For the past twelve years, members of the School of Social Work’s Alumni Council have served as ambassadors that interface between the School, the thousands of alumni who earned a social work degree from Rutgers, and the broader social work community. The Alumni Council, which is comprised of alumni who serve in a volunteer capacity, supports future generations of social workers, enhances the professional portfolios of alumni, and keeps graduates connected with their classmates. Council members work collaboratively and actively engage with fellow alumni to promote the School’s reputation and standard of excellence among internal and external stakeholders. The Council also provides recommendations based on trends in the field to School leadership.

Patricia Kastner, SSW’02 is a dedicated alumna, a beloved mother and grandmother, and a lifelong advocate for children and families. Patricia’s journey to a career in social work has been defined by empathy, strength, and an unwavering commitment to helping others. Now, as she faces advanced ovarian cancer and receives care through hospice, her family and medical team are carrying forward her legacy through the newly-established Ovarian Cancer Innovation Fund—a visionary effort to fuel research and bring hope to others facing this disease.

Rutgers School of Social Work’s Office of Continuing Education hosted its ninth annual Challenging Racial Disparities Conference, “A Call to Action,” on Wednesday, June 9, bringing together more than 500 social workers and allied professionals for a powerful virtual learning opportunity. Attendees heard from thought leaders in the profession and gained new skills to address issues in their work with clients, organizations, and communities.

Rutgers School of Social Work is pleased to announce the appointment of Drs. Julia Cusano, Sandra Edmonds Crewe, Amml Hussein, and Durrell Malik Washington Sr. to its faculty. We asked them to identify five meaningful objects in their homes and offices.

In 2000, when Kathy Ehrich Dowd graduated with a degree in journalism, she had her sights set on becoming the next Barbara Walters. For nearly two decades, she thrived as a reporter and editor, including an impressive 17-year run contributing to People magazine followed by a three-year stint at Time magazine. But what began as a passion for telling people’s stories, such as the families and victims of 9/11 and the Newtown school shooting, eventually led to burnout. Then came the pandemic, and with it, a turning point.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and raised in Newark, Kareemah Harris-Baker’s story is one of resilience. As an adoptee who lost both her adoptive parents by the age of nine, Kareemah’s early life was shaped by profound transitions—and an unwavering sense of purpose instilled by her late parents.

The 2025 International Conference on Integrated Health and Social Work, held at National Taiwan University (NTU), brought together over 20 scholars from 12 universities across South Korea, Vietnam, Macau, the United States, and Taiwan. The two-day event served as a dynamic platform for advancing interdisciplinary research and collaboration in the field of integrated health and social work.

Dr. George Leibowitz, Dean and Distinguished Professor of the Rutgers School of Social Work, was awarded the 2025 Sol Gothard Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Organization of Forensic Social Work (Forensic Social Work Alliance). The award was presented at the Alliance’s annual conference in New Orleans on May 28, 2025.

In honor of Pride Month, Jose Cruz (Senior Program Coordinator for the Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Practicum Learning) shares how social work students around the world use technology to create supportive spaces that help them thrive along their educational journey.