Promotion? New Grandchild? Published a book? Honored with an award? You can share your news and updates with fellow alumni in the Class Notes section of the SSW website.
Alumni Updates
Meredith Mason-Ramler
Dr. Meredith Mason-Ramler, MSW 2011, has been recently promoted to an Associate Professor of Human Services and Social Work at the Gateway College. In addition to serving as the Program Coordinator of these subjects, Dr. Mason-Ramler has been promoted to Assistant Dean of the Allied Health Professions Division, also as Gateway College. Furthermore, Dr. Mason has received a renewal of her Ohio Social Work License (LISW) in clinical mental health practice.
Barbara Rachelson
Barbara Rachelson won her 6th term serving as a state representative in the Vermont House. Barbara represents part of Burlington, VT. Barbara is also lecturing at the University of Vermont and is a consultant at three different businesses: Simple Grants, Boules Consulting, and GrantExec. Barbara currently serves on the Vermont Judicial Nominating Committee and is a board member of the national organization, HRK (Human Rights for Kids: humanrightsforkids.org).
John Paul Abenojar
I attended the Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare 57th Annual Meeting and Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. I presented a poster with titled Directors of Social Services: Overlooked Leadership Needs at Skilled Nursing Facilities. I was recognized for presenting the best poster that demonstrates social work excellence in leadership.
Andi Blaylock
On October 10th 2022, Andi Blaylock (formerly Yakovitz) joined Emerson, a St. Louis-based company, in the newly created position of Director of Wellbeing. In this global role, Andi will be responsible for creating strategies and programs to support employee well-being across four pillars of health: physical, mental, financial, and social.
Richard Hoefer
Dr. Richard A. Hoefer, PhD '89, will be named as an NASW Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) on October 15th, 2022. He is being honored for his many achievements in the field of social work.
Maeda Galinsky
Dr. Maeda J. Galinsky (1934-2019), MSW '61, PhD '63, will be named as an NASW Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) in October 2022. She is being honored for her many achievements in the field of social work during her lifetime.
Megan Gilster
Megan was promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. In 2022, she began serving as the director of the PhD program in Social Work at the University of Iowa.
Lynne Walter
Lynne Walter, MSW '05, was named the 2022 NASW-NC Myrna Miller Wellons Advocate of the Year, and on June 28, Lynne was recognized at the North Carolina General Assembly for this honor and had the courtesies of the North Carolina House Gallery extended to her.
Diane Alexis Nafranowicz
Diane Alexis Nafranowicz (MSW 1976) recently retired from the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor. Diane provided student services support to Michigan Law students, serving over four decades as Director of the Lawyers Club.
Karen Lincoln
Karen D. Lincoln, PhD, MSW, MS, a graduate of the PhD Joint Program, has been awarded the 2022 James Jackson Memorial Award. Read more here:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2022/dr-karen-lincoln-wins-t…