Fall 2025: Creating Connections and Community

  • SSW Communications
  • Alumni
Janae Peters, Katie Potocnik Medina and Samantha Mishne hug, take selfie and Janae holds up a Smithie heart temporary tattoo
Creating Connections & Community 2024: Janae Peters, M.S.W. '15, now director of community engagement and student support, with Katie Potocnik Media, director of alumni engagement, and Samantha Mishne, M.S.W. '99 in Ohio.

This September, casual alumni meetups around the U.S. are a chance to reconnect with fellow alumni and welcome students starting their practicum placements. If you don't see your city on the list, reach out to sswalum@smith.edu to host one next year! 

More dates coming soon. Check the alumni newsletter InBrief for updates.

Durham, NC
Date & Time: Friday, September 26, 2025
Location: Namu  
Hosted by: Linda Chupkowski, M.S.W. ’07
RSVP

Easthampton, MA
Date & Time: Saturday, September 27, 2 - 4 p.m. ET
Location: New City Brewery  
Hosted by: Leah Cantler, M.S.W. ’11 and Lisa Jaffe, M.S.W. ’15
RSVP 

Blue background. Text reads Smith College School for Social Work, Creating Connections and Community. Alumni Gatherings around the U.S. A yellow post it note says Fall 2025

Minneapolis, MN
Date & Time: Saturday, September 27, 4 - 6 p.m. 
Location: Leah Harp’s home in the East Isles neighborhood
Hosted by: Leah Harp, M.S.W. ’94
RSVP 

Oakland, CA
Date & Time: Sunday, September 28, 2 - 5 p.m. PT
Location: Home of Rachel Michaelsen, M.S.W. ’89
Hosted by: Man-Tso Wei, M.S.W. ’19 and Rachel Michaelsen, M.S.W. ’89
RSVP

Details Coming Soon:

Boston, MA
Hosted by: Jennifer Erbe Leggett, M.S.W. ’99

Cleveland, OH
Hosted by: Samantha Mishne, M.S.W. ’99

Los Angeles, CA 
Hosted by: Jose Hernandez, M.S.W. ’16, SSW Ph.D. candidate

New York, NY
Hosted by: Kelly Brown, M.S.W. ’03

Philadelphia, PA
Hosted by: Thaddeus Desmond, M.S.W. ’13 and Amy Trachtenberg, M.S.W. ’77

Portland, OR
Hosted by: Sarai Engel, M.S.W. ’06

Seattle, WA
Hosted by: Jennifer Lee, M.S.W. ’99