Class Notes

Matt Bouse, MSW ‘19 started a new private therapy practice in January 2025. His practice, Bouse Therapy Services, is located in downtown Ann Arbor, MI and focuses on helping clients decrease anxiety, shame, low self-esteem and other attachment concerns. The practice primarily works with men between the ages of 19 and 39. More information can be found online at: https://www.bousetherapyservices.com/

I’m excited to share that I recently published a book titled The Big House: A Human-Centered & Progressive Approach to DEI and Positive Workforce Engagement. The title is not a reference to Michigan Stadium—but it is a reflection of the bold, foundational work needed to build inclusive and engaging workplace cultures.

Of my two graduate degrees, I’ve drawn most heavily on my MSW throughout my career. The social work values instilled at the University of Michigan—empathy, advocacy, systems thinking, and a deep commitment to equity—have shaped my leadership approach as an HR executive and strategist across multiple industries.

This book is a culmination of those experiences. It’s designed for leaders, practitioners, and changemakers seeking real-world insights on how to make positive and human-centered impact meaningful and sustainable in today’s workplaces. I’m proud to use the principles of my MSW.

You can learn more about my work at www.askovell.com. Go Blue!

I have launched a Therapeutic Stress Coaching program called Stress Rehab under my LLC, IterVia Health. I have reimagined stress from a conventional perspective of "management" to one of determining and focusing on the root cause of 3 general areas of our wellness that impact our ability to cope with external stress. I help clients to create possibilities and the confidence to change these root causes, improving balance and homeostasis in their mind, body and connection energy.

I have expanded my MSW knowledge and experience over the years to include training in Ayurveda, Transformational Nutrition and Reiki and I am excited to combine all of these approaches to present a synergistic strategy for stress. My website is www.stressrehab.net. I also have a podcast called Share Your Health Wealth where I interview individuals about their own wellness journey. www.shareyourhealthwealth.com

Ann W. Nguyen, MSW '11, PhD '15, Associate Professor of Social Work, is the editor of the Aging Insights and Research Newsletter at Case Western Reserve University. She recently presented four research projects at the Society for Social Work and Research Conference in January 2025 and five projects at the Gerontological Society of America conference in November 2024.

Lauren Gourley, MSW ’04, recently published Confluence: Navigating the Journey as Parent and Helping Professional. The reflective workbook addresses an important and often neglected topic in professional training by exploring the interplay of identities as both parent and provider first through research and clinical stories and later by offering reflective prompts for use individually or in reflective supervision. Lauren has a small private practice in western Wisconsin where she focuses on infant, early childhood, and perinatal mental health and offers reflective consultation to a wide array of professional helpers.

I gave a TEDx talk in Ireland titled Money and S.e.x: The Surprising Connection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cmoq06v1J0 I am a UM SSW grad MSW 2004 and Sexual Health Certificate Program 2022. The talk is sparking global conversations about these 2 taboo topics.

Sexual health is a vital yet underappreciated element of overall well-being, and surprisingly, it’s tied to our financial empowerment as well. Numerous scientific studies have shown that sexual activity increases our happiness, health, confidence, productivity at work, and even our finances.

I invite my fellow graduates to watch the talk (and if inspired, please help spread the word by sharing with friends or colleagues). Thank you so much!

I'm excited to have joined the outstanding team at Rosie's Place as Chief External Relations Officer, after having served over 13 years as executive director of a nonprofit providing domestic violence response and prevention. In this new role, I will oversee Development, Communications, Community Engagement, and Public Policy. It is an exciting time as Rosie's place celebrates its 50th anniversary! Reach out if you are in the greater Boston area!

I was recently recognized in the Spring 2024 newsletter for CDC Office of Minority Health, as a Health Equity Champion:

https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/newsletter/2024/spring/champion.html

Hi all. (Especially those in the '97 Dr Faller's child welfare program!) I've spent almost 20 years working with children as a clinical social worker and in child welfare, then homelessness and mental health, and currently managing a number of violence prevention programs for Hennepin County, MN.

After losing three family members to suicide, including my father when I was a college senior in 1989, my cousin Vinny in 2013, and my brother Brendan in 2022, I just published "The Secret Struggle: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One", coupling these personal experiences with my professional insights.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1643435906?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_45VSPCIWXFP1…

Website: thesecretstruggle.com

Hope all are well!

Don

Jun Sung Hong received the Fulbright Scholar Award in 2023 and was hosted by the University of Antwerp in Belgium to conduct research on cyberbullying.