News Archive
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The Homelessness Policy Research Institute (HPRI) has appointed Ben Henwood as its new director, effective July 1, 2024. HPRI is a collaborative of over one hundred researchers, policymakers, service providers, and experts with lived experience of homelessness dedicated to accelerating equitable and culturally-informed solutions to homelessness in Los Angeles County.
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Since her transition in the late 1980s, Christina Munguia, MSW ’21, lived very privately as a transgender woman. When she decided to apply to the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, the admissions requirements included the composition of an essay on why she wanted to become a social worker. In that moment, she decided to speak openly about who she was for the first time — a woman of transgender experience and refugee of war from El Salvador.
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Tracie Kirkland, associate teaching professor in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work has been selected for induction into the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP). Kirkland receives this prestigious honor on June 27 at the 2024 AANP National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
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The Asian-American population is often referred to as the “model minority” – well-educated, healthy, self-sufficient and problem-free. The work of Yuri Jang, professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, has uncovered a very different scenario, particularly among aging Asian Americans.
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In September 2023, nine weeks before he was due to complete the requirements for a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at USC, Benjamin Roach, MSW ’24, lost his father. Over the previous four years, his father had been living with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare, Parkinson-plus syndrome that affects body movements such as walking, balance and eye function. In 2019, Roach and his older sister became the medical and financial power of attorney for their father.
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Since she was 15 years old, Mayra Zaragoza, MSW ’24, has been helping youth find connection and a sense of belonging. Born and raised in the North San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, where gang life was prevalent within her community and in her own family, she is now a graduate of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
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The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is committed to upholding the values of compassion, empathy and respect for all individuals, regardless of background, belief or circumstance. Recent debates and discussions across university campuses, including those related to freedom of speech, have highlighted the complex issues our society faces today. We recognize the impact these broader discussions may have on our students, faculty and staff.
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For Alyssa Warburton, life is a dedication to service for her country. First, serving five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and now advocating for veterans in rural Washington state who are struggling to transition to civilian life and at risk for suicide.
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Each year, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work honors students who have made significant achievements in their academic careers and contributions to the community. We are proud to recognize the following students for their outstanding accomplishments.
Gladys M. Salit Award
Recognizes outstanding potential to contribute to the profession of social work. This award honors the professional life of distinguished alumna Gladys Salit.
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Social work doctoral graduates awarded prestigious postdoc fellowships for novel research approachesAcademia can be a competitive landscape, but for two doctoral candidates completing their PhD studies in May 2024 at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, it has been an opportunity to lift each other up. The educational journeys of Adriane Clomax (she/her) and Rory O’Brien (they/them) mirrored each other as recipients of the Oakley Fellowship endowed by the USC Provost. Only eight such fellowships are awarded to PhD candidates university-wide each year.