School of Social Work Alumnae/i
Ever since Simmons opened the first school of social work in the United States in 1904, we have been pioneers in the field.
Today, students, faculty, and graduates are as devoted as ever to empowering society's most vulnerable members, promoting social justice, and protecting the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
To prepare for another century of service and leadership in the field of social work, SSW is focused on further strengthening our innovative programs, and making sure our extraordinary faculty has the resources needed to excel in teaching, research, and professional practice.
Simmons is determined to do more to help put our distinctive programs within the reach of the women and men who want to launch or enhance their social work careers.
School of Social Work Alumnae/i in the News
Finding Purpose in School-Based Social Work
Diana Pelaez ’24MSW is a clinical social worker for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) — the largest voluntary school-integration program in the country.
Alumna Delivers Trauma-Informed Care at Boston Children’s
Rachel Nyakako is a clinical social worker in the Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center (CHPCC) at Boston Children’s Hospital. She serves as a link for patients and families in need of mental and behavioral healthcare and resources.
Integrating Forest Spirituality into a Social Work Mindset
Grant Pike ’18MSW ’24DSW shares how the vitality of nature can be combined with social work and social justice, with a positive impact on humans and the planet.
Advocating for Others
Anne Villano ’22MSW says her decision to enroll in Simmons’ School of Social Work was influenced by two key factors that also shaped volunteer service she engaged in while earning her degree – and her path since graduating: life experience and an affinity for advocacy.
Social Work Alum on Oncology Social Work at Dana-Farber
Josh Ozer ’24MSW is a clinical social worker at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston where he provides one-on-one counseling to patients as well as psychosocial support to their families and caregivers.
Empowering Youth: Social Work Alumna on Trauma-Informed Care
Rebecca McDermott is a clinician at Glenhaven Academy, a therapeutic residential school in Marlborough, Massachusetts. She works with students ages 12 to 21 with complex behavioral and mental health issues, providing trauma-informed individual therapy, as well as family and group therapy and case and IEP management.
Mother and Daughter Alumnae Reflect on Shared Simmons Pride
To commemorate Simmons’ 125th anniversary, we spoke with Karen MacKenzie ’10, ’12MSW and her daughter Jennifer “Jen” DiRico ’12MBA about graduating alongside one another, Simmons’ spirit of inclusivity, and the formative power of a women’s-centered education.
Social Work Alumna Champions Youth Mental Health through Intensive Home-Based Therapeutic Care
Jillian Campbell is a clinician in the Intensive Home-Based Therapeutic Care (IHBTC) Program at Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, an agency providing mental health counseling and family support services to children, young adults, and families in Massachusetts.
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