CHHS

#VotingisSocialWork campaign across Mason’s campus aims to increase student voters this election

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 16:49:18 +0000

#VotingisSocialWork campaign across Mason’s campus aims to increase student voters this election Mary Cunningham Wed, 10/26/2022 - 12:49

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

Master of Social Work Student Association Members promoted #VotingisSocialWork with chalk art throughout Mason's campus. Photo by Michelle Thompson.

The national campaign, #VotingisSocialWork, has been promoted by the George Mason University student organization Masters of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA) around social media and across campus encouraging students to register if they haven’t in order to vote in the November 2022 elections.

Emily Ihara, a professor and chair of the Department of Social Work within Mason's College of Health and Human Services, said the student group’s goals include sharing tools to raise awareness about registration and voting with both the public at large and social workers in particular.

“Social work is part of public health and public health is part of social work. They both can work together to solve the world's problems in a way that creates a healthier community worldwide,” said Katreena Blazewicz, MSWSA treasurer.

The group’s 34 members have promoted voting and answered questions about registration, translation, and transportation, sharing voter resources such as QR codes.

“We were inspired by a couple of factors: the [Oct. 8] Women’s March was coming and we had just visited the Lucy Burns Museum, where the women suffragettes for were imprisoned for protesting for women’s rights to vote,” said Laura Lento, secretary of the MSWSA.

“The Women’s March highlighted so many issues, including international issues,” Blazewicz said.

November 8 is election day. In Virginia, the in-person early voting registration deadline is Nov. 5. All absentee ballots must be turned in by Nov. 8, by 7 p.m. if submitted in-person.

“We need to not only vote, but get more social workers in government and willing to help work on policies,” said Blazewicz. “What we deal with every day as social workers is incredibly impacted by the laws and can make our jobs harder.”

Social work takes on macro societal issues and ultimately aims to defend the rights of their clients and their communities, group members said.

“We are promoting social justice and making sure that we're protecting those who are marginalized. That’s the whole purpose of social work,” said Anna Christopher.

"What is not possible now, with advocacy, hopefully we can make possible,” said Lento.

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Students

Tomaszewski co-Authors eco-social policy for the International Federation of Social Work United Nation’s Commission

Mary Cunningham — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 20:59:22 +0000

Tomaszewski co-Authors eco-social policy for the International Federation of Social Work United Nation’s Commission Mary Cunningham Sun, 08/28/2022 - 16:59

In This Story

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW

Assistant Professor of Social Work Evelyn Tomaszewski outlines social workers’ key role in creating and building partnerships that commit to a sustainable and just approach to battling global issues.

Assistant Professor of Social Work Evelyn Tomaszewski

Social workers can play a vital role in addressing growing global inequities resulting from public health crises such as climate change, pandemics, natural and purposeful environmental destruction, and conflict. These inequities diminish human and environmental rights. Assistant Professor of Social Work Evelyn Tomaszewski co-authored the International Federation of Social Work (ISFW) United Nation’s (UN) Commission’s Eco-Social World Policy in her role as a North American UN Commissioner for IFSW.

An eco-social world is where countries, communities, and people work together to create sustainable and just communities and environments for all people, across the globe.

“This paper is a call to action for social workers and all persons to commit to building relationships and partnerships across communities and governance, including access to and equitable distribution of resources, as critical to ensuring success of the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said Tomaszewski. Only through co-building a new eco-social world can we ensure a sustainable and fairer world for all of us and future generations, the paper states.

This is an emerging approach to global social work practice that aligns with the social work values of the dignity and respect for each person and honoring the diversity of individuals and communities.

“The social, economic, and environmental crises experienced worldwide have a profound impact on clients and communities, creating fewer resources and great human need,” said Tomaszewski. “We are in dire need of a transformation of the political and economic systems. As both rights holders and duty bearers, we each have a role in creating and supporting policies and practices to take action to build sustainable development and create well-being for all people.”

“The Role of Social Workers in Advancing a New Eco-Social World” was written by Tomaszewski and her fellow IFSW United Nation Commission members Anne Deepak; and Shenae Osborn; and Sebastian Cordoba.

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Social Work Faculty

Online Program Coordinator King Shares Expert Advice with Master of Social Work Online

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 19:49:59 +0000

Online Program Coordinator King Shares Expert Advice with Master of Social Work Online Mary Cunningham Mon, 08/15/2022 - 15:49

In This Story

Daphne King, EdD, MSW, LCSW

Assistant Professor of Social Work and MSW Online Program Coordinator Daphne King provides tips for prospective Master of Social Work (MSW) students considering online programs.

King’s original interview was a part of MSW Online’s Ask An Expert segment.

Daphne King, assistant professor of Social Work and MSW online program coordinator

What are the most important factors for students to consider when choosing an online MSW program?

I think when choosing an online MSW program, applicants should understand the difference between an asynchronous and synchronous program, as well as what their learning style is so that they can choose a program that best fits their needs. Asynchronous learning is self-directed by the student at their pace with professors posting pre-recorded lecture videos in the course and using outlets like zoom to host virtual office hours. Synchronous learning could also be self-directed but there is a component where students will have to attend class sessions online at a certain day and time each week via platforms, such as Zoom. Whether asynchronous or synchronous, I think applicants should understand if they need more in-person face time for their learning before choosing an online MSW program.

What do you think is the most challenging aspect of an online MSW program?

I think the most challenging aspect involves part of my answer in the previous question, building a connection between faculty and students in a virtual environment. It takes effort on the part of the professor and student to engage in activities to build that connection and engagement. This is especially challenging in asynchronous formats where you would not have in-person lectures or class time.

How do the fieldwork components of an online MSW program work?

In the program where I am the MSW Program Online Coordinator, field work or practicum works the same as it does for on-campus students. Students in the online program are required to complete the same hours as on-campus students based on requirements from CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) and complete their field practicum in person at the hosting agency within the business hours of the agency.

Can students take electives, or customize their online MSW experience?

In our 60-credit hour program, 12 credits are electives that students can take based on their interest or population they want to serve as social workers.

What types of jobs are MSW graduates finding?

From my experience, MSW graduates are finding jobs as school social workers, therapists, working in social services or child welfare agencies, policy work to shape the legislation and laws that govern our work, and hospital social work to name a very few. There are too numerous jobs to list that MSW graduates find themselves employed in.

If you had to choose one or two books, articles, documentaries, podcasts, etc. to be included on a required reading list for social work students, what would it be?

I would recommend the NASW Podcast Social Work Speaks and Savage Inequalities by Johnathan Kozol. I read this book over 20 years ago when I earned my MSW and many of the social problems and challenges discussed in that book are still relevant today.

Learn more about Mason’s online Master of Social Work here.

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Forbes Ranks Mason’s Online Master of Social Work Program in the 10 Best Online MSW Programs of 2022

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 13:14:34 +0000

Forbes Ranks Mason’s Online Master of Social Work Program in the 10 Best Online MSW Programs of 2022 Mary Cunningham Tue, 08/02/2022 - 09:14

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

The College of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce that the Department of Social Work’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program was included in Forbes’ list of the Best Online MSW Programs of 2022. The MSW program, which is one of the fastest growing degree programs at Mason, is the only Virginia program included in the top 10 list.

Forbes highlighted the program’s commitment to empowerment and social justice by preparing Mason students to serve historically underrepresented communities with a curriculum centering on social policy, human behavior, clinical practice, and research methods. In addition, Forbes noted the program’s high graduation rate and graduates’ median income for a top-value education.

“There is a growing demand for social workers as people everywhere begin realizing how the conditions of their environments affect their mental and physical health concerns. Our MSW program trains students to think at both the macro and micro level, equipping them with the tools needed to improve the social determinants of health at the individual or population level,” said Emily Ihara, chair of the Department of Social Work. “Our online students gain these skills in addition to having the flexibility to complete the program from anywhere in the U.S.”

Learn more about the fully-accredited Master of Social Work program.

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How Pop Culture Ignited a Career in Social Work

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 12:44:51 +0000

How Pop Culture Ignited a Career in Social Work Mary Cunningham Mon, 06/06/2022 - 08:44

Bachelor of Social Work student Alondra Ortega speaks about how her personal values to help children integrate with her career aspirations.

May 2022 Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduate Alondra Ortega’s motivation to pursue a career as a social worker was ignited after watching an episode of the popular crime fiction television show Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Ortega has always been aware of her desire to aid vulnerable populations and the depiction of an overwhelmed child welfare system solidified her decision to enter the field.

“The episode touched on the reality of burnout among child welfare workers and emphasized the need for workers who are committed to making a change and helping children in need,” Ortega said. “The message of that episode resonated deeply with me.”

Ortega’s drive to help underserved communities has allowed her to collaborate with others who share her commitment.

No Stranger to Advocacy

Ortega is an active member of Corazones Unidos Siempre Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc., an organization that is devoted to improving the unique obstacles minority women in our communities face and to working toward the betterment of all women. In partnership with FACETS, a Fairfax County non-profit dedicated to ending poverty, Chi Upsilon Sigma created care packages and hosted a feminine hygiene drive. At the institution where she was previously an intern, Ortega also created a diversity, equity, and inclusion team to encourage cultural competency.

“I enjoy giving back to the community because I believe it is important to take care of the community that shaped us as individuals whether that be organizing a donation drive, doing a small clean up with my family, or advocating for a social justice issue,” said Ortega.

Ortega models how Mason’s BSW prepares future social work professionals to be leaders in their field by providing a range of opportunities to develop broad knowledge and skills. Because of her efforts, Ortega recently won the BSW Advocacy Award.

“I am dedicated to being an influential member of society by supporting and advocating on behalf of those who make up the future of our communities, children. I am honored to have been recognized, among other talented students, by the faculty and staff of the BSW program,” Ortega said.

For her practicum, Ortega worked as a Family Services Specialist Intern at a local department of social services where she assisted in foster care cases, home visits, family assessments, documentation, client referrals, interpretation, and translation. After graduating she plans to continue working at her practicum placement full-time as a Family Services Specialist.

“Children are perhaps the most innocent beings in this life, and it is our duty to protect that innocence and promote their well-being. I am committed to working toward the betterment of the social conditions that increase the risk of child abuse and neglect,” said Ortega.

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Depp-Heard Trial Shines Light on Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence

Mary Cunningham — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:08:40 +0000

Depp-Heard Trial Shines Light on Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence Mary Cunningham Thu, 06/02/2022 - 13:08

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

Intimate partner violence expert Denise Hines discusses the prevalence of bidirectional violence and other lesser known facts about intimate partner violence (IPV) in wake of a high-profile defamation trial.

Denise Hines, PhD, is one of the world’s leading experts on intimate partner violence and false allegations of abuse in under-recognized survivor groups, particularly male victims.

With the conclusion of the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial in Fairfax, VA, an expert on male victims of domestic violence seeks to further educate the public about intimate partner violence (IPV), especially bidirectional violence. Bidirectional violence is when both partners in a relationship exhibit violent behaviors, though the behaviors may not be equal for both partners.

Denise Hines, associate professor of Social Work at George Mason University, located just down the street from where the trial was held, is one of the world’s leading experts on intimate partner violence and false allegations of abuse in under-recognized survivor groups, particularly male victims.

Though Hines is not directly involved in the case nor does she have direct insight into either party’s allegations or their culpability, Hines seeks to increase public understanding of the prevalence of bidirectional violence and other lesser-known facts about IPV.

What information about IPV are people less likely to know or fully understand?

Hines: First, men can be victims. When men are victims, it is harder for them to seek help and receive it when they do ask. This is not to diminish the perspective of female survivors; I want to educate about male survivors, who are much less likely to come forward or seek help.

(Read Dr. Hines previous tip sheet, “Expert Addresses Common Misconceptions About Men Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence,” for more information about this topic.)

Second, there’s a lot more bidirectional abuse than people acknowledge. Bidirectional abuse is when both people in a relationship engage in violence. When this happens, it can take one of two forms: (1) both partners can be equally aggressive; and (2) one partner can be more aggressive than the other, but the other partner is violent, too, primarily in self-defense or retaliation. We do not know the relative prevalence of these two manifestations of bidirectional abuse.

Why is it important to understand bidirectional violence?

In the majority of violent relationships, the violence is bidirectional. That means both partners are engaging in some level of violence or abuse. Most people want to think black-and-white, victim-vs.-perpetrator, without any gray areas. However, in many cases, the relationship is very complex, with bidirectionality of violence being the norm, rather than the exception.

When both partners are violent, the abuse may or may not be equal. In some relationships, you have both partners being equally abusive, and it is difficult to pinpoint the perpetrator and the victim. Each partner is both.

In other relationships, one partner may be the primary aggressor while the other is using violence in self-defense, resistance, or retaliation. Based on misconceptions about IPV, we aren’t always accustomed to thinking about that. If someone is hitting or trying to control them, victims can find it difficult not to retaliate. Someone who is violent as a response to their victimization might not be violent or abusive in another relationship; the violence might be a product of the circumstances they find themselves in. Yet, it is also often the case that the primary aggressor is being and feeling victimized because they, too, are experiencing abuse, just not as much as they are perpetrating.

How prevalent is bidirectional abuse?

Most studies, including recent national IPV studies (i.e., National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey and National Crime Victimization Survey), ask about only victimization and do not assess perpetration of IPV, so we do not have strong current nationally representative data on bidirectionality. The National Family Violence Surveys in 1975 and 1985 did ask about victimization and perpetration, and they found high rates of both partners using violence. Unfortunately, that national study has not been conducted in more than 30 years.

Nonetheless, studies that assess both victimization and perpetration consistently show that in at least half of violent relationships, the abuse is bidirectional. This includes the National Family Violence Surveys, other similar surveys, and smaller sample surveys, of which there are dozens.

A 2012 review study of about 50 studies published since 1990 found that in 57.9% of violent relationships, both partners behave violently.

Is one gender more likely to be the primary aggressor?

There are no gender differences when it comes to bidirectional violence. Men and women are equally likely to be the primary aggressor, if there is one, in a relationship. What we do see is women, much more than men, report the violence against them and seek help.

Why is it important to recognize the prevalence of bidirectional violence?

The Depp-Heard case shows the issue of why it’s important to recognize bidirectional violence. We can’t know whether either party is innocent, and it's possible both engaged in behavior that was aggressive and possibly violent.

It’s important to recognize when both parties are violent so we can have a honest discussion about what these relationships look like and so that people can receive the proper help and/or recovery resources.

If both are violent and you send one to a perpetrator program and one to a victim program, it will not solve the problem. In this situation, the person who goes to a victim program is also abusive and continues to engage in violent behaviors. Even if the person in the perpetrator program benefits from that program, their partner is still being violent, and the strongest predictor of one partner’s violent behavior is the other partner’s violent behavior. Thus, the couple is likely to fall back into the same pattern again. If you’re going to prevent the problem in the future, you have to look at both people’s behavior, what the underlying causes and issues are, and work to help them have healthier ways of behaving, interacting, and resolving conflicts in their intimate relationships.

Again, this does not diminish victims who do not engage in any violence. The intent is to raise awareness that bidirectional violence occurs in more relationships than people realize. In order to fully support people in any IPV situation, we need to understand the whole situation.

How might a high-profile trial focused on IPV be helpful to survivors?

While an unfortunate case on many levels, I hope that this high-profile trial can help bring awareness to intimate partner violence of all kinds and help people realize that abusive relationships are complicated and there is no single profile of a victim or perpetrator.

Denise Hines, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, at George Mason University. She is one of the world’s leading experts on male victims of domestic violence and false allegations against them. Hines’ expertise includes the causes, consequences, and prevention of family violence and sexual assault, with a particular focus on under-recognized victims of violence. As the former director of the Massachusetts Family Impact Seminars, she also has a specialization in translating university-based research for policymakers.

Dr. Hines is the author of over 70 peer-reviewed articles and two books on issues of family violence, one of which – Family Violence in the United States – was recently released by Sage in its third edition. She and her colleagues are currently working on an international handbook entitled, Handbook of Men’s Victimisation in Intimate Relationships, currently under contract with Taylor and Francis. She has spoken about her work in front of various audiences, including state coalitions against domestic violence, the Massachusetts State legislature, the White House domestic policy staff, staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Canadian Parliament.

About George Mason
George Mason University, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services
The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit chhs.gmu.edu.

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Intimate Partner Violence

Five Professors Earn CHHS Tenure Promotions & Two Named Professor Emeriti

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 25 May 2022 13:32:32 +0000

Five Professors Earn CHHS Tenure Promotions & Two Named Professor Emeriti Mary Cunningham Wed, 05/25/2022 - 09:32

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

Katherine Scafide, PhD, RN, FAAN

Ali Weinstein, PhD

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

Congratulations to Ihara, Scafide, von Fricken, Weinstein, and Wojtusiak on their promotions and Guccione and Rome on being named Professors Emeriti. The College recognizes teaching excellence, leadership, dedication to research, and commitment to student success.

The College is thrilled to recognize the below faculty members on their promotions:

Promotion to Associate Professor without Term (Tenure)

Katherine Scafide – School of Nursing
Michael von Fricken – Department of Global and Community Health

Promotion to Full Professor

Emily Ihara – Department of Social Work
Ali Weinstein – Department of Global and Community Health
Janusz Wojtusiak – Department of Health Administration and Policy

Additionally, retiring faculty members Andrew Guccione in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Sunny Harris Rome in the Department of Social Work have been named professors emeriti.

“We are so proud to have such distinguished faculty within the College,” said Cathy Tompkins, associate dean for faculty and staff affairs. “The work they have done in their respective fields is one of the many reasons we can boast the excellence of the College.”

Guccione, Ihara, Scafide, Rome, von Fricken, Weinstein, and Wojtusiak have exemplified what it means to further the pursuit of academic teaching and research. Their commitment to our student body and advancing knowledge in health and human services has earned them their new title.

Instructional Faculty Promotions were announced earlier this year in April 2022.

Once again, congratulations to all promoted and emeriti faculty!

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Rehab Science Faculty

2021-22 Academic Year - A Year of Continued Growth and Notable Milestones

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 24 May 2022 13:25:28 +0000

2021-22 Academic Year - A Year of Continued Growth and Notable Milestones Mary Cunningham Tue, 05/24/2022 - 09:25

Another academic year is coming to a close as we celebrate 794 new College of Health and Human Services alumni. Here we highlight a few of the College's recent milestones.

The 2021-22 academic year reflects the College’s strong, positive trajectory of continued growth and notable milestones. For the past five years, the College has seen significant progress in enrollment, degree offerings, philanthropy, and research funding and expenditures – thanks to the hard work of all.

Just some of our achievements since 2017 include:

19% enrollment growth;
97% increase in budget;
122% increase in research expenditures;
254% increase in philanthropic giving;
Recruitment of 83 new faculty, 30 new administrative staff, and 14 new research technical staff; and
76% six-year graduation rate for first-time freshmen, which is a 14% increase from 2010.

In addition to sustaining our substantial growth metrics, the College has also achieved significant milestones in our journey toward becoming an accredited college of public health including:

Launching our new PhD in Public Health in August 2020 and earning degree accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in March 2021;
Achieving CEPH accreditation for our PhD in Health Services Research in April 2022;
Submitting our Initial Application to CEPH to become a College of Public Health in April 2022;
Gaining approval from Mason’s Graduate Council for a new Master of Public Health concentration in Health Equity and Social Justice in April 2022, to launch in fall 2022; and
Receiving notification in May 2022 that CEPH accepted our initial application submission to become an accredited college of public health.

This academic year, we also made sizable strides on several strategic initiatives relative to the College’s mission of supporting students and advancing the public’s health across the lifespan, such as:

Recruiting 47 new faculty and staff in for AY 2021-22;
Opening the Virtual Reality and Simulation Lab for interprofessional student education in the fall of 2021;
Working to promote a diverse and inclusive excellence community by launching our climate survey and key priorities in March 2022;
Convening health directors, philanthropy, and technology sectors for the Transforming Public Health Workshop in March 2022;
Launching behavioral health services in the Population Health Center in fall 2021 and the Nutrition and Weight Management Clinic, which is scheduled to open in June 2022;
Awarding more than $500,000 in student scholarships to 124 students;
Continuing as a member of the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network as well as advancing plans for a research collaboration with Inova;
Engaging more than 500 alumni, donors, and friends of Mason at events such as the Honoring Mason Nurses: Past, Present and Future, Fifty & Flourishing Social Work event, 5^th Annual Farm to Table dinner, and regional alumni events;
Launching a strategic enrollment marketing initiative to support our degree programs; and
Envisioning a Center for Health Equity to advance research and practice.

Congratulations also to the faculty in the College who achieved important tenure and promotion milestones this year:

Lia Fleming and Kerri LaCharite were promoted to associate professor;
Laura Poms, Margaret Rodan, and Rebecca Sutter were promoted to full professor;
Michael von Fricken and Katherine Scafide were tenured and promoted to associate professor;
Emily Ihara, Ali Weinstein, and Janusz Wojtusiak were promoted to full professor; and
Andrew Guccione and Sunny Harris Rome were appointed as faculty emeriti.

"It’s been an eventful, successful, and very busy year of achievements. We can all be proud. Your efforts will have a lasting impact on our students as well as the populations and communities we serve," said Dean Germaine Louis to faculty and staff. "I am grateful for your contributions in all that we’ve accomplished together and wish you a restful summer with family and friends. There is still much work to be done to become a college of public health and to bring health to all people."

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CHHS News

College Honors Class of 2022 Graduates at Degree Celebration

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 23 May 2022 17:17:35 +0000

College Honors Class of 2022 Graduates at Degree Celebration Mary Cunningham Mon, 05/23/2022 - 13:17

Congratulations, Class of 2022!

Graduates of the College of Health and Human Services Class of 2022 were honored during an in-person Degree Celebration at EagleBank Arena on May 22. We are pleased to resume the tradition of hosting in-person Degree Celebrations, and the celebration was live-streamed for those who could not attend.

Kim Holmes, associate dean for academic affairs, hosted the celebration and welcomed the graduates and their loved ones during opening remarks, followed by comments from Dean Germaine Louis, keynote speaker Karen Dale, and student speaker Deniz Lopez-Jimenez.

Holmes opened the program by acknowledging all the hard work that led students to this moment.

“Our graduates have made their mark on Mason and their neighboring communities. Many have spent countless hours working and training in local clinics, researching topics that will improve the health of others, leading student organizations, serving the community, and other important causes,” Holmes said. The College conferred 469 bachelor’s degrees, 270 master’s degrees, 34 doctoral degrees, and 21 graduate certificates, boasting a total of 794 spring 2022 graduates who received their degrees across six departments.

“Today, we want you to know that we see your efforts, we’ve seen you in the building on early mornings putting the finishing touches on assignments, meeting classmates; we see the challenges you’ve overcome, juggling work, family commitments, classes, internships, clinical hours; and in the end you all shared a common goal of helping and serving others by proving health and services can support health and wellness,” she continued. “Whether you know it or not, you challenge all of us to be better, push harder, and to chase our dreams. After all your hard work, today is our day to honor and celebrate you.”

Dean Germaine Louis and Keynote Speaker alumna Karen Dale

Dean Germaine Louis took the podium next to share that it was the students who inspired her to overcome her writing block and complete this speech only a few days ago.

“My block was because of the many challenges in the world that are facing our current graduates as well as future ones. And to me, at times, these challenges feel insurmountable,” said Louis. “How do we overcome global hunger, housing instability, health disparities driven by social inequities, hatred, violence, trauma, climate change, in over one million lives lost from COVID-19 infections in the US alone? I asked myself, are these challenges curable? Is it reasonable to ask today’s graduates and the ones to follow to be able to solve these problems that certainly my generation has not done?”

“I thought about our students in the college, across all disciplines...I easily remembered how incredible they are; Something their parents, family, and friends already know and know well,” Louis continued. “As health professionals, our students show up when need arises. Words cannot come close to expressing the great pride I have for our graduates and the faculty and staff who stand with them.”

“I found my renewed sense of hope in you. You can and will correct the wrongs of the world to innovate new paths forward and to deliver health equity irrespective of remaining challenges,” said Louis.

She also offered a few words of advice and hope.

“Remain intellectually curious with a willingness to learn to advance knowledge and deliver health innovations,” she said. “Remember together we can make health visible a reality for all. In the words of Mason’s president Gregory Washington, ‘It’s Mason’s Time and it gives me hope.’”

Bachelor of Nursing alumna Dale spoke to graduates about the importance of purpose. She is the market president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for AmeriHealth Caritas’ Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) in Washington, D.C. Dale was originally scheduled to address graduates at the May 2020 Degree Celebration which was canceled due to COVID-19, but returned this year to encourage graduates to find their individual motivations.

Dale shared that clarity of purpose helps us to be more resilient and have greater life satisfaction. She recommended these steps to find that clarity: Identify your unique gifts, have courage, be inclusive, and make decisions based on what’s right.

“This is the beginning of an opportunity for you to leverage your unique gifts, to find your purpose, to be a catalyst for good,” Dale said. “I wish you immense success in all your endeavors; and I hope you leave this ceremony with positive emotion in your heart, a focus on intentional engagement in all your relationships, a magnificent sense of urgency to define your meaning and purpose, and that you have the courage, the renewable courage, to lead in ways that help you to achieve yet unimagined accomplishments.”

Student Speaker Deniz Lopez-Jimenez

Lopez-Jimenez is a first-generation U.S. college student, who wanted to share his story of hope with his fellow graduates. He thanked his family and asked graduates to give their support networks and themselves a round of applause for all they have accomplished.

“In your future endeavors, I urge you to keep advocating for and helping others, persevering, and holding dear the value of the Mason experience. Go out there and make the world a better place! If you’re a first-generation college student, know that ‘Si se puede!’ You can do it! We can do it.”

After the ceremony, graduates, their families and friends, faculty, and staff were invited to a celebratory reception at Peterson Hall.

Congratulations to our newest alumni!

Check back in a few days for a slideshow of event photos.

To stay connected, all alumni are encouraged to become a part of the public health dialogue on the College’s social media channels: chhs.gmu.edu/news | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

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Social Work Integrative Research Lab Supports Social Work Students’ Career Development

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 20 May 2022 15:02:42 +0000

Social Work Integrative Research Lab Supports Social Work Students’ Career Development Mary Cunningham Fri, 05/20/2022 - 11:02

According to a new study by Social Work Associate Professor JoAnn Lee, the research, leadership, networking, and career skills students learned in SWiRL have benefited them professionally.

Students and faculty work in the Social Work integrative Research Lab (SWiRL).

The College of Health and Human Services’ Social Work integrative Research Lab (SWiRL) was created to improve undergraduate students’ research skills, and a new alumni survey highlights how they learned professional and career skills beyond research in the collaborative lab.

SWiRL supports Bachelor of Social Work students in conducting research and allows Master of Social Work students to mentor undergraduate students. The lab also provides social work faculty and students with different interests to collaborate and learn from each other. Most other research labs are centered on a substantive topic, whereas SWiRL incorporates faculty with a range of different research topics and is connected by a shared focus on skill development among students.

“A majority of social work students are interested in clinical practice, not research, so we set up SWiRL to expose more students to the benefits of social work research. With data from the first four years of the program, it is great to see that alumni have used the skills they learned in SWiRL to support not only research, but other professional aspirations,” said Social Work Associate Professor and one of SWiRL’s founding faculty JoAnn Lee.

Alumni responses showed that participating in SWiRL increased the value they placed on research; taught them how to integrate research into practice; and provided leadership development, confidence building, and community. The alumni reported that they developed a range of non-research skills that help them in their current jobs, including creative problem solving, patience, accepting direction from others, taking responsibility for tasks, and written communication. Their experiences in SWiRL also contributed to their identity development, both as a social worker and as a researcher.

Students work in SWiRL.

“Participation in SWiRL includes learning about the range of topics and methods that social work research covers as well as feeling like part of a community. The range of topics is an important aspect of students’ experiences because it contributes to their identity development as a social worker as they are exposed to the variety of possibilities within the social work field,” said Lee. Topics have included foster youth aging out of care, trauma and horticulture therapy, advance care planning for end-of-life, kinship care and program development, prevention and intervention of interpersonal violence, immigrant integration, and music and memory intervention for older adults.

Teaching Note—Student Satisfaction with an Integrative Research Learning Environment was published in The Journal of Social Work Education in February 2022. In addition to Lee, authors include graduate research supervisor Maya Mohindroo, assistant professor Eric Waithaka, undergraduate research assistant Ellen Carlson, graduate research supervisor Jonea Ahouissoussi, undergraduate research assistant Sara Alhassani, graduate research supervisor Kendall Barrett, graduate research supervisor Maxine Eber, undergraduate research assistant McKenzie Lauber, Department of Social Work Chair Emily S. Ihara, all from George Mason University.

The Department of Social Work began SWiRL in 2015 and faculty members have presented on the lab model at the Council of Social Work Education and published about it previously in 2017.

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