Towards a Diverse Community

The Admission Office team (from left): Assistant Director of Admission, Karissa Raynor; Senior Associate Director of Admission, Valerie Nguy˜ên Hooper; Assistant Director of Admission, Tobias Davis A.B. ’03; and Administrative Assistant, Sarah Duey. Not pictured: Associate Dean of Graduate Enrollment and Student Services, Irene Rodriguez-Martin.

BY LAURA NOEL

In 2016 the SSW made a commitment to developing transgender and gender-nonconforming (GNC) social work leaders who could contribute to the School’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusiveness.

“We noticed that the number of trans and GNC students enrolled at our School was increasing and, as a queer-identified person it was important to me that we ensure that these students knew they belonged here, that there was a place for them here,” said Dean, Marianne Yoshioka, M.S.W., Ph.D., “It is an important part of creating an inclusive learning environment and it’s part of our overall Anti-Racism Commitment which ultimately is about expanding equity, justice and access across all parts of the School.” The School’s Admission Office was an essential component in achieving this goal. “The Admission Team was excited by the prospect” said Associate Dean of Graduate Enrollment and Student Services, Irene Rodriguez-Martin. “We had several planning meetings where we identified conferences and programs with solid representation of queer, trans and GNC professionals, and I asked Assistant Director of Admission Tobias Davis to take the lead in representing the SSW in such settings.”

Those conversations led them to attend Creating Change—one of the longest running and biggest LGBTQ conferences—for the first time in 2016, and to sponsor the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, one of the largest, free trans-specific conferences in the world.

Tobias Davis, A.B. ’03, sees these events as great opportunities to connect with both prospective students and alumni. Davis also meets lots of social workers—both current and former—who are so happy to see a school for social work in attendance.

“Until this year, I’ve never seen another school for social work at these events,” said Davis. “There is a desperate need for queer and trans social workers, and that is something that the School is really aware of, that students are aware of, and that people in those communities are aware of.”

Attending these events has allowed Davis to connect with young members of the trans community who are interested in attending but want to know what life is really like for a trans or GNC student at SSW.

“We’re seeing that in-person conversations at these events really resonate and make a difference,” said Davis.

“I’m so proud of the work we are doing,” said Senior Associate Director of Admission Valerie Nguy˜ên Hooper. “We have such a diverse team and the School’s extraordinary commitment to inclusion allows us to keep our personal and professional commitments and identities central to our work. Realizing this in the context of the School’s commitment has been empowering.” ◆