Class Notes

Lois Aptekar Kalafus, MSW ’67, worked at Family Service of Greater Boston from 1967 until 1988, when she moved to California. She then worked as a therapist in the psychiatry departments of San Jose and Palo Alto Medical Groups. Since retiring in 2009, she has volunteered teaching English to new immigrants. In a recent trip to Tanzania, she met a Tanzanian social worker who educates and counsels Tanzanians with Albinism. Lois found her most impressive, and if others are interested in learning about the program, they can visit www.albinism-tz.org.

Karen (Ferguson) Bagwell, MSW ’88, has retired after 27 years in the mental health field, and now only works when she wants to!

Samuel A. Lauber, MSW ’74, graduated from the School of Social Work with a specialization in Community Organization. While working for thirty-two years for the Army, Air Force, and Navy as a Federal Civil Service Employee, he had many accomplishments. From 1980-1983 he conceived and coordinated base-wide community programs in support of alcohol prevention and co-authored a desk guide called “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment.” He then initiated and organized the first child sexual abuse seminar for professionals from Germany and The Netherlands. From 1998-2008 he presented 600 briefings and trained over 80,000 military and civilian personal, and wrote over 70 articles on mental health related issues. Samuel also earned the Meritorious Service Award and the Air Force Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award.

Mia Moyad, MSW ’08, through her own exploration of self-therapy has discovered healing through art and now has a gift line utilizing her art. She also offers thera-play classes to individuals and groups, or offers team building in the workplace.

Judith Newman, MSW ’73, is a Training and Supervising Analyst at the Chicago Psychoanalytical Institute, where she is also a Director of the Psychotherapy Fellowship Program. She has a private practice pf psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and consultation. Alumnus in the area who are interested in psychoanalytic practice are encouraged to contact her.

Caroline Perkins, MSW ’18, is a school social worker for a K-6 charter school in Chicago. Her day-to-day work life includes supporting diverse learners, crisis management, and behavior support. She engages in student advocacy on an individual, family, community, and district level.

Miller Stayrook, MSW ’68, worked from 1967 to 1975 at Kalamazoo Public Schools, and then worked at Bethel College in Newton, Kansas until 1986. Following this, he worked at the Kansas Department of Welfare, in both Child Abuse Investigation and Development of Computer Systems. Miller retired from the Kansas Department of Welfare in 1995, and worked at the Mental Health Association in Wichita Kansas until 1988 when he retired.

In May 2019, Betty Brown Chappell, MSW '71, was elected as a trustee of the Eastern Michigan University Foundation. Trustees provide guidance and oversight to development initiatives.

I currently work in multiple capacities, in light of current problems in society and as a parent, I wrote a children's book to increase protective factors against childhood sexual abuse. I currently work in a private practice, I co-own Behavioral Health Consultants, LLC (www.bhconsultantsllc.com) and I started a nonprofit (Get the Word Out- www.G-two.org). I work with the UM School of Social Work (ART), and I work at Michigan Medicine psychiatric emergency services (PES) on the weekend.

After decades in the social service, non-profit, and church ministry fields, in May of 2019 I took a position leading Concordia University's newer Social Work program, as BSW Program Coordinator.