Doctoral Student Organization

PhD students

The Doctoral Student Organization (DSO) is the student leadership entity for students in the School of Social Work doctoral program. It supports and enhances the academic and personal achievement of social work doctoral students throughout their tenure at the University of Pittsburgh by providing a forum for scholarly presentations, collegial support, free exchange of ideas, discussion of critical issues, and acculturation into the world of academia.


Students in the School of Social Work doctoral program serve DSO directly through membership in the DSO leadership team and through membership as doctoral student representatives on various School of Social Work committees.

2024-2025 Executive Board

  • President – Christina Babusci 
  • Vice President – Max Vicente
  • Secretary – Vacant 
  • Doc Committee Representative – Latrice Shannon
  • Doc Committee Representative – Tess Schleitwiler
  • International Student Representative – Fredrika Opur
  • Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator – Christian Porter
  • Justice & Belonging Liaison – Daniel Abusuampeh
  • Pitt Graduate Workers Union Liaison - Holley Tillman

Vacant positions will be offered in the Summer with preference for the incoming cohort to take those spots.

Anti-Racist Doctoral Program Student Committee

Driven by the desire to stand in solidarity amongst and with our African American colleagues and a renewed commitment to anti-racist social work, doctoral students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work formed the Anti-Racist Doctoral Program Student Committee (ARDPSC) in May 2020.  See the Anti-Racist Doctoral Program Student Committee webpage for more information.

Contact Information and Social Media

Bylaws

Doctoral Student Organization Bylaws>>