UGA SSW 2024 Online Graduation Program

GRADUATING CLASS of 2024

Spring and Summer

OUR MISSION

The School of Social Work at the University of Georgia prepares culturally responsive practitioners and scholars to be leaders in addressing social problems and promoting social justice, locally and globally, through teaching, research, and service.

Welcome

Philip Hong

Dean and Professor

Dear School of Social Work Graduating Class of 2024,

On behalf of everyone at the School of Social Work, I wish you a hearty and heartfelt “Congratulations!!!”

I am so proud of each and every BSW, MSW, MA NML and PhD graduate. Your success is a testament to your hard work, commitment, and passion for making the world a better place. The world continues to be challenging and stressful; social injustice, economic struggles, and the hardships left by COVID-19 and the forces of divide are bringing much suffering to many. However, I am confident that each of you is well prepared to tackle these challenges and make a real difference. Our faculty have equipped you with many tools and skills, and your capacity to make positive social change is limitless. We can’t wait to see all the amazing things you will do as you fulfill the School’s mission to address social problems and promote social justice.

All the best to you on this special day and beyond. Please stay connected—we would love to hear how you are doing and we are always here to support you and celebrate your accomplishments. Be safe and well, be grateful and compassionate towards yourself and others, be the change you want to see in the world.

With warm regards,

Keynote Speaker

Mary Frances Early

M.M.Ed. '62, Ed.S. '67

“People recognize me not because I'm so great, but because I had the opportunity to be one of the first people to help students have the courage to come to UGA themselves. And that’s important to me. Martin Luther King Jr. let me know that I was human. You can be courageous or you can be a coward. But the one thing that you have to be is determined. I learned more by coming to UGA. Because of all the things I had to endure as I went through my career, I knew how to handle myself. And I was able to consort with anyone at any level because I learned to persevere.”

top: mary frances early stands with her cap and gown beneath the arch in 1962. bottom: ms. early's uga id card.

Excerpt from "Breaking Barriers" by Kathryn Kao, Mary Frances Early College of Education. Photograph by Andrew Davis Tucker, UGA MarComm. Other photographs retrieved from https://t.uga.edu/9RB

Mary Frances Early made history on August 16, 1962 when she became the first African American to graduate from the University of Georgia with a master’s degree in music education. Ms. Early’s impact as a civil rights icon and music educator has inspired and influenced generations of students, schools, and Black communities across the nation. She played an integral role in the campaign for racial equality at UGA and across the South and remains a tireless advocate in the field of education.

Ms. Early was class valedictorian at Henry McNeal Turner High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in 1957, also as valedictorian. Inspired by Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes, who were the first undergraduates to integrate UGA in 1961, Early made a deliberate choice to enroll at UGA alongside them to desegregate the graduate school. Still disappointed by the lack of diversity and persistent segregation on campus after graduating, she returned to UGA in 1964 to earn her educational specialist degree in music education. In 2013, Ms. Early was presented with an honorary doctorate from UGA and was later awarded the 2018 UGA President’s Medal in recognition of her legacy and lifetime accomplishments.

"It is so rewarding to hear people say thank you for paving the way,” she said. “Somebody else may have come after me, and I'm sure they would have, but I had the opportunity to be that person. And consequently, I bear a big responsibility for making sure that what I do is something they can be proud of beyond me graduating.”

She later became a music teacher in Atlanta Public Schools where she continued to challenge injustice and expand access to music for all students before being promoted to music director of the entire school system.

During her career, she worked with teachers in the system’s more than 100 schools and oversaw the music curriculum, budget, textbooks, and more.

Early was asked to share her story with the Graduate and Professional Scholars organization at UGA in 2000—nearly four decades after graduating from the University. She credits her “reintroduction” into UGA’s history to Maurice Daniels, dean emeritus and professor emeritus of UGA’s School of Social Work, who founded the Foot Soldier Project for Civil Rights Studies and produced “The Quiet Trailblazer,” a documentary chronicling Early’s life.

"Mary Frances Early is the epitome of an authentic voice of protest who helped to change the course of history at the University of Georgia, in our state, and in our nation,” he said. “Ms. Early’s inspirational story illuminates a courageous trailblazer, pioneer, and bridge-builder in the struggle for social justice. She is one of the founding mothers of a new South—one that makes real the promise of democracy."

Ms. Early retired in 1994 after working for 37 years in public schools. She later taught at Morehouse College and Spelman College and served as head of the music department at Clark Atlanta University. In 2019, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved changing the name of the UGA College of Education in her honor. It was officially renamed the Mary Frances Early College of Education in February of 2020.

Her legacy, triumphs, and accomplishments as a music educator and civil rights icon made her a central figure in the struggle to desegregate the University and serves as an example to all.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy

MARIAM FATEHI

P h .D. SPRING ' 24

dissertation title:

Adverse childhood experience and caregiver relationship quality: Risk and protective factors among emerging adults for prescription pain reliever misuse.

committee members: orion mowbray, chair rachel fusco, michael robinson

BRIAN DANIEL GRAVES

P h .D. SPRING ' 24

dissertation title:

Co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders among criminal justice-involved adults: Trajectories, positive coping strategies, and service utilization profiles.

committee members: orion mowbray, chair lydia aletraris, sarah shannon

OLUWAYOMI KHADIJAT PASEDA

P h .D. SPRING ' 24

dissertation title:

"I'm a person beyond my past": An interpretive phenomenological analysis of Black women reentry after incarceration.

committee members: orion mowbray, chair michael robinson, sarah shannon, luis r. alvarez-hernandez

Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Morgan Kelly Alwardt

Catherine Hannah Arra

Abigail Grace Cantlay

Sarah Lucille Copeland

Justin Sherod Cousin

Daniella Fina DiCarlo

Kenneth James Gaines Jr.

Kellen Marie Gatton

Douglas Adam Hammond

Jillian Alexa Heffron

Claire Kennedy Kirby

Avery Nichole McClure

Maeghan Anna McKean

Gabriela Ashlyn Prat

Isabella Serazzi

Sarah Mackenzie Warner

MA NML

Master of SocialWork

Jayne-Anne Ahmann

Kyunghyun Ahn

Jolene Olivia Alejandro

Ana Maria Alviz

Eduardo Argueta Flores

Fiyinfolu Alice Atanda

Carlyn Rose Autry

Nicole Elizabeth Baker

Laura Grace Balan

Erica Latice Barnes

Jared Daniel Beaver

Andrew James Blackowiak

Cameron Bly

Chloe Adele Bohan

Arianna Michele Brown

M S W

MSW

Teresa Marie Bryant

Thomas Joseph Buchenot

Emma Ruth Butterworth

Kathleen McCreery Campbell

Allison Marie Cava

Jonathan Walter Chin

Chari Chin-Young Caston

Caroline Marie Christopher

Alexis Moné Clagon

Owen Clark

A'Lasia Clinton

Camri Marie Copeland

Katharine M. Courson

Santwaa Covington

Liza Cuevas

Ebonie Nicole Curry

William James DaVanzo Jr.

Benjamin Jared Deignan

Jordan Taylor DeLaney

Emma Lynn DiDuro

Huriye Djemal

Sara Isabel Dowd

M S W

Emma Anne Duncan

De'Keria Durant

Kendal Edwards

Geana Starling Ellington

Mindy Jean-Pierre Etienne

Amanda Marie Evans

Alyssa Marie Fiorino

Jake Christopher Forgay

Shana-Gae Francis

Moriah Joy Freed

Brianna Fripp

Mikaila Chloe Go

Kimberly Berryhill Golden

Mary Lauren Golden

Laura Gargala Goldstein

Claire McKenna Grant

Tamera Renee Grier

Akina Griffin

Bettie Abigail Grimes

Heather Nicole Guay

Emily Kelly Haber

Lazarus Biliyaminu Habila

Maci Lenora Harmon

Breanna Harris

Halle Rhea Hendricks

Jason Daniel Hernandez

Malaika Howard

Emily Grace Howard

Lataya Lock Hunt

Anna C. Hutchins

Holli Michelle Hutson

Valentina Sofia Imery

Lisa Michelle Jackson

Karissa Marie Jackson

Jadeon Omar Jackson

Willienetta Burntues Jallah

Avery Kristen James

Chelsea Johnson

Rachel Yuvonne Johnson

Frances Rawlins Johnson

Nicholas Johnson

Joshua Jones

Kimberly Nicole Jones

Morgan Jo Keith

Jaime Marie Kelly

Bailey Anne Knoche

Kylie Ann Michelle Knox

Gabriella Kozlowski

Anna Gabriella Langer

Cefari Langford

Leah Hope Lawrence

Miranda E. Lehman

Staci Rose Levine

Ariana Chaya-Engle Lewis

Fernanda Simoes Lima

Mary Ann Long

Alejandra Yozabeth Luis-Cruz

Rachael Lyne Lukacs

Ruijie Ma

Caroline Maccio

Kaycie Leighanne Malcolm

Jessica Yesenia Maldonado

Michelle Gaye Martel

Samantha Glenn Martin

Laura Verghese Mathew

Julia Mei Mathis

Peyton Jefferson McCollum

Hayley Ann McFall

Mollie Glyn McGee

Jennifer L. McGinley

Rachel Rose Megdal

Rebecca Meline

Koral Rae Michaels

Joanna Grace Miller

Mary Christine Miltiades

Chantal Mitchell

Abigail Grace Monahan

Anna Elizabeth Moses

Amy Rachel Murphy

Emma Musgrove

Diana Myndresku

Lindsey Stewart Neel

Joey Chi-Ying Ngai

Olivia Grace Nicholas

Lateefah Lashawn Noel Key

Anna Norsworthy

Denisse Olivares

Erin A. Osbourn

Miller Overbeck

Haeun Paik

Caylynn Grace Palmer

Dipali Patel

Katie Teresa Payne

Samantha Demyra Peterson

Eleazar Pineda

Timothy Brian Platz

Abigail Lane Poirier

Alexis Paige Poole

McKay L. Powers

Rachana Ramachandra Prabhu

Anita Sadanandan Pullani

Paul Ross Rambeau

Alexa Rae Reininger

Jacqueline Ann Reis

Madison Elizabeth Ricci

Charity Sade Robinson

Doris Chatman Roden

Jessica Faye Ross

Abeer Fatima Saberi

Benjamin Sahlie

MSW

Micheline Musa Salama

Erin Sanders

Eva Claire Schwartz

Syeria Scott

Heather Clarke Sewell

Daniel Shapiro

Danielle Marie Shelton

Brittany Silva

Tortesheia Deniseia Singleton

Rebecca Katherine Snyder

Justin Elbert Solomon

Albrey Renee Sorrell

Cassaundra Williams St. Fleur

Catherine Michelle Stauff

Tynese St.Cyr

Merrium Stidham

Odessa Jewel Stoelzel

Fawaz Hassan Syed

Jessica Alyse Tawzer

Leniyah Taylor

Surafel Tesfaye

Iratda Koy Thiravong

M S W

Yasmen Leasha Thomas

Nyeisha Thompson

Kelly Thornton

Ebony Valeriano

Rico Anton Vlastelic

Angela Arlene Warren

Payton Audrey Watson

Anna Michelle Weldon

Ashley Rose West

Charles Anthony Williams Jr.

Sara Wills

Taylor Nicole Woods

Julian Tshaaj Yang

Kaitlin BriannaYoo

B S

W Bachelor of Social Work

Zachry Aiden Aaron, Magna Cum Laude

Allison Elizabeth Archer

Brooke Ansley Berlin, Cum Laude

Sawyer Marie Bradford, Summa Cum Laude

Jalynn Elizabeth Colvin, Summa Cum Laude

Diana Catherine Crawford, Summa Cum Laude

Eunice Manuella Davis, Magna Cum Laude

Grace Camden Ellsworth

Jenna Lindsey Fasciglione, Summa Cum Laude

Madeline Kristen Fox, Summa Cum Laude

Kenadi Ayanna Goodwin, Cum Laude

Kelsey Rae Goss, Magna Cum Laude

Christina Elena Graziani, Magna Cum Laude

Mya Yolisha Greene

Megan Nicole Hayes

Leigh Hunter Henry, Magna Cum Laude

Alondra Jazmin Hernandez-Vega, Magna Cum Laude

Sarah Emily Hicks, Magna Cum Laude

Damien Juwon Johnson, Summa Cum Laude

Lillian Ari Keen Johnson

Hannah Isabella Kepes, Summa Cum Laude

Grace Sunny Lee, Magna Cum Laude

Iyana Josaiah Lee

Emily Nicole Leete, Magna Cum Laude

Evan Jon Lewis

Olivia Ann Love, Magna Cum Laude

Jasmin Stephanie Mata-Sanchez, Cum Laude

Emerson Moon, Magna Cum Laude

Sydney Abigail Nickerson, Magna Cum Laude

Esther Oh, Magna Cum Laude

Nora Mae Perez, Magna Cum Laude

Lillian Lee Robinson

Katherine Mccaw Russell, Magna Cum Laude

Abigail Ryan, Summa Cum Laude

Ana Laura Solis-Sanchez, Magna Cum Laude

James Stinson IV, Cum Laude

Nafekot Asrat Tadesse

Kathryn Elaine Taylor

Laurel Kate Thomas, Summa Cum Laude

Enrriqueta Jean Van Tassel, Magna Cum Laude

Katelyn Maree Wasson, Magna Cum Laude

Kylie Nichole Wood, Cum Laude

BSW

Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy

Teresa Marie Bryant

Camri Marie Copeland

Emma Lynn DiDuro

Kendal Edwards

Emily Kelly Haber

Valentina Sofia Imery

Lisa Michelle Jackson

Rachel Yuvonne Johnson

Joshua Jones

Gabriella Kozlowski

Anna Gabriella Langer

Leah Hope Lawrence

Staci Rose Levine

Ruijie Ma

Rachel Rose Megdal

Koral Rae Michaels

Joey Chi-Ying Ngai

Haeun Paik

Anita Sadanandan Pullani

Jessica Faye Ross

Brittany Silva

Anna Michelle Weldon

Graduate Certificate in

Gerontology

Liza Cuevas

Doris Chatman Roden

Heather Clarke Sewell

Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Chloe Adele Bohan

Arianna Michele Brown

Thomas Joseph Buchenot

Allison Marie Cava

Chari Chin-Young Caston

Huriye Djemal

Steven Michael Donohoe

Mindy Jean-Pierre Etienne

Mary Lauren Golden

Maci Lenora Harmon

Lataya Lock Hunt

Avery Kristen James

Michael Louis Linbrunner

Rachael Lyne Lukacs

Kaycie Leighanne Malcolm

Michelle Gaye Martel

Mollie Glyn McGee

Lateefah Lashawn Noel Key

Katie Teresa Payne

Hisham Muzaffar Qureshi

Benjamin Sahlie

Cassaundra Williams St. Fleur

Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Counseling

Jared Daniel Beaver

Caroline Marie Christopher

William James DaVanzo Jr.

Emma Lynn DiDuro

Akina Griffin

Holli Michelle Hutson

Lisa Michelle Jackson

Kylie Ann Michelle Knox

Peyton Jefferson McCollum

Anita Sadanandan Pullani

Albrey Renee Sorrell

Merrium Stidham

Kelly Thornton

Rico Anton Vlastelic

Taylor Nicole Woods

Undergraduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Olivia Grace Baxley

Jaelynn Marie Bochat

Naomi Lee Chernowski

Susannah Rhae Grant

Trenton Jeremiah Holloman

Sarah Elizabeth Juneau

Macy Claire Mealor

Eniola Olujumoke Olubunmi

Clay Jacob Shackelford

Alyssa Devon Yarritu

CONGRATULATIONS SSW GRADUATE!

All of us at the School of Social Work are so proud of all that you have accomplished during your time here. And we want to keep on sharing your future good news with your fellow alumni in our Engage Magazine Class Notes.

Whether you have been promoted, started a new job, won an award or accomplished something amazing, we want to hear from you. Photos to accompany a Class Note can be submitted as well. Just click on the link or scan the QR code to let us know what’s happening with you.

Again, congratulations and keep in touch!

Chartered in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America.  As Georgia’s flagship institution, the university is recognized for its commitment to student excellence as it tackles some of the world’s grand challenges — from combating infectious disease to advancing economic growth and improving community well-being.

Since its founding in 1964, the UGA School of Social Work has demonstrated its commitment to student excellence by preparing more than 8,000 culturally competent social work practitioners and scholars to be leaders in addressing persistent and emerging social problems through practice, research and policy. The school offers a learning environment that emphasizes social justice for all, with relevant experiences both inside and outside the classroom, training in reflective and critical thinking skills that incorporate global perspectives and cultural humility, and hands-on research and leadership opportunities.

We wish all our graduates continued personal and professional success. As a Bulldog alum, you will always have our support. GO DAWGS!

Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski