Alumni: Class Notes

1970s

MICHAELIN REAMY WATTS MSW ’79, accepted the 2019 Library of Congress Best Practices Literacy Award in November of that year on behalf of Bring Me A Book Franklin. Watts is president of the Apalachicola, Florida nonprofit. The award honors organizations doing exemplary, innovative and replicable work to increase literacy. “Bring Me A Book Franklin…wants to express its gratitude to Program Coordinator Karen Kessel and the many dedicated local and snowbird volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, skills and caring to the children of Franklin County,” said Watts in accepting the award.

From left, Karen Kessel, program coordinator and Michaelin Reamy Watts, president, of Bring Me A Book Franklin, at the awards ceremony in Washington DC with Judy Koch, president of the Bring Me A Book Foundation.

Photo by Brigid Hubberman (taken before 3/20). Source: http://bit.ly/3vIZURz.

1980s

VICTOR K. WILSON BSW ’82, vice president for Student Affairs at UGA, delivered the rescheduled Spring 2020 undergraduate Commencement keynote address Oct. 16 in Sanford Stadium. In his address, Wilson challenged graduates to find what brings them joy in personal and professional life. “You will never know where you may find your bliss, but you must never stop seeking it,” he told the audience. “Keep your head and your heart open.”

In an interview with Macon, Georgia news agency WMAZ about the rise of child abuse during the pandemic, ANGELA SOLOMON MSW ’89, noted how Bibb County social workers were responding in a virtual setting. “We have educated [staff] on suicidal issues, mental health issues, bullying issues, child abuse issues, and we’ve asked them to look at the clues such as if a student is not logging on, why isn’t that student logging on?” said Solomon, school social work coordinator for the district. “If the student is not engaged, why isn’t the student not engaged?”

1990s

The prevalence of mental illness during the pandemic could lead to greater awareness and understanding of the issue, which could lessen the stigma, KIM JONES BSW ’91, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution in April 2020. Jones is executive director of the Georgia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “What we are experiencing right now is what people with a mental health condition experience their whole life,” she said. “I think it would be hard for anyone, after COVID-19, to not relate to it.”

TRACIE HOGAN SIMMONS BSW ’91, was named Citizen of the Week for the first week of October 2020 by the Dalton Daily Citizen-News. Simmons, the lead social worker for Whitfield County Schools, was described as “an absolutely exceptional individual, and tremendous for the community,” by colleague Wanda Phillips.

XERNONA THOMAS, ABJ ‘91, MSW ’92, EDD ’17, was appointed superintendent of the Clarke County School District in December 2020. Thomas has 28 years of experience serving students and communities in Clarke and Oconee counties as a school social worker, assistant principal, principal, chief of staff, and interim superintendent. “Despite the challenges due to COVID, she makes difficult decisions every day to ensure student achievement remains the core of what we do,” stated Tawana Smith Mattox, CCSD board vice president.

Clarke County School District Superintendent Xernona Thomas introduces the Dream Awards presentations at the MLK Freedom Breakfast January 17, 2020.

Photo: Dorothy Kozlowski.

SCHNAVIA SMITH HATCHER, MSW ’98, was named dean of the University of Alabama’s School of Social Work, effective August 1, 2021. Hatcher earned her doctorate at the University of Kansas School of Social Work. She has served as director of the UNC Charlotte School of Social Work since 2016. “As an alum and former faculty member, UGA has played a significant role in my foundation as a social worker and administrator,” said Hatcher. “I look forward to potential SEC partnerships focused on community engagement and research.”

2000s

In November SHELLY HUTCHINSON MSW ’00, was re-elected state representative of Georgia House District 107, which includes Lawrenceville. Her two-year term begins January 2021. Rep. Hutchinson is owner of The Social Empowerment Center.

SARAH TUNEBERG BSW ’02, led Colorado’s COVID-19 testing and containment until December 2020. In that role Tuneberg organized testing, contact tracing, technology development, and support services for citizens in isolation and quarantine. Read more about her in a UGA Today Alumni Spotlight.

MIRIAM SABIN PHD ’02, joined the British medical journal The Lancet at its New York offices in March. Sabin is among the authors of “COVID-19 exacerbating inequalities in the US,” published in the journal in April. “UGA School of Social Work gave me a world-class foundation in social work research that has continued to guide my work,” said Dr. Sabin. I continue to benefit from my academic preparation professionally, which ensured I could work at all levels - whether on micro level issues or global ones. As such, I have been so fortunate to have worked at the CDC, the World Health Organization and now the British medical journal The Lancet thanks to the versatility I developed at UGA SSW. I owe a great deal to the faculty and the opportunities I had and will be forever grateful. I carry my friends from UGA SSW in my heart and throughout the rest of my career.”

ASHLEY ALLEN MSW ’06, LCSW, director of MaconBibb and Monroe County Health Services at River Edge Behavioral Health, was interviewed in October 2020 about rising suicide rates and available resources. Allen and her fellow MCHS staff also welcomed the opening of a new 48,000 square foot Recovery Center. The $14 million, state-of-the-art facility houses separate wings for adults and children, including a Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit. The unit is one of only four of its kind in Georgia and the only one of three in the state that caters to clients as young as five.

BRYAN SCHROEDER MA ’06, was interviewed in July by Dr. Cassandra Quave for the science podcast Foodie Pharmacology. Brian is executive director of the nonprofit Giving Kitchen. In December the organization began a substance abuse recovery initiative for members of the food service industry. “Many food service workers are forced to choose between housing stability and addiction. When they make the brave decision to get the help they need, GK will be here with the support they deserve,” Schroeder told the food service industry magazine FSR.

Bryan Schroeder, executive director of the nonprofit Giving Kitchen in Atlanta, GA.

Source: https:// thegivingkitchen.org/staff

2010s

Triple Dawg LAUREN A. RICCIARDELLI AB PHILOSOPHY ’06, MSW ’11, PHD ’17, edited “Social Work, Criminal Justice, and the Death Penalty” (Oxford University Press, August 2020). The volume equips and students and beginning professionals with a holistic overview of the intersection of criminal justice and social justice. Chapter contributors include Dean Anna Scheyett, Emeritus Professor ED RISLER PHD ’98, MSW '82, BSW '77, Professor Larry Nackerud, Associate Professor Michael A. Robinson, and alumni JOHN R. BARNER PHD ’11, and KATHERINE J. CRAWFORD PHD ’16.

NICOLE LOVE HENDRICKSON MSW ‘07, NPML CERTIFICATE ’11, made history in November when she became the first African American elected to chair the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. The 40 year old mother will head the government for Georgia’s second most populous county. She served as associate director of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services before leaving that position to run for office. [photo: Wesley Person, Gwinnett Daily Post]

In April 2020 Athens-based video production company Chispa House launched OneDumbVideo. com, a video streaming platform that offers videographers impacted by the pandemic a way to showcase their work and potentially earn extra money. CARTTER FONTAINE MA ’12, is president of Chispa House. Subscribers to the site can vote for the best video of the week, which can earn the creator additional income. Submissions are free and open to anyone at any skill level.

FENWICK BROYARD, III MSW ’13, is the community engagement specialist for the Clarke County School District and a community organizer for the Athens Works Initiative. Broyard co-leads the school district’s School Closure Meal Distribution program, and as part of the AWI also works to connect resources with local businesses impacted by the pandemic.

REBECCA GALBREATH MSW ’16, LCSW, rides in a police car with officers two days a week now as part of the Savannah Police Department’s new Behavioral Health Unit. Galbreath helps police respond to individuals in crisis and is also available by phone or telemedicine for calls that involve opioid or substance abuse, suicide and mental health disorders. Even after the call is over, the unit continues to work with clients and their families, reported the Savannah Morning News. The unit is one of the first police-led BHUs in Georgia.

MARIE MCCOLLUM MSW ’16, was named director of programs and partnerships at The Decatur Foundation in January 2020. She is responsible for coordinating DEF’s two mentor programs, Opportunity Partnership, REACH, and Partnership for Career Achievement.

Thanks to the University of Georgia’s “Engage GA” online platform, the Athens Community Council on Aging has added 150 new volunteers since the pandemic began, ELLEN EVERITT MA ’19, reported in October. Everitt, a graduate of the nonprofit graduate program and ACCA’s volunteer coordinator, said the increase has enabled the organization to serve 2,000 clients—almost three times the number served before the platform was available.

2020s

TENESHA LITTLETON PHD ’20, was selected for the Creating the Next Generation of Scholars in Child Maltreatment Science Fellowship Program (CMT32) funded by the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development at Penn State University. The CMT32 postdoctoral fellowship is designed to prepare fellows to conduct cuttingedge, transdisciplinary applied research in the child maltreatment sciences.

Tenesha Littleton recipient of a Creating the Next Generation of Scholars in Child Maltreatment Science postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State University.

Photo by Claire Jordan

DANIEL MCCRARY MSW ’20, accepted an offer in December 2020 to join Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Administration Medical Center in Spokane, Washington as a psychotherapist. “I’ll work with individuals, couples, families, and groups with a focus on couples and families. I’m very excited,” he said.

SIMONE MOONSAMMY MSW ‘20, was featured in the UGA Graduate School Magazine. According to the article she plans to pursue a degree in law with a focus on immigration policy.

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