Our Vision 2030 comes to life through the inspiring work of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and partners. Here are stories from across our community that showcase how we're advancing education, research, action, and inclusive culture. These examples demonstrate the power of building tomorrow together and the real-world impact we're creating as we work toward our shared vision.
- Research
- Action
In collaboration with Thalia Wilson, Adena Two Eagle & Steven Wilson
Peaceful Means is a community-based research program — part of the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory (IRVL) — dedicated to finding solutions to prevent sexual violence against Oglala Lakota youth on th
- Research
- Action
In collaboration with Jennie Jester, Katie Edwards
Through the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory (IRVL), in partnership with LGBT Detroit, we are working to reduce health disparities and interpersonal violence.
- Research
- Action
In partnership with Rich Tolman & Charles Williams
During the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Meeting, I hosted a national listening session and call to action titled “Movement on Black Men’s Mental Health: Building a community, Building Care, Building Change.” We br
- Action
I am living my vision of returning what I have learned from the U-M School of Social Work. I plan to continue my work with fellow veterans who fall through the cracks of the criminal justice system.
- Research
I support the research that happens at School — specifically, the Title IV-E fellowship program.
- Education
- Action
- School Culture
I am honored to be a cofounder of The SunBundle, a nonprofit organization that up-cycles athletic gear and provides it to under-resourced youth in Southeast Michigan.
- Research
- Action
Through the Child and Adolescent Data Lab, I led the development of the Michigan Juvenile Justice Bed Management Tool, a statewide resource that provides real-time visibility into available detention and residential beds in the juvenile justice system.
- Education
- Action
In India, women face intersecting barriers — including gender discrimination, unequal access to education as well as persistent mental health issues — that impact their safety, opportunity and well-being.
- Education
- Research
- Action
The VOCES: Southwest Detroit History team and the School of Social Work's ENGAGE team held several collaborative oral history workshops focused on the power of storytelling. The sessions also covered topics including, archiving, building trust and conducting interviews.
- School Culture
Serving on the staff engagement committee allows me to work with colleagues across the School to create opportunities for staff to build relationships with each other.
- Education
Our statewide Title IV-E consortium started with five universities and we have recently welcomed three more: Oakland University, Ferris University and Eastern Michigan University.
- Education
- Action
This past fall, I had the opportunity to teach an environmental justice class, in which I collaborated with the Detroit Hamtramck Coalition for Advancing Health Environments. Together, we aimed to support the development of public materials that promote healthy environments.
- School Culture
- Action
I attend vision brainstorming activities and other school-focused events to communicate and network within our community. I also give back to my community as a JV softball coach!
- Research
I am collaborating on a new team through the Washtenaw Intermediate School District to research and implement interventions to help lower chronic absenteeism in schools
- Education
- Action
In my courses, I’ve learned about systems of privilege and oppression and, and through the Program on Intergroup Relations, I have explored social identity.
- Education
- School Culture
The dynamic and relationships I have had with my professors and staff at School have been incredible. Their kindness, empathy and understanding have made learning wonderful and encouraged me to have meaningful conversations and ask questions.
- Education
I am committed to sharing what I learn in my classes — both law and social work — with my community to help spread the wealth of knowledge. I am so lucky to be able to take these classes, and I love to pass on what I learn. Collective knowledge creates action.
- Education
- Action
I am gaining real-world experience and simulation practice through the Essentials of Interpersonal Practice class.
- School Culture
I gave a presentation on my global course extension to Ghana at the 58th annual National Association of Black Social Workers conference in Detroit.
- Action
During my field placement at the Flourish office, I served the Ann Arbor & Ypsi community by creating and leading a free support group for those on the higher end of the size spectrum.
- Action
- School Culture
During my field placement at the Flourish office, I served the Ann Arbor & Ypsi community by creating and leading a free support group for those on the higher end of the size spectrum.
- Education
- Action
- School Culture
I collaborate with interdisciplinary departments and attend various conferences. I attended the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work & Policy conference, where I talked to politicians in the field to hear the stories and experiences.
- Education
- Action
We are creating opportunities for bidirectional knowledge sharing between the School and the community. We recruit experts in the community to teach with the school, and provide a channel for faculty to share knowledge with the community.
- School Culture
By creating opportunities and spaces for staff to engage with students, we help them better understand how their efforts connect to our mission, adding value to their work.
- School Culture
We ensure all the events we host are accessible and inclusive for all members of our community: students, faculty, staff and our social work and campus communities.
- Education
- Action
- School Culture
Peace Neighborhood Center provides wraparound services to children, youth and families throughout Washtenaw County.
- Education
- Action
- School Culture
As an Advocacy Committee Leader and Student Government Representative at the School, I live this vision by turning student voices into action.
- Action
The Program Evaluation Group recently hosted our third annual New Human Services Partnership Summit, where we convened 30+ nonprofit organizations in Washtenaw County to reimagine our safety net system.
- Education
- School Culture
I utilize my voice even when it can be uncomfortable and intimidating because it is not only beneficial for self-advocacy, but it will be a valuable skill to use on behalf of the clients and communities I wish to serve.
- Education
I advocate for funding for schools so there is quality education for all students (Student Advocacy Center).
- Research
I support research that improves the health and health care of U.S. veterans.
- Action
I help people — I help addicts not to relapse, and I help immigrants to adjust to life in a new country.
- Education
- Research
- School Culture
June 19, 2026
By listening to staff voices to plan events and other engagement opportunities, we strengthen staff outcomes and collaboration.
- Education
- Action
- School Culture
Peace Neighborhood Center provides wraparound services to children, youth, and families throughout Washtenaw County.
- Education
- Action
- School Culture
As an Advocacy Committee Leader and Student Government Representative at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, I live this vision by turning student voices into action.
- Research
- Action
Over the past 15 months, Connie Sung and I have co-led the INITIATE Center, a bold, multidisciplinary initiative in disability justice.
- School Culture
I had an opportunity to share lessons learned and strategies for contract management and operations practices with another unit at the SSW. Shared learning across units will help us grow together faster.
- Research
- Education
- Action
I advocate for suicide prevention in my field placement at the Ann Arbor VA psychiatric inpatient unit and as a research assistant with the Suicide Prevention, Treatment, & Research (STAR) Lab.
- Education
- Action
Participating in the development of the new MS program and building more impactful financial advisory practices.
- Action
I was appointed to the Older Persons Millage Review Committee by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners this February. With this three-year appointment, I will work to oversee $2 million dollars in millage funds to support older adults per year.
- Action
- Research
I advocate for truly transdisciplinary approaches to cancer care and research at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center and throughout the United States.
- Education
I have started a new line of research focused on the associations between extreme weather and interpersonal violence. This work was inspired by a January 2023 faculty retreat where we collectively identified a gap in our research expertise and work in the area of climate change.
- Education
I am thrilled to be teaching the Introduction to Statistics course to the first-year PhD students. I feel very well-suited to be teaching this class, as I have concentrated on stats throughout my career the last nearly 30 years.
- Education
- Action
- Research
This term, I am teaching SW663, where students are developing grant proposals and fundraising plans for three nonprofit organizations based in Michigan.
- School Culture
One of the ways I build community is by sharing nature photography on the digital signage. I always use photos from U-M campus. People have told me they find the photos calming and welcoming and appreciate the boost when they are entering the building.
- School Culture
The Office of Global Activities runs the Global Meet and Eat event, which provides connection for our international students. School faculty and staff volunteer to host students for a meal, either at their home or at a local restaurant. We ran this last year and will again in April 2026.
- School Culture
June 19, 2026
I've met with my students on evenings and weekends to support them in translating social work theory to the real issues they see.
- School Culture
Prior to my arrival at the School of Social Work, my primary volunteer actions included participating in food banks, phone banks for political candidates and park clean-ups — none of which were very personal.
- Education
- Action
- School Culture
The work I do to live our vision is also summed up by this year’s theme for Social Work Month: Uplift. Defend. Transform.
- Education
- Action
- Research
Over the past year, I worked with partners in Alaska and Washington to develop five 2-hour workshop sessions to reduce and prevent harmful substance use, based on the PC CARES model.
- Education
- Research
I published a book on Multilevel Modeling, which builds upon my 15 years of teaching this topic. The book is focused on practical and advocacy-based researchers. I argue that multilevel modeling is a principled way of thinking about human variation, human commonality, and universals.