News Archive
Students
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After a decade working in child development, Nidia Sanguino-Gonzalez realized she had gone as far in her career as she could without a master’s degree. The early educator, mental health advocate and mother of four gave herself three years to get into the right school at the right price for her family. Her top choice was the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, and she was thrilled to receive an acceptance letter. But could she afford it?
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For 13 years, Regina Nadir has worked for the District of Columbia Public Schools — as a school social worker, dean, director of climate and culture, and now as a district-level social worker providing programming for special education students, and working with the families of students at private, religious and nonpublic facilities.
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In September 2020, Caris Berndt, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) student at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, found herself at Eielson Air Force Base located 25 miles outside Fairbanks, Alaska. Her husband, an elite F-35 pilot, was stationed there in the 355th fighter squadron of the U.S. Air Force.
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In 2022, approximately 2.9 million Californians had a substance use disorder (SUD), yet only about 10% received treatment, driven in part by a statewide shortage of SUD counselors.
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Studies show that as few as 4% of former foster youth complete a four-year college degree by age 26. On April 21, the Trojan Guardian Scholars (TGS) Graduation Gala celebrated thirteen USC Class of 2023 graduates who overcame those odds.
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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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They did college the way they’ve always done everything: together.
They got together often for meals. Two lived in the same residence hall during their freshman year. Text threads rarely rested.
The Shute triplets, born in 2001, are completing their four-year stint at USC. Their degrees, like their personalities, are different.
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Since 2017, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work has organized the data collection, analysis and reporting for the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). For three months of the year, teams of three or four trained surveyors depart from the USC campus every day in the early hours of the morning, crossing the county to administer a 58-question survey to unhoused individuals.
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In May of 2022, Sara Jimenez McSweyn, senior lecturer at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, took over the reins of the Trojan Guardian Scholars (TGS) program as it moved to its new home at the school.
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As the country celebrates National Native American Heritage Month and the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates on the future of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Erika Salinas, PhD candidate at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, is keeping the connection to her Native community the focus of her work.