School of Social Work News

Michigan Social Work, together with Poverty Solutions, the Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion and The Annie E. Casey Foundation, hosted academics, researchers, financial analysts, elected officials and policy experts at a conference to discuss Children’s Savings Accounts (CSA).  The conference was organized by Professor William Elliott.  Dean Lynn Videka welcomed the participants and introduced keynote speaker, SSW alumnus, Michael Sherraden.  Associate Professors Terri Friedline and Trina Shanks also spoke during the three-day event.  Conference sessions included creating policy for financial inclusion, current research initiatives to evaluate CSA outcomes, and an overview of how to start and fund a CSA.

The School of Social Work Queer Advocacy Coalition was awarded the Excellence in Student Leadership Award at the Spring 2019 Lavender Graduation. The award recognizes sustained and lasting commitment to LGBTQ communities. Lavender Graduation, sponsored by Spectrum,  is a celebration to honor LGBTQ graduates at U-M.

Paige Safyer defended her dissertation "M(other) Nurture: Exploring the Influence of Maternal Care on the Development of Infant Emotion Processing, Regulation, and the Emotional Brain."  Her committee consisted of Richard Tolman, Brenda Volling (co-chairs), Katherine Rosenblum, Julie Ribaudo and Ioulia Kovelman. She has accepted an Assistant Professor of Social Work position at Arizona State University. 

Kathryn Berringer, PhD candidate Social Work and Anthropology was awarded a Rackham Program in Public Scholarship. The scholarship supports research projects created in partnership with Rackham students and community organizations.

Berringer is working with the Ruth Ellis Center in Highland Park to produce a set of multimedia products documenting the history of the center serving LGBTQ youth in metro Detroit. She will be collaborating with the center's Youth Advisory Board.

Pinghui Wu defended her dissertation, "Demand Shocks, Shift in Welfare Regime, and the Well-being of Workers and Their Families."  Her committee consisted of Luke Shaefer, Dominick Bartelme (co-chairs), Sandra Danziger, Charles Brown and John Bound. She has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan.

“A thoughtful wealth transfer equips all people with tools that can complement their own contributions; it’s as American as the plow, the automobile, and the iPhone.”  Professor William Elliott and Associate Professor Trina Shanks reframe the American wealth narrative in an essay in New America.

Anthony Abshire, MSW candidate, has been selected to serve this summer as a Foster Youth Intern in Washington, D.C. The Foster Youth Internship Program is a summer congressional internship for young adults who have spent time in the foster care system. The program is sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which works with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus. 
 

Associate Research Scientist Roland Zullo’s research on privatizing food service in Michigan prisons was featured in The Nation’s cover story “How Private Equity Is Turning Public Prisons Into Big Profits.”