Joint PhD Program

Department deadline: September 27, 2025
Submit electronically to Laura Thomas [email protected]

This award was established by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation along with matching funds provided by the Ann and Robert Lurie Family Foundation. It is awarded to students in the Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Social Science with a research interest in advancing the understanding of issues relevant to improving the well-being of children, youth and their families.

Department deadline: September 17, 2025
Submit electronically to Todd Huynh [email protected]

Department deadline: December 17, 2026
Submit electronically to Laura Thomas [email protected]

This note announces an award available to new and continuing students in the Joint Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program. To be eligible for the award, a student must be in good standing and show distinguished achievements in the Joint Doctoral Program.

*Please note that this award alternates yearly between PhD and MSW students

The Rosemary Sarri Endowed Scholarship was established by gifts from alumni and friends to honor Rosemary Sarri, PhD, on her retirement from her distinguished teaching and research career at the UM School of Social Work. Dr. Sarri generously matched these contributions to double the amount of the fund. This award provides two scholarships, one for students in the MSW program and one for the students in the Joint PhD Program who have interest in community change, policy and political social work, management and leadership or program evaluation and applied research.

Department deadline: December 6, 2025
Submit electronically to Laura Thomas [email protected]

This award is given to a PhD student whose research focuses on poverty and social justice.

Clara P. and Larry E. Davis Scholarship Application

Brittani Parham, Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Psychology, has successfully defended her dissertation entitled "Compounded Disadvantage: Exploring the Intersection of Race, Sex, and Child Welfare in Juvenile Justice." Her committee included Matthew Smith (co-chair), Joseph Ryan and Camille Quinn. Parham is currently exploring job market opportunities in social work or juvenile justice policy.

So’Phelia Morrow, Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Sociology, has successfully defended her dissertation entitled has successfully defended "Killing Us Softly: Intimate Partner Violence and The Forced Martyrdom of Black Women."  Her committee included Terri Friedline (co-chair) and Rich Tolman. Morrow has accepted an assistant professor of social work position at Wayne State University.

Professor Matthew Smith has received the 2025 DSO Faculty Award. Awarded by the Doctoral Student Organization, this award honors a faculty mentor who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring, developing and supporting doctoral students.

Smith is also the School's Associate Dean of Research.

PhD students Matt Hiller, Anna Wood and Irene Routté have been awarded Rackham Predoctoral Fellowships, one of the most prestigious awards granted to U-M graduate doctoral students.

PhD student Charles Wiliams was featured in a Washington Post article about how consumers are boycotting companies as they roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Williams helped coordinate a “good-buy” at a Detroit-area Target. “We sent a clear message to Target that our voices and our dollars matter,” he said.