Winter 2018 Commencement

The School of Social Work winter commencement at Hill Auditorium on Saturday, December 15, 2018, featured an inspirational keynote address from Assistant Professor and co-director of the Gender and Health Research Lab, Jamie Mitchell. Mitchell encouraged graduates to pursue continual growth through resistance, resilience, relationships and reflection; to give back and to be change agents in their local communities. Student speakers Kristina "K" Agbebiyi and Gabriela Santiago-Romero each gave stirring addresses. At the ceremony, 220 graduates received their MSW degrees (including 14 graduates who earned dual degrees).

The following day, the University of Michigan community, families and friends gathered for the University’s December graduation. Kavitha Lobo, MSW ‘18, introduced computer scientist, inventor and transgender activist Lynn Conway as the featured speaker. Lobo, joined by engineering graduate Jiten Parbhoo, from the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, encouraged graduates and guests to treat all their experiences as learning opportunities and always to be true to themselves and their values. Allie Vansickle,  MSW ‘18, a student facilitator at the University’s Office of Student Conflict Resolution, carried the School banner for the ceremony.