Summer Commencement August 22, 2026
Our Vision
A Better Society Through Individual and Social Change
Our Mission
Advancing the social work profession’s vision and values, the University of Michigan School of Social Work seeks to develop a more equitable, caring and socially just society. Such a society meets basic human needs, eliminates social and economic inequities and empowers individuals, their communities and institutions to reach their aspirations and potential. Drawing on an interdisciplinary faculty within a public university seated in a region of enormous need and promise, the School is dedicated to education, research and service that fosters progressive change at local, national and global levels.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that the University of Michigan, named for Michigami, the world’s largest freshwater system and located in the Huron River watershed, was formed and has grown through connections with the land stewarded by Niswi Ishkodewan Anishinaabeg –– the Three Fires People, who are the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi –– along with their neighbors, the Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, and Wyandot nations.
Order of Exercises Processional Jordan Schug Quartet Marshals Justin Hodge Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Erin Martinez-Gilliard LEO Lecturer
Daicia Price Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Sue Ann Savas Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Welcome and Introductions Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work
Land Acknowledgment Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work
Keynote Speaker Ashley Cureton, PhD Assistant Professor of Social Work
Student Speaker Amal Issa MSW Degree Candidate
Chelsea Mudalagi MSW Degree Candidate
Presentation of MSW Graduates Readers Zaynab Boussi Hooders
Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer
Daicia R. Price Field Educator Shanna & LEOKattari Lecturer
Associate Professor of Social Work
Robert M. Ortega, Associate Professor Hooders
Amy Burandt Readers Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer Daniel J. Fischer Assistant Dean Tammie Glenn of Field Education & LEO Lecturer Clinical Assistant Professor Closing Remarks Alvarez, M. Antonio”Tony” Beth LEOAngell Lecturer II
Dean and Professor of Social Work
Alumni Welcome Recessional Judy Levick, Jordan Schug Quartet Alumni Board of Governors Closing Remarks Lynn Videka, Dean “Hail to the Victors” Led by Anna Ladd, Auriella “A.J.” Lewis, Laura Nord and Maryam Tout Recessional Jordan Schug Quartet
Commencement ceremonies have been the site of free expression and peaceful protest for decades at the University of Michigan. The University does not attempt to prevent peaceful protests or other speech protected under the First Amendment. Today’s ceremony is a way to honor our graduates’ accomplishments and celebrate their hard work. The School uplifts the values of social work, which includes holding space for different opinions and the opportunity for dialogue. Today and every day, we advocate for a safe and peaceful exchange of ideas and we encourage empathy, compassion and respect.
Cover Art The Real Blue, 1998 Sam Gilliam b. 1933 Sam Gilliam is one of the great innovators in postwar American painting. He emerged from the Washington, D.C. scene in the mid 1960s with works that elaborated upon and disrupted the ethos of Color School painting. Gilliam abandoned the traditional frames and stretchers used in painting. Instead he chose to loosely drape and suspend his paint stained canvases from the walls and ceiling. Gilliam’s The Real Blue is a four-piece ceiling installation commissioned for the School of Social Work’s lower level and is a centerpiece of its art collection.
Dear Graduates, Congratulations! We are thrilled to celebrate your hard work and dedication together with your friends, families and loved ones. In pursuit of your MSW, you have gained the skills, knowledge and training to make a difference in the lives of others. You are effective, practiced facilitators and leaders who know how to take a stand, address injustice and engage the community. As you begin the next chapter of your lives, remember that education is a lifelong process. Keep in touch with your faculty and classmates and keep listening and learning from your clients and colleagues. University of Michigan social work graduates have a reputation for their expertise, dedication and achievement. Today you join 18,000+ alumni who lead the field as policymakers, agency directors and foundation leaders, who improve lives as accomplished and effective social workers. We look forward to hearing how you apply your talents for the good of people and communities. You have earned the term “the leaders and best.” On behalf of the Michigan Social Work community, I wish you every success as you reach out, raise hope and change society. Go Blue, Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work
About Our Keynote Speaker Ashley Cureton, PhD
Professor of Social Work Ashley Cureton is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan. She has previously served as a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow and lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. Earlier in her career, she worked as a research associate at Northwestern University’s Institute for Policy Research and served as a research fellow for the U.S. Department of State in Turkey, where she worked directly with Iraqi and Syrian refugee youth in school and community settings. As a forced migration and international social work scholar, Cureton uses community-based participatory research to design culturally specific programs that improve educational, environmental, and socio-emotional outcomes for refugee and migrant youth. Her extensive fieldwork spans over a dozen global contexts, including Uganda, Zambia, Turkey and India. She earned her PhD from the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago and holds graduate certificates from Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and Northwestern University. An accomplished author, she has published research in top journals such as The Lancet, Journal of Adolescent Research, and Urban Education, and her work is funded by major institutions, including the UNHCR and SAMHSA. She has received numerous prestigious honors for her leadership and teaching. She was named a 2025 Emerging Scholar by Diverse Issues in Higher Education, received the University of Chicago’s Elizabeth Butler (Alumni) Award for academic excellence within 10 years of graduating, and received multiple honors from U-M, including the 2022 Teacher of the Year Award. She serves on the Council on Social Work Education’s Council on Global Social Issues. A member of the Travelers’ Century Club since she has visited, lived, and worked in over 100 countries and all seven continents. She is currently finalizing an academic memoir analyzing her international travels through an intersectional lens as a Black woman.
About Our Student Speaker Amal Issa MSW ‘26
Amal Issa (she/her) is an educator, school leader and humanitarian whose work has centered on serving children, families and communities. Today, she is graduating with a Master of Social Work, adding to her Master of Arts in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language from U-M and her Bachelor of Arts in English Writing and Literature from Eastern Michigan University. As the executive director of GEE Preparatory, Issa leads multiple K–12 schools while advocating for equitable access to education and student well-being. Through her volunteer service as chief of staff at FAJR Global, she helped establish a free medical evacuation program in Jordan for children suffering from warrelated blast injuries. Her experiences in education and humanitarian service inspired her pursuit of social work. She plans to integrate educational leadership, mental health and trauma-informed care to strengthen children, families and school communities. Issa was also recognized by the Arab America Foundation as a 40 Under 40 honoree for her leadership and community impact.
About Our Student Speaker Chelsea Mudalagi MSW ‘26
A career changer who came to social work after about ten years working in different nonprofit and public health settings, Chelsea Mudalgi is passionate about health equity. She has experience in program evaluation, tribal health, food security issues, HIV prevention and harm reduction. Most recently, Mudalagi co-led an AmeriCorps program at Wayne State University that has distributed over 50,000 doses of Narcan across Metro Detroit since 2019. For the last year, Mudalagi has been working at her field placement at Michigan Medicine’s Livonia Health Center, an integrated primary care clinic that serves people from all walks of life, primarily in western Wayne County. She loves the challenge of finding unusual community resources, especially when it seems like they don’t exist. And she loves helping clients discover that the pieces of ourselves that are sometimes the hardest to face are just one part of our beautiful, messy human experience. Mudalagi hopes to continue working in medical social work after graduation. She stands here today deeply grateful for all her clients who took a chance on a nervous intern. It was an honor to walk alongside you. She lives in Ferndale, Michigan, with her husband, Avi, and senior dog, Maisy.
School of Social Work MSW Graduates Moustafa Ali Khalil Zahraa Aljebory Stacey Anne Andrews Genna Gunow Ashymov Chelsea Ann Bacci Abigail Banks Beth Marie Barker John Anthony James Barkmeyer Quincy Baxter Mya Ann Bennis Adele Berg-Peterson Claire Marie Studebaker Berlon Lisha Caroline Berry Madison Marie Berwald Alice Suzanne Bialek Alexandra Mary Brady Terrell “Tae” Brown Erin Caldwell Meghan Ann Carr Yvonne Carranza Kamila Charles Kiren Aslam Chaudhry Malia Kari Clark Nichelle LeAnn Clark Chuck Cleghorn Allie Cohen Lillian Rae Collins Sona Conde Joselyn Cortes-Samano Nicole Vernice Cosby Erin Elizabeth Culp Michele Monique Curry Huda Derneika
Kaitlyn Taylor Duchien Andrew Durfee Bethany Anne Ebert Gracie Eisenstein Arianna Malia Finley Kemora Finney Elizabeth Fisher Alyvia Fondren James Forsyth Jennifer Lynn Freeman Jessica Fyall Sasha Gale Sadie K Gardner Andre’a Talina Garwood Andria Salina Garwood Austin Georgacakes Casiana Gibson Kenya Justa Annie Mae Manuel Glenn Brigit Godfrey Johnathan Gomer Sydney Gore Tyae Lakyla Grant Joshua Emmanuel Grant Nicola Greenhut Rachel Grossinger Bridget Gustafson Gabrielle Haddix Ariel Halpern Klaire Hamming Sophie Hammond Megan Lee Handle Nyssa Mae Hargett Amelia Elizabeth Hatcher-Kay
School of Social Work MSW Graduates Cecily Elaine Hayward Joshua Heater Olivia Heath Cydney Heed Anahi Guadalupe Hernandez Phoebe Lorraine Hoag James Horne Alyssa Hukill Sophie Iafrate Amal Issa Jillian Jackson Erin Shelby-Louise Jackson Emily Rose Janas Brodee Janel Jason Daydrianna Louella Jeffries Devin Jensen Blake Kelli Jones Arianna Elise Jordan Anna Jyawook Sarah Kabacinski Charlotte Kehrberg Lillian Diane Clarissa Khatib Emily Lauren Kilpatrick Samira Kimo Alice Klein Mikaila LaClear Danielle Lambert Fenton Lawler Nina Dora Liebes Anna Lou Lively Vivienne Lupu Isabella Luttmer Suzan Maduka
Alexis Markowitz Madison Mae Martinez Carrie Victoria Mason Marissa Mason Will Matthews Kaitlyn McBride Emily Grace McCloskey Margaret McCoy Joey McIntyre Rebecca McSwain Lily Merizon Madison Miller Calli Miller Macey Mitchell Francesca Mitrano Dylan Roberto Monge Emily Moss Chelsea Rae Mudalagi Bryn Murphy Katie Naber Holly Nelson Sydney Paige Newman Lillian OBrien Alessia Marianna Odell Debra Toluwalope Olabode Tayler Ondersma Carly Therese Overmire Alexia Overstreet Eddie Ozor Irmgard Pallas Claire Willa Papanikolas Sneha Patel Jackie Paulosky
School of Social Work MSW Graduates James Edward Peck Deonquanic Pope-Dunlap Jadalynn Nicole Poplin Destiny Tytianna Popovic Jasmyne Post Gracie Hannah Potter Maxwell Allyn Prevost Jenny Quirindongo Maria Ramirez Sean Reilly Caitlin Reiten Marlee Bernice Remenap Asia Rivett Anna Claire Roberts Grace Frances Roberts Matthew Rostker Breanne Sandstrom Sierra Jolene Schneidt Kate McDonald Schwab Wren Giselle Shanker Diamond Chanel Sharpe Elizabeth Shelley Erin Marie Shibley Alison Grace Skogseth Kayla Smigielski Mara Solano Samantha Rae Souva Christine Stanik Tatum Stevens Heidi Jeanne Stevenson Sam Rene Stiles Kyrsten Stuckey Sara Szatkowski
Kaelee Dawn Tanis Madisen Lynn Taylor Avery Frazier Thompson Edward Tunison IV Chelsea Vahdat Kayla Marcela Valle Anna Adrian Van Kampen Isabelle Jade VanAntwerpen Raychel Pamela Varga Adrianna Isabella Viegas Sarah Villaronga Sydney Watson Natalie Lynn Willyerd Jesse Landon Wojtys Brooke Elizabeth Woodrum Shuang Wu Lisbette Zavala Carrie Lynn Zeigler Lauren Rae Zimmerman
School of Social Work Dual Degree MSW Graduates Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health Claire Marie Studebaker Berlon Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy Samira Kimo Master of Social Work and Master of Urban and Regional Planning Anna Lou Lively
School of Social Work Joint PhD Graduates Lisa Y. Larance Social Work and Sociology Angela K. Perone Social Work and Sociology Joyce Y. Lee Social Work and Developmental Psychology Ha Yeon Lee Social Work and Anthropology Michael Evangelist Social Work and Sociology Sara F. Stein Social Work and Clinical Psychology Ed-Dee G. Williams Social Work and Sociology Change Kwesele Social Work and Developmental Psychology
School of Social Work Leadership Dean Beth Angell Dean and Professor of Social Work Associate Deans Shawna Lee Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Social Work Robert Ortega Associate Dean for Educational Programs and Professor of Social Work Katie Richards-Schuster Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor of Social Work Matthew Smith Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Social Work Assistant Deans Ryan Bankston Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance Timothy Colenback Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management Halla Jomaa-Jouney Assistant Dean for Advancement
School of Social Work Leadership Directors Abigail Eiler Director, Undergraduate Minor Programs and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work Addie Weaver Director, Doctoral Programs and Associate Professor of Social Work Rick Barinbaum Interim Director, Jewish Communal Leadership Program Barbara Hiltz Director, MSW Programs and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work Erin Khang Director, Field Education and Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work Katie Lopez Director, Office of Global Activities and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor Daicia Price Director, Flourish Program and Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work Michelle Woods Director, MSW Student Career Services Erin Zimmer Director, MSW Student Services
School of Social Work Faculty Governing Faculty
Beth Angell Odessa Gonzalez Benson Lindsay Bornheimer Linda Chatters Candace Christensen David Cordova Fernanda Cross Ashley Cureton Katie Edwards Ayesha Ghazi Edwin Abigail Eiler Willie Elliot James Ellis Katrina Ellis Lisa Fedina Terri Friedline Joseph Gardella Karla Goldman Andy Grogan-Kaylor Greer Hamilton Jackie Hawkins Todd Herrenkohl Barb Hiltz Justin Hodge Jennie Jester Shanna Kattari Erin Khang Ashley Lacombe-Duncan Shawna Lee Lydia Li Katie Maguire-Jack Tara Maudrie Patrick Meehan Jamie Mitchell Robert Ortega
Sunggeun (Ethan) Park Brian Perron Rogério Pinto Daicia Price Camille Quinn Leigh Rauk Julie Ribaudo Katie Richards-Schuster Joe Ryan Monica Sampson Sue Ann Savas Katie Schultz Krisitin Seefeldt Trina Shanks Beth Sherman Matt Smith Rebeccah Sokol Karen Staller Connie Sung Robert Taylor Rich Tolman Daphne Watkins Addie Weaver Lisa Wexler Xiaoling Xiang Nari Yoo Mieko Yoshihama Brad Zebrack
Field Faculty
Feyisetan Adunbi Mona Berry Zaynab Boussi Amy Burandt Miriam Connolly Christina Dadswell
Rachel Naasko Rosalva Osorio-Cooksy Stacy Peterson Yanni Robinson Nitesh Singh Aimée Vantine
Emeritus
Paula Allen-Meares Oscar Barbarin III William Birdsall Letha Chadiha Barry Checkoway Tom Croxton Sandra Danziger Ruth Dunkle Kathleen Coulborn Faller Sheila Feld Phillip Fellin Daniel Fischer Larry Gant Rose Gibson Martha Gizynski Lorraine Gutiérrez Leslie Hollingsworth Berit Ingersoll-Dayton Srinika Jayaratne Harold Johnson Edith Kieffer Sherrie Kossoudji Laura Lein Edith Lewis Shirley Lockery Debra Mattison Susan McDonough Sandra Momper
Thomas Powell Beth Glover Reed Lawrence Root Mary Ruffolo Daniel Saunders Brett Seabury Vivian Shapiro Kristine Siefert John Tropman David Tucker Diane Kaplan Vinokur Elizabeth Voshel Helen Weingarten
Lecturers
Cilene Adam-Rita Feyisetan Adunbi Daniel Alvarez Gina Ambrogio Richard Barinbaum Alethia Battles Anthany Beasley Trevor Bechtel Mona Berry Zahraa Boussi Felicia Brabec Amy Burandt Brooke Buys Mary Byrnes Jessica Camp Adisa Chaney Marna Clowney-Robinson Miriam Connolly Rosalva Osorio Cooksy Priscilla Cortez Colleen Crane
Julie Cushman Christina Dadswell Bonnie Dockham Kathleen Doyle Linda Edwards-Brown Kallie England Elizabeth Evans Antuan Featherstone Beth Feldkamp Sean de Four David Fulkerson Joseph Galura Karyn Gendreau Monique Giannetti Terri Gilbert Tammie Glenn Irena Glover Kathryn Greening Elizabeth Gumbis Jennifer Heckendorn Gregory Hoffman Kathryn Irish Vance Jackson Jr Jennifer Jester Camille Jones Grace Helms Kotre Jax Kynn Jamie LaLonde Marlanna Landeros Katherine (Kat) Layton Eric Lock Phillip Thomas Luttrell Paula Madden Douglas Manigault III Kassandra Maple-Jackson Erin Martinez-Gilliard
Aliyah Masudi Nasreen Meah Aimee Miller Benjamin Moe Rachel Naasko Jennifer Nason Maureen Okasinski Ana Catalina Ormsby Nichole Pangburn Stacy Peterson Mari Jan Pitcher Susan Radzilowski Kristal Reyes Sadé Richardson Osvaldo Rivera Fatima Salman Laura Sanders Diana Seales Nitesh Singh Andrea Smith Relando Thompkins Jennifer Towns Abigail Usher Aimée Vantine Paige Walker Carmen Wargel Lawrielle West Stephen Wiland Whitney Williams Jewel Woods Laura Yakas Lacea Zavala Candace Ziglor
Alumni Board President Peggy Bodin, ‘98 Vice President Sadé Mulkey, ‘18 Secretary Joanne (Jo) Yaffe, MSW ’76, PhD ’88 School of Social Work Representatives Beth Angell, Dean, Ex-officio Halla Jomaa-Jouney, Assistant Dean for Advancement, Ex-Officio Sherra Bennett, ’17 Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, ’11 William (Bill) Cabin, ’04 Sabrina Clark ‘10 Gabrielle (Gabby) D’Angelo ‘11 Ann Baker Easley, ’80 Edward (Ed) Egnatios, ’75 Janice (Jan) Fisher, ’75 Ashley Hails, ’19 Yuri Hernández Osorio, ’17 Gregory (Greg) Hoffman, ’13 Harry Hunter, ’77 Elizabeth Kinney, ’10 Deborah (Debby) Mitchell Covington, ’88 Meagan Mitchell, ’12 Orion Mowbray MSW ’10, PhD ’13
Kathleen (Kathy) Pottick, MSW ’74, PhD ’82 Milton Rodriguez, ’97 Kelly Taylor, ’95 Kyra Weber, ’16 Leah Wittenberg ‘22 Rebecca Wong ‘23 U-M Board of Regents Jordan B. Acker Michael J. Behm Mark J. Bernstein Paul W. Brown Sarah Hubbard Denise Ilitch Carl J. Meyers Katherine E. White
Thank You Today’s beautiful graduation ceremony looks wonderful and effortless. In truth, the Graduation Committee and many additional people devoted a great deal of talent, time and effort to make it a success. This ceremony would not be possible without the creativity, dedication and hard work of the students, faculty and staff listed below. Graduation Committee Patrick Meehan Faculty Chair, Assistant Research Scientist and LEO Lecturer Feyi Adunbi Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer Amy Burandt Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer Grant Clement, Recruitment, Admissions, and Student Services Officer (ex officio) Beth Feldkamp Assistant Director of Student Services (ex officio) Michelle Gorton, OSS Office Manager (ex officio) Talia Ingham Field Faculty and LEO Lecturer Halla Jomaa-Jouney Assistant Dean for Advancement Holly Nelson MSW Candidate Emerson Palazzo MSW Candidate Renée Tambeau Director of Marketing & Communications
Erin Zimmer, Director for Student Services (ex officio) Platform Party Beth Angell Ashley Cureton Jan Fisher Barbara Hiltz Erin Khang Shawna Lee Patrick Meehan Robert Ortega Erin Zimmer Readers Zaynab Boussi Shanna Kattari Hooders Amy Burandt Tammie Glenn Marshals Justin Hodge Erin Martinez-Gilliard Daicia Price Sue Ann Savas Sign Language Interpreters Natalie Vogel Haley Shorkey
Commencement Reception Please join us for a reception immediately following commencement in the Lower Level Atrium at the School of Social Work.
Hail to the Victors Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conquering heroes Hail! Hail! to Michigan The leaders and best Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conquering heroes Hail! Hail! to Michigan The champions of the West