Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis

"It validates that we can impact students’ lives outside the classroom and that they not only value those interactions, but long for them."

Congrats to Joe Steensma, a professor of practice at the Brown School, on being honored with the Outstanding Faculty Member award at WashU's annual First Year Finale gala! 🏆

The award, driven by first-year student nominations, celebrates Steensma's contributions as a Faculty Fellow in the William Greenleaf & Eliot (WGE) Residential Community, where he lives alongside undergrads, serving as a mentor, role model, and bridge between academic and residential life.

Steensma Honored for Contributions to WashU Student Community - Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis In a display of student appreciation, Joe Steensma, a professor of practice at the Brown School, has been honored with the Outstanding Faculty Member award at the university’s annual First Year Finale gala. Steensma’s recognition, driven by nominations from first-year students, celebrates his co...

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in collaboration with the Social Policy Institute is hosting the St. Louis Strive USA Summit on June 24 in Hillman Hall. Featured speakers include Tishaura O. Jones, mayor of the city of St. Louis.

The summit will focus on current and future facing opportunities to build data and AI capacity of the economic development sector to unlock public investments in the U.S. economy and strengthen small business ecosystems.

▶ Register now! https://socialpolicyinstitute.wustl.edu/strive-usa-summit-st-louis/

Cletus Bijalam Mbalida’s incredible academic journey began at 12 years old in a makeshift classroom under a tree in northern Ghana. In May, he reached a new milestone at WashU's Francis Olympic Field, celebrating his MPH degree from the Brown School. Now, he's looking forward to publishing his analysis of poverty in Ghana and pursuing a PhD.

From Ghana to St. Louis: One MPH Grad Reflects on His Inspiration and Accomplishments - Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis Cletus Bijalam Mbalida’s academic journey began at the age of 12, when he attended his first day of school in a makeshift classroom under a tree in northern Ghana. He reached his latest destination May 13 at Francis Olympic Field, where he celebrated receiving his MPH degree from the Brown School ...

📅 Please join in a university wide Juneteenth Celebration in Frick Forum (outside of Emerson Auditorium) in Bauer and Knight Hall on the Danforth Campus. Join colleagues for food, music, and a chance to hear from WashU faculty and staff about their research, work, and projects as they connect to the commemoration and celebration of Juneteenth.

Learn more here: https://cre2.wustl.edu/calendar_event/juneteenth2024/

WashU will receive a $650,000 grant for a collaborative community project focused on improving economic mobility for Black youth in the St. Louis area.

Mary McKay, vice provost of interdisciplinary initiatives, and Sean Joe, the Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development, won the grant for their project, “Advancing the Social and Economic Mobility of Black Male Youth and Young Men,” a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis, Greater St. Louis Foundation, and Fathers and Families Support Center, to support employment and economic opportunities for Black male youth ages 14-25.

The research-practice partnership emerged from HomeGrown STL at Washington University in St. Louis, a consortium of 120 municipal and community organizations organized by Joe as a response to the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014.

▶️ Read more about the project: https://brownschool.wustl.edu/2024/06/washu-receives-grant-to-address-economic-mobility-of-black-youth/

In 1976, Schoolhouse Rock! famously simplified how a bill becomes a law into a catchy three-minute segment. Fast forward nearly five decades, and understanding government and policy is just as crucial.⁠
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Brown School alumna Kelly McGowan, MPH ’15, is tackling this head-on. She founded Transform 314, an organization dedicated to educating, engaging, and empowering Black residents of St. Louis to influence local policy for thriving communities. Her mission: to amplify residents' voices in shaping their city's future.⁠
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McGowan's impactful work earned her the Community Changemaker award from FOCUS St. Louis, the region’s premier nonprofit leadership organization. This award honors those who inspire and lead positive community change, with recipients chosen by local leaders from public nominations.

MPH Alumna Honored as Community Changemaker by FOCUS St. Louis - Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis In 1976, a Schoolhouse Rock! famously condensed the process of how a bill becomes a law into a three-minute segment. Nearly five decades later, the need to grasp the complexities of government and policy remains just as important. Brown School alumna Kelly McGowan, MPH ’15, has embraced this chall...

🎉 Congratulations to Akilah Collins-Anderson! 🎉⁠
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A PhD candidate in Public Health Sciences and NIMH T32 Predoctoral Fellow, Akilah is one of 10 WashU members inducted into the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society!⁠
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Her research focuses on mental and behavioral health disparities, social determinants of health, social stratification, and health inequities.⁠

The Bouchet Honor Society celebrates exceptional scholarly achievement and champions diversity and excellence in doctoral education.⁠
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➡ Learn more about the 2024 inductees: https://source.wustl.edu/2024/06/ten-inducted-into-bouchet-graduate-honor-society/

🎉 Join us in celebrating Carlton Matthews and Da’Shaun Scott for their incredible accomplishments in completing staff leadership development programs!⁠
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▶️ Carlton Matthews, Senior Associate Director of Advancement at the Brown School, completed the Leadership Excellence and Development Program (LEAD)⁠
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▶️ Da’Shaun Scott, Assistant Director for Student Engagement at the Brown School, completed the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) ⁠
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We are proud to have such talented individuals as part of our Brown School team!

Congratulations to Anna Goldfarb Shabsin (center) and Barry Rosenberg (right) for being honored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) at the 2024 Tzedek Awards event! 🌟👏 ⁠
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🎉 Shabsin, a teaching professor and assistant dean of the Master of Social Policy program received the Michael & Barbara Newmark Emerging Leader Award for fostering a pluralistic society where diverse religious, racial, and ethnic groups coexist and thrive.⁠
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🎉 Rosenberg, professor of practice, was awarded the Joel and Joanne Iskiwitch Israel Award for strengthening connections between the St. Louis community and Israel through economic ties, education, and advocacy.⁠
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🎉 Also, kudos to Kimberly Norwood (left), WashU professor of law, for receiving a Newmark Institute for Human Relations Pluralism Award!

➡ Learn more about the honorees: https://jcrcstl.org/about/tzedek-awards-2024.html

Paid leave and employee well-being are the focus of a three-part policy series on family-friendly business practices put together by the Brown School’s Clark-Fox Policy Institute.

“Creating a family-friendly workplace benefits both employees and businesses,” said Gary Parker, associate dean for external affairs and director of the institute.

Family-friendly workplaces benefit employees, businesses - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis Paid leave and employee well-being are the focus of a three-part policy series on family-friendly business practices put together by the Brown School's Clark-Fox Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis. “Creating a family-friendly workplace benefits both employees and businesses,”...

Professor Sheretta Butler-Barnes recently appeared as a guest on Dr. Jason Newland’s podcast “Inside the Minds: Medicine, Education, & Equity,” where she shared her educational journey, and discussed her passion for empowerment and strength-based research in our Black communities.

Sheretta Butler-Barnes PhD: As I Climb, I Lift by Inside the Minds: Medicine, Education, & Equity In this episode of Inside the Minds: Medicine, Education, & Equity Jason Newland MD, MEd sits down with the esteemed Sheretta Butler-Barnes PhD, an expert whose work spans the education, psychology, and public health sectors with a focus on black families. Sheretta’s journey is as impressive as it...

Congratulations to Renee Parks, Senior Research Manager at the Brown School's Prevention Center, for receiving the university's 2024 Emerging Leader Award! ⁠
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Renee manages NIH and CDC funded projects, supports the center’s infrastructure, and co-chairs its committee for equity, diversity, and inclusion. ⁠
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The Emerging Leader Award honors an employee who positively influences others, listens to feedback, displays a growth mindset, and empowers colleagues to develop their leadership skills, benefiting both the university and the St. Louis region.

📢 Attention Social Workers! 📢⁠
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The Social Work Census, an online survey supported by the Social Work Workforce Coalition, aims to create the most comprehensive picture of the social work profession.⁠
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Whether you're a social worker, student, educator, or social service worker, your voice matters. Complete the Social Work Census now! ⁠
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✨ Benefits for participants:⁠
🟢 2 hours of continuing education credit ⁠
🟢 Choose a charitable cause to receive a donation ⁠
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🗓️ Deadline: May 31, 2024⁠
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Don’t wait – start the survey today! https://swcensus.org/

Congratulations to Victoria Anders, MPH/MSP Candidate '25, for being recognized by Minority Leader Crystal Quade in the Missouri House.

As a Legislative Intern, Anders makes significant contributions to the Missouri House Democratic Caucus's research. Quade praised Anders and fellow interns, saying:

"These students are amazing. They do all of the research for the Caucus. So many of you on the other side will say, 'How are you all so prepared?' It is because of our interns. These folks such work, and we really appreciate them for everything they've done."

▶️Watch the video: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00325/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20200831/-1/10974?mediaStartTime=20240515114958&mediaEndTime=20240515115056&viewMode=3&globalStreamId=4

There’s much to celebrate this time of year! Congratulations to the newest members of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. 👏

🎉Congratulations to the newest members of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health! Membership is open to faculty, alumni, and students who've showcased exceptional achievements in scholarship, research, and practice. ⁠
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A big round of applause for our honorary inductee, Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive and a physician anesthesiologist.⁠
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Colby Crowder, who earned a master's degree in social work, and delivered the Student Speaker Farewell Charge to the Class of 2024, reflected on his journey from sports enthusiast to community advocate.

"As a kid, I loved sports - football, baseball, karate. Whatever the game, I wanted to play. But at age 14 I began to experience cardiac episodes during games and practices. During these incidents, my heart rate would go from a normal 70 beats per minute to over 200 over several minutes, like a heart attack. One night at basketball practice, I collapsed unconscious on the court. I had pushed myself to my absolute limit. A medical team determined that I had an arrhythmia due to an obstruction between the upper and lower chambers of my heart. I would need heart surgery. After the surgery, I gave up team sports, afraid my heart could give out again. Instead, I started helping at my high school food pantry, igniting a passion for community work. Talk about a literal change of heart. This decision set me on a path that has provided me with incredible experiences like interviewing Civil Rights icon Angela Davis, studying with the world-class faculty and students of the Brown School, and founding a non-profit for youth, Missouri Senator Brian Williams' Youth Advisory Board."

Congratulations to the 2024 Buder Center graduates - Kendra Henry and Ashlyn Newcomb!

On Saturday, May 11, the Buder Center for American Indian Studies hosted a beautiful Blessing Ceremony honoring the graduates.

Breana Wayne, who earned a master's degree in public health, and delivered the Student Speaker Address, encouraged the Class of 2024 to embrace uncertainty and step out of their comfort zones, drawing from her Global Health Practicum experience.

"I recognized I could either be scared for half this summer or I could just embrace fear. I chose the latter. I learned to embrace fear's presence, and I found a very profound strength. The power to thrive in the face of the unknown. I walked into the country with my public health toolkit in hand, unaware of the cultural nuances, unaware of the local language skills, and navigating the solitude of my journey as a woman. I crossed not just the geographic border, but the borders of my own identity."

"The education we’ve received is less about textbooks and lectures and more about discovering who we truly are and what we aspire to be. So I’m standing here today leaving you with this. Trust the path. Trust the process. Face the fear. Embrace the fear and welcome those new experiences friends!"

Secure your spot for the 5th annual Systems Science for Social Impact (SSSI) Summer Training Institute at the Brown School, August 12-16.

Get hands-on training in systems science methods: Intro to Systems, Agent-based Modeling, Group Model Building, Social Network Analysis, and System Dynamics.

Apply Now! ➡ https://systemsscienceforsocialimpact.wustl.edu

Michael Lamont Scarboro earned a master’s degree in architecture and master’s in social work. Read what he said to his fellow graduates in his speech at the Sam Fox School Recognition Ceremony.

Class of 2024, we're still thinking about you!

Snapshots from last week's Brown School Excellence Awards ceremony! 📸 We celebrated outstanding students and teaching faculty for their exceptional work both in practicum and in the classroom throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

Check out how Brown School students are making a real impact in south St. Louis! In the "Community Development Practice" class led by Molly Metzger, a senior lecturer, students engaged with community partners to enhance pedestrian safety, plan neighborhoods, and address public safety concerns. ⤵

Brown School Students Engage with St. Louis Neighborhoods - Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis Brown School students in the “Community Development Practice” class engaged with community partners and contributed to hands-on projects to improve neighborhoods in south St. Louis. Taught by Molly Metzger, a senior lecturer in the school, the spring semester c...

Cheers to the Class of 2024! Overflowing with smiles, hugs and cherished memories from today's All-University Commencement Ceremony!

Congratulations to the 2024 Buder Center graduates!

Congratulations to Jewel Evans, a MPH candidate, who is highlighted as one of WashU's "Class Acts: Committed to Climate Solutions." Her goal is to create equitable land use policies that can positively impact disenfranchised populations.

"What I’ve learned in my time at WashU is that all people — regardless of race, socioeconomic class or any other factor — have the right to a safe and clean environment,” Evans said. “We all have the right to systems, policies and governmental structures that work to create that environment for us. Systems should be working on behalf of all people, and specifically marginalized people, to create a clean, safe, enjoyable environment that prioritizes their health and their needs."

Class Acts: Jewel Evans - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis Brown School student Jewel Evans, at Washington University in St. Louis, has a passion for equity-based urban planning. Her goal is to create equitable land use policies that can positively impact disenfranchised populations.

Yesterday, Anna Rhodes, FamilyForward’s CEO Fellow wrapped up her practicum experience. 👏

One of the highlights of her experience was supporting our waitlist pilot program in partnership with the Social Systems Design Lab at Washington University in St. Louis. Their partnership established a model that communicated the complex nature of mental health waitlists, a struggle so many providers face daily.

Anna shares that “it was an incredible experience to watch and learn from FamilyForward’s approach to driving equitable access to mental health care in the region. It was clear from the beginning that staff on all levels is committed to FamilyForward’s mission and it was a privilege to be a part of their team.”

We thank the MSW program at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis for connecting driven individuals like Anna to partner with local agencies to make change in the community.

Anna, we thank you for your contributions to our agency since August of last year. We wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors! 💙

Our Brown School Recognition Ceremony will showcase speeches from two student speakers: Breana Wayne, MPH candidate ’24, and Colby Crowder, MSW candidate ’24. ⁠
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Wayne will deliver the Student Speaker Address before the hooding ceremony, while Crowder will present the Student Speaker Farewell Charge after the hooding of the students.⁠
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Discover more about our student speakers! ⬇

2 Students Selected to Speak at 2024 Brown School Recognition Ceremony - Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis The Brown School 2024 Recognition Ceremony will feature speeches by two student speakers: Breana Wayne, MPH candidate ’24 and Colby Crowder, MSW candidate ’24. Wayne will deliver the Student Speaker Address before the hooding ceremony, and Crowder will present the Student Speaker Farewell Charge...