UNC Social Work

05/15/2026

celebrated two major milestones during a special reception honoring outgoing Associate Dean for Doctoral Education Mimi Chapman and graduating Ph.D. student Spenser Radtke.

Faculty, staff, students, family and friends gathered to recognize Chapman’s years of steadfast leadership and Radtke’s inspiring journey as a three-time UNC graduate whose research focuses on resilience and youth victimization.

The event also recognized doctoral students Emmanuel Amoako and Joan Wanyama as the recipients of the 2025-26 Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year award and 2025-26 Most Supportive Doctoral Student award, respectively.

“As someone stepping into this role, I know that they are big shoes to fill,” said Will Hall of Chapman’s impact on the doctoral program. Congratulations to Mimi Chapman, Spenser Radtke and all of this year’s honorees!

Read more in the full story ➡ https://ssw.unc.edu/2026/05/radtke-chapman-honored-at-doctoral-reception/

05/10/2026

It’s a great day to be a graduate 🎓🩵🎉🍾

Yesterday we celebrated the school’s largest graduating class at our 105th annual commencement ceremony, including 255 MSW students and two doctoral students. This year’s graduating class also featured the school’s first cohort of online students.

We are so proud of their accomplishments and can’t wait to see the impact they will continue to make in the future!

Read our 2026 commencement recap ➡ go.unc.edu/UNCSSW26

📸 Jafar Fallahi/Jafar Fallahi Photography, Chloe Thompson

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Professor Lisa de Saxe Zerden on receiving the 2026 Dr. Julie S. Byerley Award for Faculty Excellence in Interprofessional Education and Practice from UNC’s Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice! 👏

She was honored for making significant contributions that advance interprofessional education and strengthening the behavioral health workforce.

“Interprofessional collaboration is, by its very nature, about collective work, and while one person may be named, this honor truly represents the dedication and partnership of so many colleagues across our campus,” de Saxe Zerden said.

The celebration also recognized six students graduating as IPEP Distinguished Scholars: Katalia Alexander, Anita Frohlich, Evelyn Gibson, Sophia Maggiore, Elizabeth Marron and Kate Wirth. Ima Varghese Mac was also honored as the school’s lone Rural Interprofessional Longitudinal Scholar.

Read more about IPEP and de Saxe Zerden’s accomplishments in the full story ⬇️
https://ssw.unc.edu/2026/05/ipep-honors-de-saxe-zerden-students-for-interprofessional-excellence/

05/07/2026

From first grade memories in Raleigh to the MSW/MPH dual-degree program at , Kate Wirth and Kate McCarthy have been cheering each other on for 17 years ❤️📚

After spending their undergraduate years at separate universities, the lifelong friends reconnected at UNC where they’ve grown as future social work and public health leaders, and strengthened their friendship along the way.

“I feel like the universe kept putting us back together,” McCarthy said. “Connecting in grad school again felt like fate, almost.”

Learn more about their lifelong friendship and shared path in the full story ⬇
https://ssw.unc.edu/2026/05/childhood-friends-strengthen-bond-through-dual-degree-program/

05/05/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients 🎉

🌟 Distinguished Alumni Award: Johanna Greeson, ’09 (Ph.D.)
A national leader in child welfare, Greeson is a tenured associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice and founder of the C.A.R.E. program, advancing outcomes for youth aging out of foster care through research, mentorship and advocacy.

🌟 Distinguished Recent Alumni Award: Victoria Chavis, ’19 (MSW)
A proud Lumbee Tribe citizen and first-generation college graduate, Chavis leads AdviseNC at Duke University, supporting 5,000+ high school seniors annually across North Carolina. Her work expands postsecondary access, secures transformative funding and empowers students in rural and underserved communities.

Both will be honored May 9 at Memorial Hall during the school’s spring commencement ceremony. Learn more about the recipients and their impact in the full story ⬇️

Victoria Chavis will receive the 2026 Distinguished Recent Alumni Award and Johanna Greeson will be honored with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award. They will be formally honored during the school’s spring commencement ceremony.

05/04/2026

Congratulations to Cierra Diaz on being named a 2026 National Association of Social Workers - North Carolina Chapter Equity and Inclusion Student Award recipient! 🎉 As a graduating MSW student at , Diaz is recognized for her powerful advocacy, leadership and commitment to equity and social justice.

Drawing on her lived experiences as a veteran, mother of a child with special needs and daughter of Deaf immigrants, Diaz continues to uplift marginalized voices and challenge systems through her work across student caucuses and community initiatives.

“To be recognized for my work rooted in equity and inclusion is something I could not have imagined,” Diaz said. “It reminds me that our stories matter, and that there is space for everyone in this profession and at UNC.

We celebrate Cierra’s impact and can’t wait to see how she continues to lead and inspire in the social work field! Learn more about Diaz and this award in the full story ⬇

The NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Student Award is presented annually to students of color enrolled in a CSWE accredited social work program in North Carolina.

05/01/2026

Practicum Q&A 🌟 Sophia Maggiore (she/her)

Program 📚 2-Year MSW, direct practice specialization
Placement 📍 UNC Medical Center Inpatient Palliative Care

What does a typical week look like for you at practicum? 🗓️
Every day is different, but we always have palliative care rounds at 9 a.m. The primary lead (doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or social worker) for each patient we’ve been consulted to see presents to the team. From there, I meet with my supervisor to decide which patients I will see independently and which cases I will observe. Timing is everything in the hospital, so sometimes our plan changes! Patients might be having a procedure, or another consult team may be in the room when we stop by. My supervisor and I usually see three to five patients per day. A visit might be a simple check-in or a longer goals-of-care meeting with patients and their families. In between patients, I write notes, attend online webinars and chat with providers on our team about specific patients.

How is this placement preparing you for your social work career? 💼
Palliative care is incredibly social work-coded! All of my teammates use a lot of the therapeutic techniques and communication skills we learn in class. I learn so much just by watching how palliative care providers communicate with patients and families, always respecting autonomy and prioritizing patient goals and values. It has also been so beneficial to learn how to use Epic, read a patient’s medical chart and write notes. I feel incredibly prepared for a career in medical social work.

What advice would you give to students preparing for their specialization placement? 💡
Take advantage of every opportunity! Say yes, and make sure to always try something that scares you. My supervisors have given me so many opportunities to take the lead on cases, and I always learn something new. No patient interaction is perfect, and feedback from your supervisor is the single best thing you can ask for! Enjoy your specialization placement, it’s where I’ve learned the most during my time in the program.

04/30/2026

A Q&A with Dean Ramona Denby-Brinson was featured in The Well this morning, and highlights how UNC-Chapel Hill is helping lead a statewide effort to tackle North Carolina’s social worker shortage.

Through the Public Service Leadership Program, UNC and 24 partner institutions are working together to strengthen the social work workforce through collaboration, public-private investment and a pipeline from high school to graduate education.

Denby-Brinson underscores the urgency: “We have a dire shortage.” With a projected gap of 30,000 social workers by 2030, the initiative also prioritizes supporting current professionals to reduce burnout and sustain impact across communities.

Learn more about this initiative in the full Q&A ⬇

The Well spoke to Ramona Denby-Brinson, dean of the UNC School of Social Work, about how the Public Service Leadership Program will serve North Carolina.

04/29/2026

Last week the community came together for its annual Harambee event celebrating connection, culture and collective care. This year’s event, “Harambee in Unity,” honored Iris Carlton-LaNey, professor emerita and founder of the tradition nearly 30 years ago, recognizing her lasting impact on students, community and the social work profession.

Attendees also rallied in support of Carlton-LaNey after recent storm damage to her home, reflecting the spirit of mutual aid she championed. The celebration featured music, dance and the launch of a new student-led mutual aid initiative in her honor continuing a legacy rooted in community, belonging and showing up for one another.

See more in the full photo essay ➡ https://ssw.unc.edu/2026/04/school-dedicates-annual-harambee-event-to-professor-emerita-laney/

04/28/2026

Congratulations to Mental Health First Aid Program Manager Alicia Freeman on receiving the 2026 Mental Health First Aid USA Coordinator of the Year from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing 🎉

This award recognizes her impact expanding access to mental health support across campus and communities statewide. From serving rural and underrepresented populations to training thousands in Mental Health First Aid, Freeman’s work is helping break stigma and ensure more people get the support they need.

Join us in celebrating Alicia and her dedication to mental health advocacy!

Learn more about this award and her impact ⬇️

UNC MHFA Program Coordinator Alicia Freeman was presented with The National Council for Mental Wellbeing's MHFA Coordinator of the Year award.