Entries are chronological based on submission date.
Send us your news here
Terry Northcut, Ph.D. ’91 and Assistant Professor Shveta Kumaria published "Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Practice: Talking Across the Divide" which offers a deep historical and critical analysis of psychodynamic theory and CBT and illustrates how practitioners can integrate the best parts of both frameworks to better support clients in therapy.
Alison Sutton-Ryan, M.S.W. ‘98, former adjunct professor published four articles recently:
- “Transforming Care: An Academic and Community Symposium on Transgender Care and Experience," with Kimberly van Vulpen, 2025, in Transforming Communities Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 2.
- “Awareness of veterinary social work in veterinary professionals,” with Aviva Vincent in Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. Advance online publication.
- Daniel Green, Alison Sutton-Ryan, Kimberly van Vulpen, Michèle M. Schlehofer & Jeffrey Willey, “Healthcare experiences of transgender and gender diverse adults in rural areas in US ‘affirming’ states”, 2026 in Culture, Health & Sexuality.
- Michele Schlehofer, Alison Sutton-Ryan, Jeffrey Willey, Daniel Green & Kimberly van Vulpen, “Navigating rural medical systems: The experiences of trans children”, 2026 in Clinical Social Work Journal.
Caitlyn Ryan, M.S.W. ’82 and the Family Acceptance Project is mentioned on the NASW Social Work Month 2026 theme and rationale page for her work supporting LGBTQIA+ children in gaining acceptance from their families.
SSW has two newly-elected NASW Pioneers: Johnnie Hamilton-Mason, Ph.D. ’99, continues to advance racial justice through her leadership of the UnDoing Racism Academy. James Herbert Williams, M.S.W. ’75, also named a Social Work Pioneer, has shaped the profession through his scholarship and leadership across multiple institutions.
Associate Professor Kenta Asakura, M.S.W. ’04, received the third annual Laura Rauscher Memorial Teaching Award, given in honor of Laura Rauscher, late director of Smith College Disability Services, adjunct professor, teacher and friend to the SSW community and disability justice advocate. The award is given to a faculty member who centers universal access in the classroom, collaboration, social justice and collegiality. Asakura’s pedagogy and focus on improving teaching and learning outcomes has impacted the curriculum and culture of SSW.
“Kenta goes out of his way to ensure everyone has access to the course materials. Kenta checks in with the class as a whole, and with people individually, to see what needs and requests individuals have, and what else he can do to accommodate everyone.”
Asakura published an article and has a forthcoming book in May 2026 he edited with colleagues.
- “The critical difference: integrating critical incident pedagogy in simulation-based social work education”, in 2025 with Kayla Kenney, Ruxandra M. Gheorghe, Barbara Lee and Brittany Lynch in Social Work Education: The International Journal, 1–8.
- Barbara Lee (editor), Mary Rawlings (editor), Nicholas Lanzieri (editor), Kenta Asakura (editor). “Advancing simulation-based social work education: Evidence, impact, and innovation”. Taylor & Francis. The book will be released in May 2026 and published by Routledge.
Professor Hugo Kamya organized a conference in December of 2025 at Makerere University, titled, “Uganda Narrative Conference: Decolonization through Narrative Practices”. It brought together practitioners and organizations from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa in Kampala, Uganda. "The showcase highlighted how visual creativity can act as a catalyst for decolonisation, inviting audiences to engage with African realities through images that challenge, inspire, and transform." Kamya has published two new articles recently:
- “Epistolary as art form: A methodology for truth telling”, with Becky Thompson, 2026, in Social Sciences, 15, 139. 1-24.
“Gender perspectives in Sub-Saharan Africa: Diversity and inequality” with Hayley Cowart, in "Global Perspectives on Gender (International Psychology)" by Melissa E. Malley, Judith L. Gibbons, Elaine P. Congress, Uwe P. Gielen, editors, p. 210-234, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Image
MTSIFA’s Fidelis Nabukenya ( R) and a student at the exhibition during the Uganda Narratives Conference on decolonization organized by Professor Hugo Kamya. Behind Fidelis is a selection of artwork that was part of the conference. Learn more here. Shreya Mandal, M.S.W. '99, has joined the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where she teaches forensic social work, sentence mitigation, and expert testimony. In her literary career, she was recently appointed as a reader for the esteemed Callaloo, A Journal of African Diaspora Arts and Letters, during its 50th anniversary. Mandal's poetry has recently been published in the U.S., the U.K., and Indian presses. She was shortlisted for the 2025 African Diaspora Award for her forthcoming poetry collection, "First Wave Africans".
