PhD News

The IMPACT Awards honor outstanding students, faculty, staff and student organizations who are committed to uplifting our community and advancing the School’s mission. The awards are presented annually by the School’s Flourish Office.

Student IMPACT Award: PhD Student Nico Juárez

Congratulations to the following PhD students on their recently received honors:

PhD student Brittney Barros is featured in the PBS documentary “Rebecoming Me,” which profiles five individuals who grew up in Colorado’s foster care system. The film won a 2025 Heartland Emmy Award.  

So’Phelia Morrow, Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Sociology, has successfully defended her dissertation entitled has successfully defended "Killing Us Softly: Intimate Partner Violence and The Forced Martyrdom of Black Women."  Her committee included Terri Friedline (co-chair) and Rich Tolman. Morrow has accepted an assistant professor of social work position at Wayne State University.

Brittani Parham, Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Psychology, has successfully defended her dissertation entitled "Compounded Disadvantage: Exploring the Intersection of Race, Sex, and Child Welfare in Juvenile Justice." Her committee included Matthew Smith (co-chair), Joseph Ryan and Camille Quinn. Parham is currently exploring job market opportunities in social work or juvenile justice policy.

Professor Matthew Smith has received the 2025 DSO Faculty Award. Awarded by the Doctoral Student Organization, this award honors a faculty mentor who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring, developing and supporting doctoral students.

Smith is also the School's Associate Dean of Research.

PhD students Matt Hiller, Anna Wood and Irene Routté have been awarded Rackham Predoctoral Fellowships, one of the most prestigious awards granted to U-M graduate doctoral students.

PhD student Charles Wiliams was featured in a Washington Post article about how consumers are boycotting companies as they roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Williams helped coordinate a “good-buy” at a Detroit-area Target. “We sent a clear message to Target that our voices and our dollars matter,” he said.

PhD student Olivia Chang was quoted in a recent MSN article about her research on the connection between veterans with PTSD and their use of corporal punishment in their parenting practices. “Understanding a child’s emotions and behavior is essential for effective parenting.

PhD Student Irene Routté has received the 2024 Outstanding Doctoral Student Award from the Association for Community Organizing & Social Action (ACOSA). This award honors meritorious scholarship in the field of community practice.