News Archive
Alumni
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The honor of Social Work Pioneer® is bestowed by the National Association of Social Workers to those within the social work profession who have explored new territories, improved social and human conditions on many frontiers, and made unique contributions to the evolution of social work. They are the role models and standard bearers for future generations of social workers to aspire.
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On May 11, 2022, John Oberg walks the stage to receive his Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, a long-held goal for this self-described “Trojan for Life” whose grandfather, a surgeon, taught in the USC medical school and whose mother is a USC alumna. He began a pre-med undergraduate degree at USC and then his path led him elsewhere, in the process earning a BA and then an MBA with concentrations in management of technology, policy and planning.
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Laura Trejo came to Los Angeles from El Salvador at age eleven, speaking no English, and immediately set her sights on attending the University of Southern California, a goal she has now achieved in spades. Trejo is a triple Trojan, with a BA and MS in Gerontology and a Master of Public Administration (MPA), and is receiving her fourth degree from USC in 2022, a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW), making her among the elite few to achieve this distinction.
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On the occasion of her centennial birthday in February, social work leaders from around the world gathered to honor Bernice Catherine Harper, MSW ’48, and reflect on her life and impact at a celebration hosted by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
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The USC student support group Unchained Scholars helped Genevieve “Genna” Rimer on her path to a doctorate in social work.
Genevieve “Genna” Rimer does not dwell on her past, but that doesn’t mean she runs from it.
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One of the most challenging aspects of military life can be the transition back to civilian life and particularly the civilian workforce. It can be even more so for female veterans who suddenly find themselves thrown into an unfamiliar and unwritten professional dress code after years in uniform.
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The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work provides more than an education. The networks that students form can be the basis for rewarding, lifelong relationships that nurture academic potential and transform social work training into real-world leadership.
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Michael Washington, MSW '19, is a retired Marine and firefighter. Now, as a social worker and therapist, he uses his personal story to help his fellow veterans and first responders address issues of stress, PTSD and suicide.
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Social workers in government, using their skills to influence policy and create change on a macro level, are becoming increasingly important for society. There are currently 42 members of Congress who are social workers. The daughter of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden is a social worker. The value of social work and what it can contribute to local, state and national politics is on the rise.
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More than half a century has passed since they first met as Master of Social Work (MSW) students at USC in the late 1950s, and Juan Ramos, MSW ’60, remembers the late Reverend Bernard Coughlin, MSW ’59, as a passionate, energetic person who was dedicated to helping the poor . Coughlin passed away in January 2020 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California.