Simmons School of Social Work

Please join us in honoring this year's HaRT Scholars! Given the highly competitive nature of the selection process, these awards are a testament to their exceptional academic achievements and their growing dedication to harm reduction-informed social work practice.

Thanks to a generous grant from RIZE Massachusetts, Simmons University's School of Social Work is excited to provide a range of opportunities for a select group of MSW students in their advanced year of studies. These opportunities include substance use-focused training, mentorship, specialized practicum experiences, and a stipend. This initiative supports both on-ground and online students who are passionate about substance use services.

Let’s celebrate these accomplishments and the School’s ongoing dedication to advancing innovative education and research in substance use, addiction, and recovery.

Introducing the Master of Social Work + Public Health Certificate! This program aims to offer students targeted training in public health social work, concentrating on tackling social and structural factors that influence health to promote health equity and social justice. Have question or want to apply? Reach out to the Graduate Admission team at [email protected].

Further information on the Public Health Certificate can be found on our website: https://www.simmons.edu/graduate/academic-programs/graduate-and-certificate-programs/social-work-public-health-certificate

SSW faculty member Dr. Jeffrey Steen has received a sub-award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. His study is titled "Preparing to Establish an Overdose Prevention Center: Exploring the Perspectives of HIV and Substance Use Service Providers and People Who Use Drugs in Worcester, Massachusetts." This study will provide Simmons students with opportunities to participate in various aspects of the qualitative research process. Congratulations Professor Steen!

Sandra Bailly ’94MSW, Associate Director of Student Support and Alumni Networks, was named President-Elect of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Congratulations!

Simmons MSW student, Heidi HyunJin Lee, was interviewed by GBH’s Morning Edition co-host Paris Alston for Wake Up Well, a segment focused on mental health.

Read the full article here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/simmons-masters-social-work-student-interviewed-gbhs-wake-well

Listen to the interview here: https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-08-07/wake-up-well-living-with-addiction-requires-community

Simmons Social Work faculty member Dr. Kristie Thomas presented with Leah Malo (Simmons MSW'24) at the International Violence Prevention Conference last week! Their co-authors, Isaac Rogers (Simmons MSW'22) and Eugenia Knight (SSW Associate Professor of Practice and PhD Student) were there in spirit!

Looking to get ahead in planning? Us too! Use this guide to help your planning for the spring! Our information sessions are a fantastic place to connect with current students, faculty, and SSW Admission staff. We offer them both in person and virtually so please choose the one that works best for you!

Register here: https://www.simmons.edu/events?search=msw%20&category=480&topic=All&audience=All

Coming Full-Circle: Simmons Alum with Veteran Parents Now Supporting Veterans in Need.

Read more about Sarah Clinton '17MSW and her work with Veterans as an Aftercare Social Work Case Manager for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/simmons-alum-supporting-veterans-need

Register using this link: https://www.simmons.edu/events/virtual-info-session-campus-msw-program-june26

We hope to see you there!

Simmons Alumna Christa Perry Shares the Challenges and Rewards of Mental Health Therapy.

Learn more about her work here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/simmons-alumna-shares-challenges-and-rewards-mental-health-therapy

We are still accepting applications for our part time MSW programs! All of our program deadlines and application requirements can be found here: https://www.simmons.edu/graduate/admission/how-apply/social-work-msw

We hope to see you in the fall!

Happy Pride Month 🌈

Happy Pride Month! At Simmons University, we proudly celebrate, recognize, and support the LGBTQ+ community year-round. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Register using this link: https://www.simmons.edu/events/virtual-info-session-campus-msw-program-5

We hope to see you there!

Congratulations to all of the 2024 graduates!

Please join us in congratulating our SSW PhD students on their outstanding achievement! 🎓🎉 We are so excited to see all that you have and will accomplish in the field. Congratulations!

Professor Hamilton-Mason Honored by Haymarket People’s Fund.

Read more about her achievement here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/professor-hamilton-mason-honored-haymarket-peoples-fund

Congratulations Professor Hamilton-Mason!

Saturday May 4th marked a significant milestone for Simmons University's Social Work PhD program as it celebrated its 40th anniversary with a memorable event of over 50 attendees. The occasion was a vibrant tapestry of reflections, connections, and celebrations, where alumni, current students, faculty, and President Wooten gathered to honor four decades of impactful scholarship and community engagement. The event featured insightful panel discussions, highlighting the program's evolution and its profound contributions to the field of social work. Amidst shared stories of transformation and empowerment, there was a palpable sense of pride in the program's achievements and a renewed commitment to advancing social justice through education and research. As participants reminisced on the program's rich history and looked toward its promising future, the event served as a testament to the enduring legacy of Simmons University's Social Work PhD program.

Did you know that the Simmons School of Social Work has an online free access journal? 📖 Field Educator, an online journal produced by the Simmons School of Social Work, promotes knowledge exchange among the social work field education community. Thank you to the current and former SSW faculty editors and staff for their exceptional work.

You can enjoy the entire issue here: https://fieldeducator.simmons.edu/
Subscribe here to receive future issues: https://fieldeducator.simmons.edu/subscribe/

Spring has sprung on campus!

Professor Gary Bailey Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.

Read more about his achievement here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/professor-gary-bailey-receives-lifetime-achievement-award-mass-commission-lgbtq-youth

Congratulations Professor Bailey!

Empowering Homelessness Solutions: The Journey of Chimene Agogo ’23MSW at St. Francis House. Read about Chimene and her work here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/empowering-homelessness-solutions-journey-chimene-agogo

We hope to see you there! Register here: https://www.simmons.edu/events/virtual-info-session-campus-msw-program-april18

Please join the Simmons School of Social Work for a virtual book talk on The Bloomsbury Handbook of Hip Hop Pedagogy by author and Simmons professor, Daren Graves on April 8th, 2024 from 5-6pm. 1 CEU available. Please access the zoom link through our linktree.

Further information on Daren Graves: Dr. Daren Graves is a Professor of Education and Social Work at Simmons University and Adjunct Lecturer of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. His research lies at the intersection of critical consciousness, racial identity development, and education. Dr. Graves has reported on his work in a variety of publications including his co-authored book, Schooling for Critical Consciousness (Harvard Education Press, 2020 and in his co-edited volume, The Bloomsbury Handbook of Hip Hop Pedagogy (Bloomsbury, 2024).

Serving Those Who Served: Eli Lorenzo's Dedication to Veteran Care.

Learn more about his work here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/serving-those-who-served-eli-lorenzos-dedication-veteran-care

We hope you will join us on campus this weekend for our on campus MSW information session! Register here: https://engage.simmons.edu/register/?id=765f93a7-9977-48f6-9349-561f6275ca77 We hope to see you there!

The application deadline for our fall 2024 full time MSW program has been extended to April 15th! Learn more about our application requirements and access the application here: https://www.simmons.edu/graduate/admission/how-apply/social-work-msw

Anna Rodriguez ’23MSW: Bridging Hearts and Minds as a Mental Health Therapist.

Learn more about Anna's work here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/bridging-hearts-and-minds-mental-health-therapist

Ilana Feldman ’23MSW: Empowering Communication and Connection with the Special Needs’ Population.

Read more about Ilana's work and her experience in our Advanced Standing program here: https://www.simmons.edu/news/ilana-feldman-23msw-empowering-communication-and-connection-special-needs-population

Happy 40th Anniversary to the SSW PhD Program! Please join us for a celebratory virtual alumni event on March 21st from 5:30pm - 6:30pm and learn from our PhD alumni on their scholarship and how their work embodies the 2024 Social Work Month theme "Empowering Social Workers." Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjSu4AljgifwyVlbTr6hVcm9iHlcgG1399Z5g4VYIQeOUx-w/viewform

Happy Social Work Month!