what’s happening at sp2

Master of Social Work student Mayowa Fageyinbo speaks about being a first-generation graduate student and a member of SP2’s Social Justice Scholars, a program in which SP2 Board member Nisha Hurst and Brian Hurst recently invested through a unique gift.

SP2’s Kat Rosqueta advocates driving positive change in philanthropy by rethinking who can be involved in the process as a donor, a recipient, and a decision maker.

SP2’s Desmond Patton offers insight into why young people are being drawn in by a TikTok trend driving a surge in thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars in Philadelphia and nationwide.

An examination of cash-assistance and guaranteed income programs quotes SP2 Associate Professor Amy Castro on her nationwide research documenting the benefits of such programs for people living in poverty.

SP2 alum Amy Blank Wilson, PhD in Social Welfare ’06, associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Social Work, is highlighted for work at the intersection of criminal justice and mental health.

Kat Rosqueta, founding executive director of SP2’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy, discusses how to help communities affected by the earthquake, who will need support long after the headlines fade.

The important role social workers play in aiding older adult populations is explored through the work of SP2 Professor Zvi Gellis, coauthor of a study highlighting how integrated simulations in gerontology can be used in clinical education for social workers.

Ben Jealous, a professor of practice at SP2, discussed race, politics, and his new book, “Never Forget We Were Always Free: A Parable of American Healing,” at an event co-sponsored by SP2, Kelly Writers House, and the Center for Africana Studies.

The New York Times highlights Ben Jealous as he aims to protect the planet and advance social justice as the first person of color to lead the Sierra Club. A bestselling author, community organizer, investigative journalist, and former head of the NAACP, Jealous is professor of practice at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice, Annenberg School for Communication, and School of Arts & Sciences, as well as distinguished visiting fellow at Penn Carey Law.

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill announced that John L. Jackson, Jr. — formerly dean of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) from 2014 to 2018 — has been selected to serve as the provost at Penn, effective June 1, 2023, following ratification by Penn’s Board of Trustees.