After a pause during COVID-19 lockdown, the SSW Alumni Awards were refreshed and expanded to include broader categories of social work service, and presented to four exceptional alumni in the summer of 2024. Help SSW recognize the incredible work alumni do by nominating fellow alumni for their impacts on social work practice, education, policy and delivery of thoughtful clinical support.
On a beautiful summer night with jazz music from local artist Pamela Means at the Smith Conference Center, the Day-Garrett, Change Agent, Social Work Leadership and Emerging Leader awards were presented.
Yvette Colon, M.S.W. ’90, received the lifetime achievement Day-Garrett Award for being a leader in oncology social work, pain management, and social work education. The Change Agent Award went to Adama Sallu, M.S.W, ’93, whose leadership in the school system has transformed access to education in groundbreaking ways.
Mike Langlois, M.S.W. ’94, also a tech wiz, uses gaming in his work and received the Social Work Leadership Award for exceptional leadership in teaching and technology in social work practice. Helen Chao, M.S.W. ’19, was recognized for her potential to shape the future of social work with the Emerging Leader Award for her work providing mental health care on the street, striking for better patient conditions and focus on leadership as service.
The careers of each of these thoughtful social workers highlight the wide range of work that SSW alumni are doing. Smith School for Social Work is asking alumni to nominate other remarkable alumni who are doing impactful and important work by April 18, 2025.
Awards will be presented during the 2025 Deepening Clinical Practice Conference on August 1.
The process to nominate an alum is simple–just complete the form below.
