School of Social Welfare Dean's Update

Each spring, we welcome more than 200 new students into the Master of Social Work program.

At MSW Orientation programs in April and June, incoming MSW students meet their future classmates, professors, and the student services team that will support them from the first day of class through graduation day.

They also hear an important message: thank you for choosing social work. As they become professionally trained social workers, these students will help meet growing needs in communities across Kansas and beyond. Please join me in welcoming these students who are growing their skills in the Advanced Standing MSW program or starting their social work journey in the Traditional MSW program.

In this month’s newsletter, we share spotlights of recent MSW graduates, congratulate our faculty and staff award winners, and highlight recently published research.

We welcome your ideas and feedback at kusswdo@ku.edu. Your collaboration helps us meet our mission to educate, train, and support qualified, compassionate social workers.

Take good care and Rock Chalk,

Michelle Carney, PhD, MSSA
Dean and Professor
KU School of Social Welfare

Rana Hamdalla defines her morals through her eagerness to help others, no matter where they come from. Hamdalla, who graduated with her MSW in May, looks forward to using that helping trait in her professional career.

Hamdalla grew up in Jordan and began her professional career in pharmacy. But since living in the United States, Hamdalla has wanted to pursue a profession focused on meeting mental health needs. The KU School of Social Welfare helped her find that, she said.

"I can be there for anyone in any situation, no matter who they are," Hamdalla said.

"I can sit with you even if you don’t want to talk, that’s OK. I can do this, and I have done it with my patients, offering quiet presence while also making sure they feel supported."

Natalie Ladd grew up in areas that needed more social workers. She and her family moved back and forth between Michigan and Kansas. Now in Heston, Kansas, Ladd has earned her MSW through KU's program in Salina.

Social work wasn’t always the plan, but it was a path that made sense to Ladd. She wants to make life better for those who need the extra help.

"One thing that I hear one of my professors say a lot is that people can't heal unless they feel safe. Basic needs need to be met before you can focus on meeting the client where they're at," Ladd said.

"People are experts in their own lives – I think that’s a big thing. People need to feel safe before we can expect them to focus on their trauma or mental health."

Recipient: Audrey Cress, Adjunct Instructor

This award recognizes an adjunct instructor for excellence in instruction, collaboration, and student support. Read more: Audrey Cress award announcement

Recipients: Améa Chandler, BSW Retention Coordinator/MSW Academic Advisor, and Jerilyn Smith, Adjunct Instructor

The Mignot Award recognizes dedication to supporting BSW students. Read more: Mignot Award announcement

Recipient: Rebeca Sandoval, Assistant Professor of the Practice

The Budig award recognizes commitment to student success and innovative teaching practices. Read more: Rebeca Sandoval award announcement

Recipients: Cheryl Holmes, Research Project Director, and Brennan Miller, Research Associate

This award recognizes contributions to research and scholarship, including developing research projects and securing research funding. Read more: Statland Research Award announcement

Child marriage in Malawi has proven to be a persistent problem. Nearly 40% of girls are married by the age of 18 despite legal reforms.

New research from scholars in the KU School of Social Welfare draws on insights from those working on the issue in the country. Attempts to combat child marriage are often guided by well-intentioned approaches that do not always align and leave out key stakeholders and local knowledge, according to Linda Banda, a Malawi native and graduate of the Ph.D. in Social Work at KU.

As a doctoral student, Banda began conducting research as part of her dissertation with Juliana Carlson, associate professor in the School of Social Welfare. For a recently published study, they interviewed more than 20 people working to end child marriage in Malawi.

“The biggest question I had was, ‘Why are things not changing, even though we have this law?’” Banda said. “We wanted to know how organizations, government actors and communities were approaching this on the ground.”

Interested in learning more about the online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program?

Join us for a virtual information session about the DSW program, curriculum, and application process on July 15. Applications for students to start the DSW program in fall 2027 will open on Oct. 1.

DSW Virtual Information Session
Wednesday, July 15
7 to 8 p.m. CT
Online event - Zoom

MSW Info Session
Tuesday, July 14
7-8 p.m.
Online

DSW Info Session
Wednesday, July 15
7-8 p.m.
Online

EPSDT: A Crucial Tool for Serving Kansas Kids
Monday, August 17
12-2 p.m.
Online
CEU: 2 hours

DSW Spotlight Series
In the DSW Spotlight Series, practitioner-scholars in the Doctor of Social Work program share work from DSW Capstone Projects. Events include:

Sarah Brokenleg, BSW 2008 and MSW 2010, received the Laura Waterman Wittstock Racial Justice & Health Equity Award from the Minnesota Public Health Association. Brokenleg, an enrolled member of the Sicangu Oyate (Rosebud Lakota Sioux Tribe) and a Santee Dakota descendant, is lead American Indian community specialist at the Minnesota Department of Public Health. Read a press release about the award.

Kaleena Erwin, BSW 2011 and MSW 2020, recently earned her Master of Public Administration from the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration. Her graduate studies built on her social work background and her experience in public service, child welfare, prevention, and systems change. Erwin serves as a research project manager at the KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research, where she supports implementation and evaluation efforts focused on strengthening families and communities. She also holds her Licensed Master Social Worker credential and completed the Certified Public Manager® program through the KU Public Management Center in 2022.

Whether you just received a promotion, started a new position or project, or moved across the country, the School of Social Welfare wants to stay updated on your life adventures. Update your contact information and share your alumni news.

John J. Harris, MSW 1964, passed away on May 19, 2026, at age 92. Read obituary.

Virginia Ruth Schrag, BSW 1974, passed away on May 19, 2026, at age 74. Read obituary.

Suzanne Luecke Davis, BSW 1979, passed away on May 2, 2026, at age 68. Read obituary.

Michelle A. Vahlkamp, BSW 1979, passed away on March 24, 2026, at age 68. Read obituary.

Connie L. Bent, MSW 1981, passed away on April 12, 2026, at age 84. Read obituary.

Vickie L. Barr, MSW 1990, passed away on April 16, 2026, at age 82. Read obituary.

Lottie Mae Stewart Dawn, MSW 1995, passed away on April 5, 2026, at age 79. Read obituary.

Anita Poe Wiley, BSW 1997 and MSW 2003, passed away on May 6, 2026, at age 62. Read obituary.

Katherine Schuller Detter, MSW 2013, passed away on May 25, 2026, at age 38. Read obituary.

Social workers and healthcare providers joined the School of Social Welfare in Pittsburg, Kansas on June 12 for “Conversations for Change: Talking About Substance Use as Part of Integrated Healthcare.”

A full day of presentations focused on commitment to community health, collaboration across agencies, and equipping attendees with skills to identify, engage and intervene with substance use.

Thank you to all our presenters and attendees, and a special thank you to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas for hosting.

View photos

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