Dear Silver Community,
As we wrap up another academic year, we want to take a moment to acknowledge everything this year has held: the celebrations, the challenges, and all the moments in between.
From finishing major milestones like research papers, organizing meaningful community gatherings, landing dream jobs or practicum placements, to navigating election results and global events, your commitment to showing up for one another and for yourselves has been truly inspiring.
To our recent graduates, congratulations on your well-earned achievement. Your hard work and persistence brought you to this moment, and we hope you’ve taken time to celebrate. To our continuing students, congratulations on finishing another academic year. We wish you a summer filled with rest, joy, and opportunities to grow your social work practice. We look forward to reconnecting in the fall.
This newsletter is both a reflection on your resilience and a celebration of your dedication. Inside, you will find highlights from the year and important updates for the summer months. Thank you for being part of this community. Here's to your growth, your care for one another, and the possibilities ahead.
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Journey to Licensure
Silver hosted our year-long Journey to Licensure initiative where students were able to learn more about the licensure application process and the ASWB LMSW exam through a lineup of communications, events, and webinars. By connecting with peers, hearing from alumni, and getting connected to resources, students were able to navigate their journey to licensure with confidence. A special thank you to Hannah Levy and Tinisha Dasilva from the MSW Program Office for their partnership on this initiative.
My Social Work Journey Series
This academic year, the My Social Work Journey Series interviewed five alums, faculty, and practitioners in various types of social work practice to explore the challenges, opportunities, and expansiveness of the social work profession. Check out all of our segments from the year below!
Silver Success Series
The Silver Success Series lit up this year with inspiring conversations and powerful insights from NYU Silver alumni who are redefining what it means to be a social worker. This dynamic event series showcases the versatility of the MSW degree and the many paths you can take with it, from traditional roles to trailblazing, unexpected careers. Our alumni panelists pulled back the curtain on their career journeys, shared what their day-to-day looks like, and offered guidance on how to break into their unique practice settings. Watch recordings of this semester’s event below.
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Social Work Month: Compassion + Action
March was Social Work Month, celebrating the impact of social workers under this year’s theme, “Social Work: Compassion + Action.” Our student groups embraced this spirit with meaningful events.
The Black Care Collective teamed up with NAMI for The Power Within workshop, covering mental health basics, self-care, and coping tools. End Overdose hosted an informative panel on overdose prevention, sharing real-world insights from social work practitioners. To date, End Overdose has trained 1,198 people in NARCAN use.
NYU Student Mindfulness invited everyone to mindfully reflect on the spring season and what this transition means personally and collectively. These events highlight the dedication and compassion of our students as they put social work values into action every day.
Faculty Champion Drop-In Hours and Fireside Chat
In addition to her weekly drop-in hours, CDR Faculty Champion Professor Pia Hargrove kicked off social work month with a fireside chat centered on “Compassion and Action.” Through a conversation moderated by Estrellita Mondragon, BS ‘24, Professor Pia shared her journey and guidance on how social workers can turn compassion into meaningful action.
Conversations Towards Change Opening Reception
Students, faculty, and staff joined IESL at the opening reception of our 3rd Annual Silver Student Art Exhibition! The exhibition, titled Conversations Toward Change, invited students to explore conversations in all their forms. What conversations connect, heal, or inspire us? How, when, or why do we have conversations? We had over 21 student artists participate with an array of drawings, paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, and more on display.
Toasting the Class of 2025
As part of our celebration of Social Work Month, members of the NYU Silver community gathered in the Kimmel Center to toast our graduating Class of 2025. Congratulations to all of our Class of 2025 #NYUSilverGrads!
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Changemaking in Social Work: Transforming Careers in Mental Health for BIPOC
Changemaking in Social Work brought together a powerful community of social work students, alumni, and professionals for a thought-provoking roundtable featuring alumni panelists, Dr. UniQue Starks and Tanner Williams, and the authors of Transforming Careers in Mental Health for BIPOC, Dr. Doris Chang and Dr. Linda Lausell Bryant. Together, we explored the challenges and possibilities for BIPOC individuals in the mental health field, digging deep into conversations about systemic change, career pathways, and strategies to advance equity and inclusion in social work practice. It was more than just a panel—it was a space for connection, insight, and collective visioning for a more just, inclusive, and transformative profession.
Career Design Workshops in Practice Classes
This semester, the Career Design team connected with 46 BS and MSW Practice I, II, and IV classes to support students as they gear up for second-year placements and life after graduation! From sharpening interview skills to gearing up for the job search and getting a head start on salary negotiation, we covered the essentials to help our future social workers feel confident and career-ready. Much gratitude to the incredible students and faculty who welcomed us into your classrooms.
Student Awards
At the end of April, members of the Silver community gathered with friends and loved ones to celebrate our 2025 Student Awards recipients in a joyous ceremony. Congratulations to all the awardees, who embody the spirit, passion and impact of our school. Explore the Student Awards photo gallery here.
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Celebrating Our First-Gen Graduates
Graduates and their loved ones came together on the eve of graduation to celebrate Silver students who are the first, or among the first, in their families to earn a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree. The evening glowed with community pride and inspiring stories from speakers who highlighted the strength, resilience, and brilliance of the first-gen experience. Special thanks to the First Gen Students of Color (FGSOC) group and Naja L. Muhammad, Director of Alumni Relations, for helping us create such a meaningful celebration.
A Celebration of Lifelong Connections
This month, we came together for a special Shanghai/NY Cohort Graduation Luncheon. Over a shared meal, we reflected on the cohort’s journey from Shanghai to New York, their dreams and aspirations for the future, and the strong bond they’ve built over the past two years. What started as classmates in the classroom has grown into lifelong friendships.
Silver Shelf Expands to Meet Student Needs
Since its Fall 2024 launch, the student-led Silver Shelf has welcomed over a hundred visits from students seeking free grab-and-go food, hygiene items, school supplies, and more, with no questions asked. This spring, it expanded to include refrigerated meals, cleaning products, and community lunch-ins where students can enjoy warm meals and learn more about food accessibility resources on campus. A big thank you to interns Olivia Albano (MSW ’25) and Estrellita Mondragon (BS ’25). Their dedication, along with the support of so many amazing volunteers, has truly kept the Silver Shelf going strong.
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| Stay Connected Over the Summer
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As some of you know, the Social Work building (1 WSN) will be closed for most of the summer due to necessary construction. This includes the student lounge and room G13 on the garden level, including the Silver Shelf. However, we're still here to support you! If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to check in, feel free to email us or set up a time to chat on Zoom over the summer. We know how important these spaces are to your learning and encourage you to explore the alternative lounge options available, as well as food accessibility resources across campus.
Whether you're on campus or online, stay connected with us through our services and resources:
We wish you the most joyous of summers, and look forward to reconvening with you this fall!
In Community,
Office of Career Design & Social Work Readiness
Office of Inclusive Engagement & Student Life
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