The Wayne State School of Social Work had a strong showing at the recent 23^rd Annual Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference in San Francisco, CA. Focused on ending gender based, family and community violence, the conference provided an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to present their research via papers, posters, symposiums, panels and special interest groups. View a full listing of Social Work Warrior presenters here.

At one point in her life, there was a warrant out for Sheryl Kubiak's arrest. The Dean of the School of Social Work forgot to pay a parking ticket and realized a warrant had been issued when she was denied entry to the local jail for her inside/out course. "I had the $250 to pay it," she recalls, "but if I didn't have it, I would be sitting in jail. And that's the travesty of the criminal legal system for you." Read more of Dean Kubiak's profile in Issue 2 of the WSU Faculty Impact Newsletter here.

It's time to name a building or park after trailblazing Detroiter Maryann Mahaffey. A recent op ed piece in the Detroit Free Press written by Sara Gleicher (former chief of staff for Mahaffey), Dean Sheryl Kubiak (former intern of Mahaffey) and Susan Dooha (Mahaffey's daughter) calls on the city of Detroit and Wayne State to ensure Mahaffey's legacy as an author, educator, civil rights activist, volunteer and political leader is never forgotten.  Read more

On January 27, 2019 Assistant Professor Jamey Lister, former mentee and WSU colleague, Joseph Urbiel (BSW earned, MSW May 2019), and WSU Psychology doctoral student Jennifer Ellis presented "The Opioid Crisis in Michigan and Metro Detroit: Fighting Back with Research, Treatment and Recovery" at the Oak Part Temple Emanu-El as part of their Sunday Speaker Series.

Part-time Social Work Faculty Member and Social Entrepreneurship Committee co-Chair Marijo Upshaw was featured in the December 2018 issue of the NASW Social Work Advocates Stepping Up - Profession Trains Social Workers to Become Leaders article "Entrepreneurs, Business Professionals Changing the Face of Social Work". Read more

Second year MSW/MPH Joint Degree student David Cicala (with co-authors Jennifer Mendez, Martha Schiller and Anwar Najor-Durack)  presented his research, "Utilizing an Interdisciplinary Student-Run Clinic to Educate and Improve Diabetes Management of At-Risk Population in Detroit" at the American Public Health Association annual meeting in November 2018 in San Diego, CA.

WSU CHAMPS student, Arielle Duncan was recently featured in the Michigan Radio audio interview and article, "State struggles to connect kids aging out of foster care with educational, vocational opportunities". With the support of CHampions Aspiring to Make Pathways to Success (CHAMPS) program, CHAMPS Director Judith Wineman and staff Airika Buford and Marla Garmo, facilitated campus housing for Arielle through the Wayne State HIGH program.  Read more and listen to the interview here