Summer Commencement August 10, 2024
Our Vision
A Better Society Through Individual and Social Change
Our Mission
Advancing the social work profession’s vision and values, the University of Michigan School of Social Work seeks to develop a more equitable, caring and socially just society. Such a society meets basic human needs, eliminates social and economic inequities and empowers individuals, their communities and institutions to reach their aspirations and potential. Drawing on an interdisciplinary faculty within a public university seated in a region of enormous need and promise, the School is dedicated to education, research and service that fosters progressive change at local, national and global levels.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that the University of Michigan, named for Michigami, the world’s largest freshwater system and located in the Huron River watershed, was formed and has grown through connections with the land stewarded by Niswi Ishkodewan Anishinaabeg --the Three Fires People, who are the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi--along with their neighbors, the Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee and Wyandot nations.
Order of Exercises
Processional
Jordan Schug Quartet
Marshals
Daphne Brydon
LEO Lecturer
Amy Burandt
Field Faculty & LEO Lecturer
Brooke Buys
LEO Lecturer
Daicia Price
DEI Director & Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Welcome and Introductions
Beth Angell
Dean and Professor of Social Work
Land Acknowledgment
Abigail Eiler
Director of Undergraduate Minor Programs & Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Keynote Speaker
Harry Cohen
MSW ’80, PhD ’88
Student Speaker
Gisel Arriaga Barrios
MSW Degree Candidate
Student Performer
Providence Cantalamisa
MSW Degree Candidate
Presentation of MSW Graduates
Readers
Justin Hodge
Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Beth Sherman
Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Hooders
Barb Hiltz
MSW Program Director & Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Erin Martinez-Gilliard
LEO Lecturer
Closing Remarks
Beth Angell
Dean and Professor of Social Work
Recessional
Jordan Schug Quartet
Cover Art
The Real Blue, 1998
Sam Gilliam b. 1933
Sam Gilliam is one of the great innovators in postwar American painting. He emerged from the Washington, D.C. scene in the mid 1960s with works that elaborated upon and disrupted the ethos of Color School painting. Gilliam abandoned the traditional frames and stretchers used in painting. Instead he chose to loosely drape and suspend his paint stained canvases from the walls and ceiling.
Gilliam’s The Right View is a four-piece ceiling installation commissioned for the School of Social Work’s lower level and is a centerpiece of its art collection.
Dear Graduates,
Congratulations! We are thrilled to celebrate your hard work and dedication together with your friends, families and loved ones.
In pursuit of your MSW, you have gained the skills, knowledge and training to make a difference in the lives of others. You are effective, practiced facilitators and leaders who know how to take a stand, address injustice and engage the community. As you begin the next chapter of your lives, remember that education is a lifelong process. Keep in touch with your faculty and classmates and keep listening and learning from your clients and colleagues.
University of Michigan social work graduates have a reputation for their expertise, dedication and achievement. Today you join 17,000+ alumni who lead the field as policymakers, agency directors and foundation leaders, who improve lives as accomplished and effective social workers. We look forward to hearing how you apply your talents for the good of people and communities.
You have earned the term “the leaders and best.” On behalf of the Michigan Social Work community, I wish you every success as you reach out, raise hope and change society.
Go Blue,
Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work
About Our Keynote Speaker
Harry Cohen
MSW ’80, PhD ’88
Harry Cohen is a psychologist, author, restaurateur, public speaker, blogger and podcaster. He graduated from Cornell University with a BS in psychology and received both his MSW and a Joint PhD in Psychology and Social Work from U-M. He worked in clinical practice for a decade until he shifted his focus to corporate training and executive coaching. His 2015 TEDx talk on heliotropic leadership — which focuses on the benefits of compassion, gratitude and forgiveness — inspired his book, “Be the Sun: Not the Salt.”
In 2008, he opened the Black Pearl restaurant in Ann Arbor. As a psychologist who travels the country giving talks to executives on leadership, customer service and personal development, launching the Black Pearl was a perfect opportunity to create an environment that embodies the essence of what he talks about: welcoming people with love, creating a great place to work, and delivering a memorable experience.
In 2020 he became the founding board chair of Friends of the Children - Detroit, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for children born with the deck stacked against them.
About Our Student Speaker
Gisel Arriaga Barrios MSW ‘24
Gisel Esmeralda Arriaga Barrios (she/her/ella) is a proud first-generation Latina. She is the daughter of Pedro Arriaga Garcia and Maria Barrios Martinez who immigrated from Mexico and El Salvador and loves being the sister to her little brother, Bubba. Arriaga Barrios was originally born in Simi Valley, CA and raised in Las Vegas, NV.
She has always had a passion for creating change and serving her community: in 2018, her father asked her what she wanted to be to which she responded “I want to be a social worker.” He told her to look up the number one school in social work and it was U-M. Together, they took a trip to visit the university, and ever since then, she dreamed of coming back. Arriaga Barrios received her associate degree from the College of Southern Nevada and her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Today, she will be receiving her Master of Social Work at the U-M. After working within local government and being an advocate throughout Ann Arbor and the university, Arriaga Barrios plans on dedicating her social work career to advocating toward a more equitable future by working with communities and policy.
About Our Student Performer
Providence Cantalamisa MSW ‘24
Providence Cantalamisa (she/her) is a dedicated social worker who has found solace in the power of music throughout her life. As a student in the Political & Policy Pathway with a secondary focus in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse, she has skillfully balanced macro and micro social work.
Cantalamisa recently accepted a position with CNS as an adult therapist and aims to integrate the diverse skills she acquired at U-M with her passion for music. Her dedication to human services is evident in her varied experiences, including speaking about her intersectional identities and leadership development in the “All Women are Leaders” event and her ability to generate creative ideas with her teams. Cantalamisa is excited to bring her dedication and expertise to her new role, where she is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves.
School of Social Work
MSW Graduates
Jessica Abu Aitah
Claudia Abboud
Stephanie Acosta
Christine Adams
Jessica Aguilar
Souad Ahmed
Francisca Akambasi
MiKayla Althoff
Angela Anatalio
Allyson Andrews
Gisel Arriaga Barrios
Jamily Axline
Kelly Ayen
Leah Bachman
Madison Bachman
Patricia Barlow-Bray
Amanda Barnhart
Tihnae Bennett
Lindsey Bilkey
Daniel Birckbichler
Tess Bond
Chelsea Booker
Renée Boudreau
Taylor Bowie
Riley Box
Mary Boyd-Scardefield
Kelly Brayak
Lauren Bresky
Soo Britton
Josie Brown
Kimmel Brown
Brittany Buhler
Mary Buzzard
Alberto Caballero
Luna Camilo
Julio Canino Rodriguez
Providence Cantalamisa
Caroline Carr
Olivia Cascone
Maura Cavo
Anisa Cekrezi
Christine Charpie
Lang Chen
Reyna Choi
Dayanari Cifuentes
Alexandria Cmarik
Australyah Coleman
Hannah Collins
Antoine Colvin
Matt Conahan
Jenna Dalrymple
Alexandra Danner
Jordan Davenport
Katherine Davis
Riley Day
Kari Decker
Esau Delgado
Oliva Diaz Melgarejo
Adenike Dosunmu
Abigale Dumon
Emma Easson
Paige Edwards
Jacob Engler
Debra Erickson
Lauren Fadanelli
Syeda Shumi Ferguson
Jahre Fish
Julia Fisher
Michaela Fishman
Emma Fogarty
Cari Frazee
Lailah Fritz
Cora Galpern
Jacquelyn Giordano
School of Social Work
MSW Graduates
Amari Glaspie
Ariel Golnick
Adriana Gorham
Eleni Grams
Melissa Granville
Lucinda Hahn
Noelle Harris
Alivia Hart
Jennifer Heath
Elizabeth Heintz
Hailey Hollyer
Lily Horning
Marie Huber
Sharmin Hussain
Mustafa Ilgin III
Gillian Jackson
Ayana Jenkins Muhammad
Jazmine Johnson
Ilana Kaplan
Evelyn Kasperek
Zoe Katz
Bridget Kersten
May Lin Kessenich
Nora Khanal
Danbi Kim
Jessalynn King
Kelsey Klimkewicz
Sarai Koster-Stetson
Kristina Kraszewski
Reilly Krawczyk
Glory Kubicek
Emma LaBarre
Michael LaDow II
Amanda Lantz
Rebecca Lewis
Madyn Litten
Amber Lodeesen
Katherine Long
Maya Longe
Kiley Lowery
Sophia Lupini
Claire Maki
Ellie Maly
Grace Mather
Michelle Matthews
Sha’Laine Matthews
Rachel McAllister
Rachelle McConnell
Skye McCormick
Amari McGlory
Thomas Miller
Reilly Mitchell
Alyssa Morrow
Kawthar Mousa
Theressa Muhle
Brian Muir
Brianna Murphy
Katherine Myers
Maya Nair
Penny Nichols
Ikechi Nwamgbe
Silas Ortiz
Marlies Otteman
Nicholas Owens
Katrina Padron
Sara Pasiak
Shatori Pennington
Kimberly Phelps
Leif Phillips
Veronica Pilarski
Samantha Pinkus
Janelle Polasek
Olivia Porter
Melanie Prechtl
Kaitlyn Pscodna
James Rivard
Amber Robinson
Eunice Rocha
Alison Rodgers
Lawrence Rodgers
Victoria Roesler
Janelle Rogers
Jason Ross
Hunter Rowland
Karla Sanchez
Dana Schau
Savannah Schultz
Mikaela Schulz
La’Risha Scott
Sabrina Searles
Michael Sebaly
Elizabeth Sensing
Trent Sheldon
Sarah Shimizu
Mia Shin
Jennifer Shirk
Emily Shupp Parker
Noelle Simoneaux
Mary So
Nicole Solis
Shelby Spangler
Elisabeth Stein
Sara Steinhauser
Elizabeth Storey
Julia Straky
Emily Tafelski
Brooke Terry
Kelsie Thorne
Nidhi Tigadi
Madlynn Tortomasi
Alexandra Touchstone
Raeleen Faith Trovela
Essence Uke
Makenzee Van Buren
Maggie Van Heemst
Raven Vawters
Katelyn Velders
Renee Yuanning Wang
Reagan Warnock
Cassandra Weisman
Olivia Wilder
Aurielle Wilderman
Taylor Wiley
Courtney Willhite
Brooklynn Wilton
Rhianna Womack
Lori Woo
Lisa Wright
Susan Zhen
School of Social Work
Dual Degree MSW Graduates
Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health
Christine Adams
Skye McCormick
Master of Social Work and Doctorate of Psychology in Personality and Social Contexts
Kelsie Thorne
School of Social Work Leadership
Dean
Beth Angell
Dean and Phillip Fellin Collegiate Professor of Social Work
Associate Deans
Shawna Lee
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Social Work
Robert Ortega
Associate Dean for Educational Programs and Associate Professor of Social Work
Katie Richards-Schuster
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor of Social Work
Matthew Smith
Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Social Work
Assistant Dean
Timothy Colenback
Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management
School of Social Work Leadership
Directors
Abigail Eiler Director, Undergraduate Minor Programs and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
William Elliott III Director, Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Social Science and Professor of Social Work
Karla Goldman Director, Jewish Communal Leadership Program and Sol Drachler Professor of Social Work
Barbara Hiltz Director, MSW Programs and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Erin Khang Director, Field Education and Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work
Katie Lopez Director, Office of Global Activities and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor
Daicia Price Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Michelle Woods Director, MSW Student Career Services
Erin Zimmer Director, MSW Student Services
School of Social Work Faculty
Governing Faculty
Beth Angell
Lindsay Bornheimer
Linda Chatters
M. Candace Christensen
David Córdova
Fernanda Cross
Ashely Cureton
Abigail Eiler
William Elliott III
James Ellis
Katrina Ellis
Lisa Fedina
Terri Friedline
Larry Gant
Karla Goldman
Odessa Gonzalez Benson
Andrew Grogan-Kaylor
Greer Hamilton
Jaclynn Hawkins
Todd Herrenkohl
Barbara Hiltz
Joseph Himle
Justin Hodge
Jennifer Jester
Shanna Kattari
Erin Khang
Ashley Lacombe-Duncan
Shawna Lee
Lydia Li
Katie Lopez
Kathryn Maguire-Jack
Debra Mattison
Patrick Meehan
Jamie Mitchell
Robert Ortega
Sunggeun Park
Brian Perron
Rogério Meireles Pinto
Daicia Price
Camille Quinn
Leigh Rauk
Julie Ribaudo
Monica Sampson
Katie Richards-Schuster
Yatesha Robinson
Joseph Ryan
Sue Ann Savas
Katie Schultz
Kristin Seefeldt
Trina Shanks
Beth Sherman
Matthew Smith
Rebecca Sokol
Karen Staller
Robert Joseph Taylor
Richard Tolman
Lynn Videka
Daphne Watkins
Addie Weaver
Lisa Wexler
Xiaoling Xiang
Mieko Yoshihama
Bradley Zebrack
Anao Zhang
Roland Zullo
Field Faculty
Zaynab Boussi
Amy Burandt
Miriam Connolly
Christina Dadswell
Rachel Naasko
Rosalva Osorio-Cooksy
Stacy Peterson
Nitesh Singh
Aimée Vantine
Emerti
Paula Allen-Meares
Oscar Barbarin III
William Birdsall
Letha Chadiha
Barry Checkoway
Tom Croxton
Sandra Danziger
Ruth Dunkle
Kathleen Coulborn Faller
Sheila Feld
Phillip Fellin
Daniel Fischer
Rose Gibson
Martha Gizynski
Lorraine Gutiérrez
Leslie Hollingsworth
Berit Ingersoll-Dayton
Srinika Jayaratne
Harold Johnson
Edith Kieffer
Sherrie Kossoudji
Laura Lein
Edith Lewis
Shirley Lockery
Susan McDonough
Sandra Momper
Thomas Powell
Beth Glover Reed
Lawrence Root
Mary Ruffolo
Daniel Saunders
Brett Seabury
Vivian Shapiro
Kristine Siefert
John Tropman
David Tucker
Diane Kaplan Vinokur
Elizabeth Voshel
Helen Weingarten
Lecturers
Daniel Alvarez
Gina Ambrogio
Richard Barinbaum
Alethia Battles
Anthany Beasley
Trevor Bechtel
Zahraa K. Boussi
Mercedes Monaee Brown
Daphne Brydon
Brooke Buys
Mary Byrnes
Adisa Chaney
Roxanne Chang
Marna Clowney-Robinson
Priscilla Cortez
Colleen Crane
Julie Cushman
Sean de Four
Bonnie Dockham
Kathleen Doyle
Linda Edwards-Brown
Kallie England
Beth Feldkamp
Rhonda R. Fields
Joseph Galura
Karyn Gendreau
Ayesha Ghazi Edwin
Terri Gilbert
Tammie Glenn
Irena Glover
Kathryn Greening
Elizabeth Gumbis
Jennifer Heckendorn
Grace Helms Kotre
School of Social Work Faculty (cont.)
Gregory Hoffman
Kathryn Irish
Vance Jackson Jr.
Camille Jones
Leonardo Kattari
Jax Kynn
Jamie LaLonde
Marlanna Landeros
Dana Levin
Phillip Thomas Luttrell
Douglas Manigault III
Kassandra L. Maple-Jackson
Erin Martinez-Gilliard
Aliyah Masudi
Nasreen Meah
Benjamin Moe
Darlene Nichols
Maureen Okasinski
Nichole Pangburn
Mari Jan Pitcher
Susan Radzilowski
Kristal Reyes
Osvaldo Rivera
Fatima Salman
Laura Sanders
Diana Seales
Andrea Smith
Megan Thiel
Relando Thompkins
Jennifer Towns
Abigail Usher
V. Paige Walker
Carmen E. Wargel
Stephen Wiland
Jewel Woods
Laura Yakas
Lacea Zavala
Candace Ziglor
Alumni Board
President
Sabrina Clark, ‘10
Vice President
Peggy Bodin, MSW ’98
Secretary
Sadé Richardson, MSW ’18
Constance (Connie) Ackert, MSW ’83
Aroosa Ahmed, MSW ’18
Steven Applewhite, MSW ’74 & PhD ’77
Ann Easley, MSW ’80
Rafael (Ray) Engel, MSW ’79
Karen Fein, MSW ’85
Janice (Jan) Fisher, MSW ’75
Ashley Hails, MSW ’19
Yuri Hernandez Osorio, MSW ’17
Gregory Hoffman, MSW ’13
Harry Hunter, MSW ’77
Vance Jackson, MSW ’06
Elizabeth Kinney, MSW ’10
Alana Kivowitz, MSW ’16
Sarah Koreishi, MSW ’01
Madinah Luqmaan, MSW ’16
Janice Matthews, MSW ’77
Deborah (Debby) Mitchell Covington, MSW ’88
Courtney Morrison, MSW ’20
Ricardo Perez, MSW ’75
Kathleen (Kathy) Pottick, MSW ’74, PhD ’82
Milton Rodriguez, MSW ’97
Shannon Saksewski, MSW ’01
Kelly Taylor, MSW ’95
Joanne Waszczak, MSW ’07
Kyra Weber, MSW ’16
Matthew Wollack, MSW ’12
Joanne (Jo) Yaffe, MSW ’76 & PhD ’88
School of Social Work Representatives
Beth Angell, Dean, Ex-officio
Halla Jomaa-Jouney, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Ex-Officio
U-M
Board of Regents
Jordan B. Acker
Michael J. Behm
Mark J. Bernstein
Paul W. Brown
Sarah Hubbard
Denise Ilitch
Ron Weiser
Katherine E. White
Thank You
Today’s beautiful graduation ceremony looks wonderful and effortless. In truth, the Graduation Committee and many additional people devoted a great deal of talent, time and effort to make it a success. This ceremony would not be possible without the creativity, dedication and hard work of the students, faculty and staff listed below.
Graduation Planning Committee
Debra Mattison, Faculty Chair, Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Reyna Choi, MSW Candidate
Grant Clement, Recruitment, Admissions, and Student Services Officer (ex officio)
James Ellis Assistant Professor of Social Work
Beth Feldkamp Assistant Director of Student Services (ex officio)
Michelle Gorton, OSS Office Manager (ex officio)
Veronika Misek MSW Candidate
Chasity Morris MSW Candidate
Rebeccah Sokol, Assistant Professor of Social Work
Aimée Vantine, Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer
Monica Velasco, MSW Candidate
Erin Zimmer, Director for Student Services (ex officio)
Platform Party
Beth Angell
Tim Colenback
Harry Cohen
Debby Covington
Abigail Eiler
Shawna Lee
Barb Hiltz
Erin Khang
Debra Mattison
Robert Ortega
Katie Richards-Schuster
Matthew Smith
Readers
Justin Hodge
Beth Sherman
Hooders
Barb Hiltz
Erin Martinez-Gilliard
Marshals
Daphne Brydon
Amy Burandt
Brooke Buys
Daicia Price
Sign Language Interpreter
Sabrina Boykin
William Sturdevant