School of Social Work News

Professor Rogério M. Pinto was featured on Academic Minute, a daily radio segment showcasing academic research on WAMC/Northeast Public Radio. In the segment, Pinto explores how artwork can help white heterosexual men to confront feelings of homophobia and sexism.

Lexx Brown-James, director of the School’s Sexual Health Certificate Program, spoke with SELF magazine in an article on how verbal affirmation — a praise kink — can boost confidence and pleasure in your sex life.

The story also ran in Vogue India.

Professor Matthew Smith is the recipient of the 2024 MICHR Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor Award. Sponsored by the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), this award recognizes the value of mentoring at U-M in helping early career investigators to reach across disciplinary boundaries in pursuit of science. 

Smith is one of seven faculty and staff members who will be honored at the 2024 Mentoring Forum, co-sponsored by the MICHR and the Medical School Office of Faculty Development, in September. All are invited — in person or online — to celebrate our awardees and the spirit of mentorship.

Joonyoung Cho successfully defended his dissertation entitled “Aging in the Right Place: Effects from Relocation and Homebound Status.” His committee included Ruth Dunkle (co-chair) and Xiaoling Xiang. 

Cho has accepted an assistant professor position at the Center on Aging in the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health at the University of Hawai’i, Mānoa.

Michelangelo Trujillo has successfully defended his dissertation entitled "Identity-Based Processes and Clinical Social Work Education." His committee included Joseph Himle (co-chair) and Richard Tolman.

Professor Daphne Watkins has received the Pynn-Silverman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association. The award was established to honor individuals whose achievements over a career demonstrate the highest degree of commitment to excellence in authoring works to advance their discipline, encouraging and supporting the work of colleagues, and educating students in the field.

Watkins is the Letha A. Chadiah Collegiate Professor of Social Work and a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor.

Lecturer Terri Gilbert has received the Youth Justice Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Center for Youth Justice. “This work is not done by one person alone, this award is more than a personal accolade; it is a testament to the collective efforts of many,” said Gilbert. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to countless dedicated colleagues, advocates and mentors who have been a part of this journey and, most importantly, the young people and families whose lives we strive to impact every day.”

“My guiding philosophy has always been to spend my life working on something that will outlast it. Reflecting on my journey, it’s hard to believe that I have spent almost 45 years in child welfare and youth justice. This path has been fraught with challenges yet filled with moments of profound impact and hope.”

Congratulations to the following faculty members whose promotions were approved this month by the U-M Board of Regents. Katrina Ellis, Lisa Fedina, Odessa Benson Gonzalez and Anao Zhang were promoted to associate professor with tenure. David Córdova and Terri Friedline were promoted to professor. 

In addition, Lindsay Bornheimer was promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, without tenure, School of Medicine. Katrina Ellis was also promoted to Associate Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, without tenure, School of Public Health.

Congratulations also to our faculty members who were promoted during the most recent lecturer promotion cycle. Zaynab Boussi was promoted to Lecturer IV, and Priscilla Cortez, Linda Edwards-Brown, Aliyah Masudi, Benjamin Moe, Jennifer Towns and Roland Zullo were promoted to Lecturer II.