In a year of many firsts, the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrated its first ever virtual ceremony on October 19, 2020 on Zoom. Each year Pitt Social Work recognizes alumni who have achieved the highest standards of professional integrity and personal conduct; advanced knowledge of the profession; and supported public and social policies that ensure equal rights for all regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, income or disability.
Attended by 114 people, including Pitt Social Work alumni, faculty, staff, students, and the families and friends of the winners, the event was a wonderful celebration of social work excellence.
This year’s award winners were an outstanding group of individuals including:
- Distinguished Alumni Award for Social Work Education: Dr. Jan M. Ivery (MSW ’97), Assistant Dean for Academic Programs, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University
- Distinguished Alumni Award for Social Work Practice: Jody R. Bechtold, LCSW (MSW ’02), Founder and CEO of The Better Institute
- Outstanding Alumni Award: Joni Siff Schwager, LSW (MSW ’84), Executive Director, Staunton Farm Foundation
- Outstanding Field Instructor Award: Maxine J. Thomas (MSW ’09), Social Service Supervisor and Grievance Officer, Kane Community Living Center - Glen Hazel
- Rising Star Award: Johnnie R.M. Geathers (MSW ’13), Mental Health Therapist, Familylinks, Inc.
- Rising Star Award: Gabriella Jones-Casey (MSW ’13), Organizing Training Lead (OTL), Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky; Local 32BJ, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
This year also marked the first Larry E. Davis Award for Excellence in Race Research, which will be presented annually by the Center on Race and Social Problems. The award honors an outstanding researcher focused on race and racial justice issues, the inaugural recipient was Dr. Michael A. Lindsey (PhD ’02), Executive Director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University (NYU) and the Constance and Martin Silver Professor of Poverty Studies at NYU Silver School of Social Work
You can read the full biographies of each award winner on the Pitt Social Work website.
Following the award ceremony, the winners joined a panel moderated by MSW Program Director Yodit Betru which touched on issues such as how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their work, how racial justice and equity work came to the forefront this year, the importance of coalition-building, managing stress, and more.