will be spending three months in Botswana participating in the International Internship Program as an intern at Holy Cross Hospice. After her trip, she plans to work as a social worker in health care.
Dr. Ruth Smalley Award in International Social Welfare
Esther Reyes
This award is presented to the member of the graduating class who, through their writing, participation in class discussions, and experience, has demonstrated an interest in, and a working knowledge of, the international and cultural dimensions of social work practice, and the application of practice to research.
Esther completed her advanced standing field placement at Juntos / La Casa de los Soles. In addition to her work in the MSW program, she presented "Evaluating Video Training Programs" at the Community, Media & Immigrants Conference that took place at the Annenberg School for Communication in April 2009, and presented "Invisible Work: Day Laborers in Philadelphia" at the 2009 Latino Social Workers Organization Conference in Chicago, IL in March 2009. Additionally, she is a member of the Congregation Education Committee of the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia.
Rosa Wessel Award
Elizabeth Dailey, Lauren Willner
This award is presented to a meritorious graduating student who is selected on the basis of academic performance and one or more of the following: exemplary student leadership, innovative activities in the field practicum, and exceptional community service.
John Hope Franklin Combating American Racism Awards
The John Hope Franklin Combating American Racism Awards are given to students who have demonstrated an understanding of American racism and a commitment to fight against racism and other forms of discrimination.
Kevin Douglas
Kevin completed his Advanced Year field placement at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. He participated in the Penn in the Gulf initiative and volunteers with Project H.O.M.E. In addition, he is a member of Health Care for All Philadelphia. After graduation, he will be working in a temporary position as Program Coordinator with Resources for Human Development.
Nahla Eltantawy
Nahla completed field placements as a Social Worker at Lions Gate Nursing Facility in Voorhees, NJ, and as a Therapist at Kennedy Hopsital Behavioral Health in Cherry Hill, NJ. In addition to her schoolwork, she is "raising two wonderful kids." She hopes to find a job that will allow her to "apply the knowledge I gained while studying at Penn" and to "be able to help the needy wherever they are."
Kalen Flynn
Michelle Isaac-Doherty
Michelle completed field placements at Centennial School District in Warminster, PA (working primarily with the Latino immigrant families at a middle and elementary school), and at William Tennent High School (working with the Latino students and a wider range of students as well). During her second year placement, she co-facilitated a group for, and worked individually with, pregnant and parenting teens, and also provided anger management groups to high school students with a history of discipline issues and/or emotional support needs. Michelle gave birth to a baby in May, and plans to take time off from work. When she returns to work, she would like to continue working with the Latino immigrant population.
Hannah Jones
Lynn McGregor
Lynn McGregor completed field placements at the Joan Karnell Cancer Center, Oncology Unit at Pennsylvania Hospital, and at Horizon House in Outpatient Mental Health. Outside of her coursework, Lynn is a member of the Board of Directors for Pagus:Africa, a non-profit organization which sponsors children to go to school in Ghana, West Africa. In addition to hosting a graduate from the school, Lynn recruited other SP2 students to work with the organization. After graduation, she will be continuing her education and practice at the Council for Relationships, working to complete the Post Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and will continue her work with Pagus:Africa.
Noel Ramirez
Noel Ramirez completed field placements at The AtticYouth Center and at the NHS Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic. In addition to his coursework, Noel served as a Board member of the Foyer of Philadelphia -- a non-profit initiative that povides housing and social services for LGBTQ youth who are aging out of foster care and/or are homeless. He was a 2008-2009 Albert Schweitzer Fellow, and designed and facilitated a community based project that included a job readiness course for 13 LGBT young people. His post-graduation plans include working as an HIV Case Manager for the Comprehensive Care Practice (Partnership), The HIV clinical program of the Division of Infectious Disease and Drexel University College of Medicine.
Stefanie Rubin
George Werner
The students in the Clinical Doctorate in Social Work program recently published the first issue of The Clinician, the newsletter of the DSW program.
Kielty Turner, DSW candidate, recently published an article, entitled, "Mindfulness: The Present Moment in Clinical Social Work" in Clinical Social Work Journal.
Rebecca Weinstein, MSW'09, is the Honorary Mention recipient from the University of Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW) Awards for Clinical Excellence for her paper, "Families with Holocaust Survivors: Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Treat Multigenerational Trauma."
April 2009
Kristie Thomas, Ph.D. student, gave a speech at Penn’s “Take Back the Night” program on April 2, a rally and march meant to raise awareness about sexual assault, especially on college campuses. The event was organized by undergraduate students and the Penn Women's Center, including second year-MSW student Lauren Willner, whose field placement is at the Women's Center. Kristie spoke about her experiences working as a counselor for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and she urged listeners to take action against the physical and sexual violence that permeates society.
Manisha Joshi, Ph.D. student, has been elected the graduate chair of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) at the University of Pennsylvania. Manisha will head ISAB for 2009-2010 in collaboration with the recently elected undergraduate chair.
