A year in review: Leading with Courage and Purpose: Morgan State School of Social Work Celebrates the Transformative Achievements of the Class of 2026

The Morgan State University School of Social Work proudly celebrated a historic and inspiring Spring 2026 commencement season, honoring the achievements of 38 Bachelor of Social Work graduates, 93 Master of Social Work graduates, 2 PhD graduates, and the inaugural cohort of 17 Doctor of Social Work (DSW) graduates.

This year's commencement reflected far more than academic achievement. It represented the continued realization of the School's mission to prepare culturally responsive urban social work leaders committed to social justice, advocacy, community engagement, and the transformation of individuals, families, and communities locally and globally.

The University's undergraduate commencement ceremony was powerfully shaped by keynote speaker Bryan Allen Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson delivered an impassioned and deeply personal address that challenged graduates to confront injustice with courage, compassion, and hope.

Drawing on his own journey from rural Delaware and on his decades of advocacy on behalf of condemned and marginalized individuals, Stevenson reminded graduates that proximity to suffering can become a pathway to purpose. "You have the power to lift up other people," he told the Class of 2026, urging graduates to reject narratives rooted in fear, anger, and division while remaining steadfast in the pursuit of justice.

Stevenson emphasized that meaningful social change requires courage, proximity, and hopefulness, reminding graduates that hopelessness remains one of the greatest barriers to justice. His message resonated deeply with social work graduates preparing to enter a profession grounded in advocacy, ethical leadership, and community transformation.

Throughout the academic year, the School advanced its vision through nationally recognized scholarship, community partnerships, policy engagement, violence prevention initiatives, behavioral health programming, student leadership, and international engagement. Faculty, students, alumni, staff, and community partners collectively demonstrated the power of scholarship grounded in equity, healing, justice, and service.

The University's undergraduate commencement ceremony was powerfully shaped by keynote speaker Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson challenged graduates to lead with courage, compassion, and hope while remaining committed to confronting injustice and uplifting vulnerable communities. His message deeply resonated with social work graduates entering a profession rooted in ethical leadership, advocacy, and community transformation.

The School also celebrated significant milestones in doctoral education. Dr. Gelissa Edego Romane Gibson and Dr. Danielle Fitzhugh completed their PhD degrees, contributing scholarship grounded in justice, identity, and the centering of marginalized voices in research and practice. The School further marked a historic achievement with the graduation of its inaugural Doctor of Social Work cohort. Developed under the leadership of Dr. Linda Darrell, Dr. Jerome Schiele, and Dean Anna McPhatter, the DSW program was intentionally designed to prepare advanced practitioners capable of addressing complex urban challenges through leadership, research, evidence-informed practice, and social justice engagement.

The School's commitment to impactful scholarship remained visible throughout the 2025–2026 academic year. Faculty publications and presentations addressed critical issues including climate justice, housing inequities, intimate partner violence, behavioral health, Black youth identity development, disability justice, cannabis policy, policing, poverty, homelessness, aging, reproductive health, trauma-informed care, and racial disparities.

Notable scholarly contributions included:

• Dr. Jerome Schiele's editorial, Diversity and Its Discontents in Social Work
• Dr. Jocelyn Taliaferro's publication, Governance Through Perception: Rethinking Evaluation in Police-Led Youth Programs
• Dr. Vanessa Martin-Jones's publication examining Black youth identity models for social work practice
• Dr. Paulette Smith's scholarship reframing cannabis policy through equity and public health lenses
• Dr. Laurens Van Sluytman and colleagues' publication in the Journal of Poverty examining Black women's survival strategies under Temporary Cash Assistance systems
• Dr. Raymond Adams and Dr. Tina Jordan's scholarship examining reproductive health access among older adults
• Dr. Michael Sinclair and Sy'Quon Shaw's work advancing community-based mental health responses to urban violence prevention
• Dr. Christa Gilliam's scholarship examining climate resilience, equity, and community healing
• Dr. Antoine Lovell's scholarship addressing homelessness, poverty policy, and structural inequities in Black communities
• Dr. Kevin Daniels's public scholarship and leadership examining community-centered approaches to public safety, neighborhood wellbeing, and equitable systems transformation
• Dr. Jennifer Daniels’s research examining SNAP Employment and Training Programs, labor force outcomes, and the role of self-reported disability was presented at the 2026 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) in Washington, DC

Morgan faculty strengthened the School's national and international scholarly presence through presentations and leadership roles at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE), International Conference on Urban Affairs, and the upcoming Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education, and Social Development (SWSD 2026) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Faculty and instructional teams reflected the School's broad intellectual and community impact:

• Dr. Marline Francois-Madden advanced conversations surrounding school-based mental health and culturally responsive support systems for Black girls
• Dr. Miguel Rodríguez contributed nationally recognized work on disability justice, restorative approaches, policy change, and belonging-centered educational environments.
• Dr. Lujie Peng strengthened quantitative and methodological scholarship through advanced statistical workshops and collaborative mental health research.
• Dr. Chiao-Yu Yang contributed collaborative scholarship examining police-initiated stigma, trauma, and youth mental health outcomes.
• Dr. Melissa Littlefield advanced faculty development and academic empowerment initiatives supporting women scholars and writers in higher education.
• Dr. Lloyd Allen represented the School internationally at the World Conference on Qualitative Research in Madrid, Spain, presenting work exploring the mental health experiences of MSW students navigating graduate education.
• Dr. Rhonda Wells-Wilbon and Dr. Romyche Pierre strengthened international partnerships and student learning through the South Africa Summer Enrichment Program.
• Recently joining the Morgan faculty, Brionna Phillips has already contributed energy, mentorship, and practice-informed instruction that enriches the student learning experience and strengthens the School's instructional community.
• Our dedicated part-time faculty continue to enrich students' educational experience through mentorship, practice expertise, and community-informed teaching that bridges classroom learning with real-world practice.

The School also celebrated the important achievement of Dr. Belinda Smith and Dr. Raymond Adams, whose successful tenure and promotion reflect years of meaningful scholarship, teaching excellence, mentorship, and service to the profession and the School. Dr. Smith's nationally recognized work advancing equity, child welfare, and justice-centered social work practice continues to strengthen Morgan's reputation for impactful, community-engaged scholarship, while Dr. Adams's contributions to reproductive health, aging, and community-centered research further advance the School's commitment to impactful, socially responsive scholarship.

The School also expanded behavioral health workforce development initiatives through the SHIELD Fellowship Program led by Dr. Dawn Thurman, Dr. Melissa Littlefield, and colleagues. Students engaged in advanced training focused on trauma-informed care, clinician wellness, addiction treatment, and behavioral health equity through partnerships with the Tuerk Conference on Mental Health and Addiction Treatment and the Opioid Response Network. The School further strengthened specialized workforce development through the Title IV-E Child Welfare Program led by Tuesday Isom and Michelle Grissette, which prepares students for careers in child welfare and public service systems; the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) for Youth initiative led by Dr. Belinda Smith, which advances culturally responsive and research-informed interventions supporting youth and families; and the SOR IV training initiatives coordinated by Dr. Christa Gilliam, which expanded trauma-informed and recovery-oriented behavioral health training opportunities for students and practitioners.

The BSW Department, under the leadership of Chair Yvonne Greene and Dr. Georgia Jennings, continued to strengthen undergraduate student engagement, academic excellence, and professional identity development through initiatives such as the BSW Senior Symposium, leadership programming, and student-centered activities addressing homelessness, food insecurity, climate justice, youth violence, reentry, behavioral health, and community organizing. The School also recognizes the contributions of Prof. Darrell Green, whose mentorship, leadership, and welcoming presence continue to enrich the BSW student experience and reflect the School’s spirit of hospitality, professionalism, and community connection. In addition, Dr. Minli Liao’s work in evaluating student outcomes and program effectiveness has strengthened the School’s assessment capacity and enhanced its ability to advance and measure progress toward its mission of preparing competent, justice-centered urban social work leaders.

The Practicum and Field Education Department remained central to student professional growth and workforce preparation under the leadership of Director Thelma Rich, Assistant Director Dwayne Pate, Jordan Anderson, Erika Sweeney Stokes, and Janaya Stanley. Through Professional Opportunities Day 2026, Social Work Advocacy Day in Annapolis, and expanded community agency partnerships, students connected classroom learning to macro advocacy, direct practice, behavioral health, and community leadership. The field education team strengthened opportunities for mentorship, professional networking, and practicum innovation across Baltimore and the broader DMV region.

The School continued to strengthen communities through initiatives led by the Center for Urban Violence and Crime Reduction. Signature programs included the "Breaking the Silence: Intimate Partner Violence Symposium," which brought together survivors, scholars, practitioners, advocates, clinicians, and community members to address trauma-informed violence prevention and healing. The symposium featured keynote speaker Dr. Finigan-Carr, survivor testimony from Larissa Camp, and participation from organizations including House of Ruth Maryland, TurnAround, Inc., the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center, and the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.

The Center also hosted its Community Brunch Speaker Series featuring Janet Abrahams, President and CEO of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, and Yolanda Jiggetts, President and CEO of Park Heights Renaissance. These conversations addressed housing redevelopment, violence prevention, urban revitalization, behavioral health, and collaborative approaches to structural inequities affecting Baltimore communities. Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, serving as the Center on Urban Violence and Crime Reduction's Liaison for Network Development, continued to strengthen strategic community relationships and public engagement efforts that support the Center's mission of violence prevention, healing, and urban community transformation. Cashmere O'Neil also contributed significantly to the Center's community engagement and programming efforts, helping strengthen partnerships and community-centered dialogue.

Students continued to distinguish themselves through leadership, scholarship, and advocacy. PhD student Adeola Durodola represented Morgan State University at the 2026 United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum. Doctoral student Ninah Bell was appointed Co-Chair of the Society for Social Work and Research Doctoral Student Engagement Committee, helping strengthen support systems and engagement opportunities for emerging scholars and HBCU doctoral students nationally.

The School also celebrated the success of initiatives such as "316 BSW Strong!", recognizing the continued growth and retention of undergraduate social work students, as well as the induction of high-achieving students into the Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society.

The School's accomplishments were made possible through the extraordinary dedication of its faculty, staff, and administrative professionals whose daily work sustains the mission of Morgan social work. The School extends sincere appreciation to its outstanding administrative and operational team, including Nastacia Gilling, Torian Golden, Ashley Goodson, Kirsten Pope, Karen Dowhite, Regina Hippolyte-Williams, Jasper Spencer, Myshae Dunn, Kristy Ross, Justin Carey, and Raekwan Nelms, whose professionalism, innovation, care, coordination, and commitment continue to strengthen the student experience, faculty success, program operations, and community engagement efforts across the School. As the School's Technology Specialist, Justin Carey has played a critical role in supporting instructional technology, digital learning infrastructure, and operational efficiency across programs and events. Raekwan Nelms, serving as Undergraduate Student Retention Specialist, has strengthened student engagement, support, and retention efforts while helping undergraduate students navigate academic success and professional development pathways.

Together, these accomplishments reflect Morgan State University School of Social Work's unwavering commitment to academic excellence, social justice, culturally responsive practice, community empowerment, and transformative leadership. They embody the School's core values of integrity, advocacy, equity, collaboration, scholarship, and service.

As the semester concludes and summer begins, the School extends sincere gratitude to its faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners whose dedication continues to strengthen Morgan's legacy of leadership and impact. We wish everyone a restorative, joyful, and well-deserved summer, and we proudly celebrate the Class of 2026 as they move forward to advance justice, healing, and transformation in communities across the nation and around the world.