Three students sit smiling and conversing in a wood-paneled room. The student on the right is the most visible, while the others are behind a transparent blue layer of text.

ADMISSIONS

Social Justice Scholars Program

Full-tuition scholarships and specialized, rigorous academic programming for master’s students

The Social Justice Scholars Program at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) is a competitive scholarship program with the aim of enhancing SP2’s ongoing commitment to the recruitment and retention of students with a particular interest in and demonstrated capacity for social justice leadership in their field. Social Justice Scholars will receive full tuition benefits, be supported through an enriched structure of mentorship and additional training opportunities, and be part of a dynamic cohort of scholars. 

Paloma Brand, MSW’23
San Antonio, TX

In their own words

Paloma Brand, MSW’23

Paloma is one of the inaugural Social Justice Scholars.

“Social innovation and social justice should really involve the communities that social work impacts.”

Frequently asked questions

Hallela Hinton-Williams

FEATURED STUDENT

Hallela Hinton-Williams

Program: MS in Social Policy
Entering Year: 2023
Social Justice Leadership Interests: educational justice; anti-racism; community development

News

A collage of headshots of the new cohort of social justice scholars

SP2 welcomes third cohort of Social Justice Scholars

This fall, Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) welcomed its third cohort of Social Justice Scholars, a competitive scholarship program with the aim of enhancing SP2’s ongoing commitment to the recruitment and retention of students with a particular interest in and demonstrated capacity for social justice leadership in their field. 

News

Jessie Harper headshot with blue bars on either side

Jessie Harper joins SP2 as director of inclusion education and Social Justice Scholars Program

Dr. Jessie Harper has joined SP2 as the inaugural director of inclusion education and the Social Justice Scholars Program. Dr. Harper comes to SP2 after nearly two decades at Penn’s Graduate School of Education (GSE), where she most recently served as assistant dean of faculty affairs and diversity.

News

Gianni Morsell posing on campus. Gianni is standing in front of a brick building with a green plant next to her. Her arms are crossed and she is wearing a black shirt and khaki pants.

First graduate of SP2’s Social Justice Scholars Program lands role on Capitol Hill  

“What’s important to me is being in a space where I can help people and I’m constantly in a state of giving back,” says Gianni Morsell, NPL’22. The first graduate […]

Alums & current scholars

Gianni Morsell, NPL’22
Prince George’s County, MD
Joelle Eliza Lingat, MSW’24, NPL’24
Jersey City, NJ
Josh Arinze, MSW’23
Lagos, Nigeria
Sparsh Maheshwari, NPL’23
Uttar Pradesh, India
Penn Social Policy & Practice Social Justice Scholars Program logo

Contact Us

Adiza M. Ezell, MSW

Director of Admissions & Recruitment

SP2 Admissions

215.898.5521

adiza@upenn.edu

Kristen de Paor

Associate Dean

Office of Institutional Advancement

215.898.5518

kwd@upenn.edu