MSW Students

BCSSW receives $2.5M grant from Mass. Department of Mental Health

The grant will fund a paid internship program that will match students with Boston community-based providers offering behavioral health services to Black and Latinx populations.

Student awarded scholarship from NASW Foundation

Josue Velasquez Higueros, MSW’24, recently received the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship for his longstanding commitment to working with Latinx communities.

Newly minted social workers urged to speak truth to power, champion equal rights for everyone

Rev. Gregory Groover, Sr. advised graduates to heed these nuggets of wisdom in BCSSW’s diploma ceremony, telling them to use their training to serve the common good.

Fellowship program trains BCSSW students to support the health and well-being of older adults

The deadline to apply to the Spier Fellows in Aging program for the 2023-2024 academic year is June 30.

Dual degree student receives 2023 Ever to Excel Award

Colin Droney, who is pursuing the BA/MSW dual degree program, won the Brian D.A. Hall Legacy Award for coaching students to improve their health and wellness.

BCSSW student receives 2023 Ever to Excel Award

Marina Rakhilin, MSW’23, is one of 17 members of the BC community who have been recognized for making outstanding contributions to campus life.

Rev. Gregory Groover, Sr. to deliver keynote address at diploma ceremony for BCSSW

Groover, the senior pastor of the Historic Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, said his talk will focus on the “indispensable” role of social workers in addressing the world’s most pressing social problems.

Susan Tohn set to retire from BCSSW after 24 years of service

Tohn, an associate professor of clinical practice, has taught several generations of students how to integrate solution-focused therapy into their work with children and families.

How the macro program at BCSSW shaped this graduate’s career path

Chelsea Kamuene, MSW’21, says her social work education prepared her to amplify women’s voices no matter where her career takes her.

Students flex creative muscles in research methods course during fall semester

More than a dozen students crafted poems, curated playlists, and designed infographics as part of their final assignment for the course.

Over the past 18 years, her annual toy drive has brightened the holiday season for more than 40,000 children. Here’s what inspired her to start giving

Taylor Goodman-Leong, MSW’23, launched the toy drive in 2005 to honor the memory of her best friend, who died of brain cancer at age 7.

Here’s what students need to know about field education at BCSSW

Field education bridges the gap between practice and coursework, giving students real-world experience with organizations that complement their career goals.

Rocío Calvo receives Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award

The award recognizes educators who have inspired their former students to achieve greatness.

Busy schedule? The part-time MSW program at BCSSW might be right for you

The program is designed with the working professional in mind, giving students the opportunity to earn their MSW in three or four years.

A wide world for BCSSW Global Practice students

Students in the program are currently at work in locations as far away as the Philippines, Uganda, Cambodia, and Lebanon, as well in as the U.S.

More than 100 million people have been displaced around the world. Here’s how BCSSW has responded to the crisis

A critical mass of faculty are designing interventions to reach those most affected by war, natural disasters, political upheaval, and other problems in over 30 countries.

Join BCSSW to tackle ​complex social issues that transcend national boundaries

Design programs for refugees. Counsel survivors of gender-based violence. Conduct research on migration policies. The Global Practice program prepares students for these career paths and more.

Join BCSSW to tackle complex social challenges in Black communities

The school offers a suite of academic programs that center the cultural experiences and values that connect people of African descent.

Join BCSSW to accompany Latinx communities in solving pressing social problems

The Latinx Leadership Initiative prepares bilingual and bicultural social workers to collaborate with Latinx communities to create solutions to complex social problems.

Join BCSSW and become a trauma-responsive social worker

The school’s Trauma Integration Initiative prepares students to help clients cope with trauma while guarding themselves against its effects.

Four new full-time faculty members to work closely with Black and Latinx communities

The professors bring a combined total of more than 50 years of experience to teaching, research, and clinical practice.

BCSSW student makes history, becoming the first woman to hold the title of chief of police for Brookline

Jennifer Paster, MSW’24, says that her training as a social worker has prepared her for her new role in “so many unanticipated ways.”

How BCSSW prepared one graduate to work at the nexus of neuroscience and social work

Zach Pierce, MSW’22, sees himself running a lab that uses neuroscience to help trauma survivors. His career vision is not a pipe dream, but rather a readily attainable goal that took shape at BC.

One Advanced Standing student had her pick of some of the best graduate programs in social work. Here’s why BCSSW was the easy choice.

“BC had the only program where I would be able to take so many different electives,” says Brigid Belger, who plans to become a school social worker after earning her MSW in May.

New program gives students the skills to help clients cope with substance use disorders

As part of a two-year grant, BCSSW is creating a pipeline of social workers who are trained to help reduce the negative consequences of drug use.

BC School of Social Work launches new certificate program in humanitarian assistance

The program prepares students to work in aid and development sectors, helping the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Four BCSSW students receive fellowships from the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston

Melissa Bustillo, Musa Kamara, Aanandita Shrestha, and Vincent Sweeney will work for state and local agencies in Boston this summer, helping public officials tackle key issues such as education, immigration, and substance use disorder.

BCSSW graduates urged to ‘inspire,’ ‘listen,’ and ‘disrupt’

“We need you now more than ever,” keynote speaker Desmond Upton Patton told the newly minted social workers in their diploma ceremony. “The time for justice is always right now.”

BC School of Social Work partners with Boston Public Schools

A two-year, $500,000 grant from Boston Children’s Hospital will fund a partnership between BCSSW and Boston Public Schools to provide mental health services and support to Black and Latinx children.

How three courses changed her career path

Miranda Mayeaux chose to focus on mental health when she enrolled at BCSSW in fall 2021. But it wasn’t until she started taking courses in trauma-informed care that she was able to find her niche.

Desmond Upton Patton to deliver keynote address at diploma ceremony for BCSSW

Patton, a professor, researcher, and public interest technologist, studies the link between youth, gang violence, and social media.

BCSSW honors social work pioneer at annual lecture

The School paid tribute to Professor Emerita Elaine Pinderhughes, whose seminal research revealed that race, ethnicity, and power strongly influence how social workers interact with clients.

Self-care tips for the end of the semester

“I try to step out of a mindset that effectiveness means being productive all the time,” says Kathleen Flinton, an assistant professor who co-chairs the Trauma Integration Initiative.

‘This is a sacred space to be in with people’

Diana Gaillardetz, MSW’22, strives to make every day a little bit better for her clients at Good Shepherd Community Care, the oldest hospice in Massachusetts.

Students reflect on global experiences in Uganda and Sierra Leone

MSW students in the global practice program are interning abroad this semester, providing therapy to refugees, evaluating programs that protect children, and helping young people take action to combat climate change.

BCSSW to expand suite of academic programs to better prepare students to work with Black communities

The school will launch the Afrocentric social work field of practice and the Black Leadership certificate in fall 2022.

Social Work Library doesn’t say ‘shhh’ to important issues

Over the past several years, the library has hosted art exhibits that have shined a light on pressing social problems. “We like to complement whatever is happening in the School of Social Work,” says Hannah Ha, the head librarian.

Four MSW students received prestigious fellowships to work at community health centers. Here’s what they learned.

The students say that their experiences have shaped their career paths, sharpened their skills as social workers, and provided a platform to practice what they have learned in the classroom.

BC School of Social Work partners with Mass General Brigham to improve healthcare for state's Latinx communities

The Latinx Leadership Initiative in BCSSW has received a $600,000 grant from the state's largest healthcare provider to develop the workforce of bilingual, bicultural social workers in Massachusetts.

A platform to empower

As Miss Massachusetts, MSW student Elizabeth Pierre is using her crown to help young people find their voice.

Here’s why this professor starts every class with a guided meditation

Kathleen Flinton, an assistant professor of practice, says guided meditation prepares students to help clients cope with trauma while guarding themselves against its effects.

‘I think programs like the Black Leadership Initiative should be everywhere’

Students reflect on why they chose to join the BLI, a new program that prepares social workers to tackle some of the biggest problems facing Black communities.

This graduate turned the oldest nonprofit in Boston into a thriving agency that fights homelessness

As the executive director of City Mission Boston for the past 20 years, Rev. June Cooper has developed programs to teach people how to improve their lives and tackle complex social issues like racism and poverty.

BCSSW receives grant to train social workers to reduce the harm caused by opioids

The funding will enable a select group of students to complete paid internships at organizations that promote a well-known public health strategy that aims to decrease the negative effects of opioid use.

BCSSW graduates urged to heal racial, economic divisions

“Your commitment to social work is a resounding declaration to be of use for a better society and to foster the common good,” Dean Gautam N. Yadama told graduates in a diploma ceremony on Sunday.

Three BCSSW students receive fellowships from the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston

Marcela Familiar-Bolaños, Katherine Marcincuk, and Nancy Sandoval will spend the summer working in public service at state and local agencies in the region.

BCSSW creates certificate program to prepare social workers to improve equality in the workplace

The program, called “Leaders for Equity and Justice in the Workplace,” will launch in fall 2021.

She wants to strengthen the relationship between nonprofits and the federal government

Johanna Lynch, MSW’21, recently received a prestigious fellowship to work for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Over the next two years, she will figure out how to best distribute grants to nonprofits that help people obtain health insurance.

The impact of trauma

A multifaceted initiative launched by the School of Social Work will enable the school to become a national thought leader in addressing the impact of trauma on individuals, families, and communities, organizers say.

BCSSW creates program to prepare social workers to tackle issues faced by people in Black communities

The Black Leadership Initiative, cofounded by assistant professor Samuel Bradley, Jr., will launch this fall. It aligns with the school’s mission to promote equity, justice, and inclusion on campus, in the community, and around the world.

The lack of diversity in healthcare often prevents Latinx patients from going to the doctor. One student wants to help.

First-year student Yorlady Purcifull says doctors should be required to take part in workshops that improve their cultural competency. She recently published her argument in La Voz, a Spanish language paper that reaches 50,000 Latinx residents on the North Shore.

She built a career as a clinical psychologist in Venezuela. Now she’s remaking her professional life at BC.

Second-year student Maria Carolina Izquiel recently received a Minority Fellowship from the Council on Social Work Education. “I got emotional when I found out,” says Izquiel. “It’s like a bridge between my past in Venezuela and my present in the United States.”

Here’s why this student wants to work with children and families

“I want to speak up for them,” says Angela Lopez Luis. “I want to fight with them. I want them to believe that they can do the impossible.”

Are MSW interns and their supervisors adequately prepared to cope with the effect of being indirectly exposed to trauma?

Associate professor Scott Easton and student Liana Sandell will present their preliminary findings at the Council of Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting next week.

Meet the student who is working to improve healthcare for older adults who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars

JoAnna Rowe interns at the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, which works to promote the health, independence, and quality of life of veterans.

BCSSW announces plan for the spring semester

The school will continue to provide online classes for the spring semester as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Latinx Leadership Initiative wins national award for accelerating the success of Latinx students in higher education

The LLI has been named a 2020 Example of Excelencia by Excelencia in Education, the only national effort to identify and promote evidence-based practices that help accelerate Latinx student success in higher education.

School of Social Work Student Forum and updates

The school will host an online forum on Thursday, July 23 to address plans to dismantle white supremacy and anti-Black racism, the structure of the fall semester, and strategies that have been put in place to support domestic and international students.

12 graduates receive awards for their academic achievements

Ten master's students and two doctoral students have received awards for their outstanding contributions to the classroom, the community, and their field of practice during the 2019-2020 academic year.

12 MSW graduates recognized for achieving academic excellence

Each student earned a 4.0 GPA as a master's student in the Boston College School of Social Work.

Congratulations BCSSW graduates!

“All of us in the social work profession must channel our efforts to secure human dignity with imagination, courage, and grit and make every life meaningful and worth living,” Dean Gautam N. Yadama told the newly minted graduates in a video created to mark the culmination of their academic journey.

How do social workers provide effective teletherapy to patients they have never met in person?

That question looms over student Noor Ibrahim as she waits to find out if COVID-19 will force her to counsel a new batch of clients online this fall.

Social workers step up to provide crucial support to people affected by the coronavirus

Students, faculty, and alumni have delivered food to older adults who can not leave their homes, provided teletherapy to students whose schools have closed for the rest of the academic year, and tracked down people who have been exposed to COVID-19.

BCSSW is working to infuse equity, justice, and inclusion into learning, teaching, and scholarship

The Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Committee wants to tackle inequalities that contribute to unfair outcomes in the classroom, better prepare students to work with diverse populations around the world, and create a culture steeped in mutual respect and lifelong learning.

‘Where you grow up matters’

Samantha Teixeira, an assistant professor, works with teenagers in Boston to examine how the neighborhoods in which they grow up can shape their future.

Meet Second-Year MSW Student and Spier Fellow on Aging, Conor McDermott Welch

Conor McDermott Welch, MSW ’20, shares his experience as a Spier Fellow on Aging pursuing his master’s degree in social work with a clinical specialization focused on Older Adults and Families.

Dispatches from the Field: Nicole Shanelle Haynes

Nicole Shanelle Haynes, MSW ’20, shares her field education experience at Strategy Matters, located in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Piero Goytizolo, MSW ’20, and William Lopez, MSW ’20, named CSWE Minority Fellows

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) named Piero Goytizolo and William Lopez to its Minority Fellowship Program for doctoral and master’s degree students.

Meet Second-Year Student Ryan McElhose

Ryan McElhose, MSW ’20, discusses his goal of helping people through trauma by pursuing a clinical specialization focused on Health at BCSSW.

Four BCSSW Students to Present at the 2019 Diversity Challenge

Abaigeal Doherty, MSW ’20; Takia Myers, MSW ’20; Ryan McElhose, MSW ’20; and Nicole Abeleda, MSW ’20, will lead discussions at the the Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race & Culture’s 19th Annual Diversity Challenge.

New Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Certificate Program

Boston College has launched the new 12-credit certificate program for graduate students at the Connell School of Nursing, the School of Social Work, and the School of Theology and Ministry.

Rebecca Keys, MSW ’21, gains advocacy insights at annual Legislative Education and Advocacy Day

First-year student Rebecca Keys, discusses her chance to see the legislative process in action, and to advocate for a bill that connects her drive for social justice with her rationale for making a career shift to social work.

Amy Chin Guen, MSW ’52, H ’17, Inspires Chinatown’s Next Generation of Social Workers

BCSSW alumna Amy Guen discusses her pioneering career as a social worker and activist and the evolving needs of the city’s Chinese American community.

Meet Wendan Xiao, MSW ’19

Recent graduate Wendan Xiao discusses what sparked her interest in social work and reflects on her time as an international student in the MSW program.

Intensive Course on Migration Sends Students to Arizona-Mexico Border

At the start of the spring semester, 12 MSW students from BCSSW traveled to the Arizona-Mexico border to learn how social work can address asylum-seekers’ urgent and complex needs—both at the border and back in Boston.

Connecting Generations of Vietnamese Americans

Professor Thanh Tran, who studies mental health in minority populations, and Sandy Saenbounmy, MSW ’19, share a commitment to the Vietnamese community.

BCSSW Students Named Rappaport Public Policy Fellows for Fifth Straight Year

Two MSW students at the Boston College School of Social Work (BCSSW) are among a select group awarded a Rappaport Public Policy Summer Fellowship by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston.

Carla Monteiro, MSW ’19, Receives Future of Social Work Award

Advanced Standing Student Carla Monteiro, MSW ’19, winner of the 2019 National Association of Social Workers’ Future of Social Work Award, shares her journey and post-graduation plans.

Meet Second-Year MSW Student Victoria Hamilton

Victoria Hamilton, MSW ’19, reflects on her path to BCSSW and aims to be a disabilities advocate on behalf of children and youth.

BCSSW Ranked #10 in the Nation

In its 2019 "Best Schools for Social Work" rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Boston College School of Social Work number 10, up from number 11 in 2018.

Dispatches from the Field: Michael Mookie C. Manalili

Mookie Manalili, MSW ’19, discusses his field placement experience with Marie's Place in Brighton, MA, and his career aspirations.

Meet First-Year MSW Student Becca Wefald

Co-founder of the Survivor Leadership Collective, Becca Wefald, discusses the growth of the organization and her goal to build transformative social justice through the intersection of art and macro social work.

Dispatches from the Field: Alison Stiglmeier

Alison Stiglmeier, MSW ’19, macro program, discusses her field placement experience with Roca, Inc.

BCSSW alumni improve Latinx lives in East Boston

Six alumni from BCSSW’s Latinx Leadership Initiative are putting their skills to work at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, one of the largest community health centers in the country.

Dispatches from the Field: Anju Lamichhane

Anju Lamichhane, MSW ’19, discusses her field placement experience with the Research Program on Children and Adversity (RPCA) at the Boston College School of Social Work.

Dog Days

Therapy dogs at the School of Social Work Library provide respite during a busy semester.

Meet Second-Year Student Sonie Johnson

Self-described non-traditional student Sonie Johnson talks about her path to social work, her summer as a Rappaport Institute Public Policy Fellow, and her plans to change how we think about wellness.

MSW and PhD Students Win 2018 CSWE Minority Fellowships

Doctoral candidate Manuel Cano and MSW students Lisbeth Acosta, Valeria Lazo, Magdalena Lopez, and Olga Paz (pictured) awarded CSWE Minority Fellowships for their work with underrepresented and underserved persons with or at risk for mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.

R&R and Real Talk

At the first School of Social Work Summit, held at the Walker Center in Newton, MA, students recharge and reflect, while building community, establishing strong connections, and discussing the Jesuit Catholic tradition in the context of Social Work.

Preparing for Careers in International Social Work

The MSW Global field of practice has brought students to five different continents to work with a wide range of social service agencies and programs.

Learning Through Community Engagement

Eight MSW candidates are engaged in a novel Community-Based Participatory Research course designed and taught by Assistant Professor Samantha Teixeira that provides hands-on experience in the context of an existing community-engaged research partnership.

Dispatches from the Field: Yvonne Castaneda

Second-year MSW student Yvonne Castaneda talks about her field placement at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.

Dispatches from the Field: Ryan Mossman

Second-year MSW student talks about his field placement at Lahey Health Behavioral Services.

Dispatches from the Field: Katelyn Teague

Katelyn believes her experience at the Cambridge Health Alliance has helped to shape her future career goals working in behavioral and population health.

Dispatches from the Field: Laura Connors, MSW '10

Laura Connors, MSW ’10, made the transition to social work later in her own life following a career in the financial sector and is now executive director of Beacon Hill Village.

From Boston to Santiago: BCSSW Students Collaborate with Chilean Peers on Innovative Community Development Project

This summer, 20 students from the Boston College School of Social Work and the Pontifica Universidad Catόlica de Chile (UC) convened in Santiago, Chile for a novel course on community development.

BCSSW Students Named Harvard Public Policy Fellows for 3rd Straight Year

Two Boston College School of Social Work MSW students awarded prestigious summer public policy fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Rappaport Institute.

Dispatches from the Field: Samantha Williams in Mexico City

MSW student Samantha Williams reflects on her field placement experience at the Universidad Iberomericana in Mexico City.

Neuroscience Alumni Build Networks Between the Brain and Social Work

When Associate Professor Jessica Black set out to establish her innovative program merging neuroscience with social work, she knew that, in order for it to be truly successful, it would need to impact the most students as possible.

Dispatches from the Field: Skylar Chew from Lesvos, Greece

MSW student Skylar Chew reflects on her field placement experience in Mytilini on the island of Lesvos, Greece.
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