For Max Gatto, Rutgers School of Social Work’s Nonprofit and Public Management Certificate wasn’t just an academic credential. It was an investment in his community, his leadership, and a career dedicated to service. And as he helps bring thousands of meals to Trenton’s most vulnerable residents, the impact of that investment continues to grow.

Assistant Professor Durrell M. Washington Sr. received the 2026 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award for his dissertation “Invisible Wounds and Sibling Dynamics: A Narrative Study Investigating the Influence of Juvenile Incarceration on Black Family Life.” In conferring the award, SSWR recognized the significance of the problem addressed, the rigor of Dr. Washington Sr.’s analysis, and the meaningful contribution his work makes to social work and social welfare knowledge.

The 2025 International Symposium on Children and Youth Health and Well-being convened in Guangzhou, China on December 13-14, 2025, drawing more than 100 scholars and students from around the world. Hosted by the School of Public Administration at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and co-hosted by the University of Saint Joseph and Rutgers School of Social Work, the event featured 75 research presentations exploring critical issues affecting children and youth.