School of Social Work News

Associate Professor Trina Shanks, through the Technical Assistance Center, was awarded a Poverty Solutions grant to support Detroit-based Alternatives for Girls as they strengthen and evaluate their child savings account program. The program is designed to promote post-secondary education and degree attainment for girls of color and increased financial capability for families.

Vincent Fusaro, PhD'17 is the recipient of the 2018 Society for Social Work and Research Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award for his dissertation entitled "The Spirit of '96: States & the Implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families."

Professor Brad Zebrack chaired the advocacy panel of adolescent and young adult cancer patients at the 2017 2nd Global Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Congress in Atlanta.

Assistant Professor of Social Work Kristin Seefeldt is recognized by the Society for Social Work and Research for her book, “Abandoned Families: Social Isolation in the Twenty-First Century.” The 2018 Society for Social Work and Research Outstanding Social Work Book Award recognizes outstanding scholarly contributions that advance social work knowledge. Through in-depth interviews over a six-year period with women in Detroit, Seefeldt charts the increasing social isolation of many low-income workers, particularly African Americans, and analyzes how economic and residential segregation keep them from achieving the American Dream of upward mobility.   

LEO Lecturer Tony Alvarez gave the 2017 Kurt Hahn Address at the Association for Experiential Education International Conference in Montreal. The Address is presented annually by a person designated by the Board of Directors who has contributed to the development and advancement of experiential education with the tenacity and conviction exemplified by Kurt Hahn.

Associate Professor Andy Grogan-Kaylor’s article, “Income inequality and high blood pressure in Colombia: a multilevel analysis” was published in Cadernos de Saúde Pública.

Professor Brad Zebrack’s article, “Sexual functioning among young adult cancer patients: A 2-year longitudinal study” was published in Cancer.

Assistant Professor Xiaoling Xiang and Associate Professor Emily Nicklett received a grant from the Community Memorial Foundation via the Aging Care Connections for their community-engaged project which aims to evaluate the Aging Well Neighborhood initiative in Illinois. The Initiative is a collaboration of businesses, health care agencies, and nonprofits to create "health neighborhood" that assists the whole person aging in place and affirms the benefits of a life-long process of wellness and prevention.