‘82
Gary E. Bachman, MSSW ’82, is an associate professor and the director of field education in the Department of Social Work at Park University in Parkville, MO. Gary was the 2012 recipient of the J.L. Zwingle Student Voice Award, a university-wide award that recognizes a member of the faculty for outstanding teaching, as chosen by the student body. In January 2013 Gary was awarded tenure by the university.
‘92
Richelle Easley, MSSW ’92, is a licensed clinical social worker in the Austin, TX, area. Richelle has recently opened a private practice, where she offers individual and family counseling.
’95
Alicia Garcés, MSSW ’95, was the recipient of the 2014 Field Instructor of the Year Award from the UT Austin School of Social Work. Alicia serves as the director of social work training at the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center. She coordinates the training of social work students every, orchestrates the interviewing and selection of incoming final field interns, and ensures that social work interns are treated with equality and dignity as they train with incoming psychology interns from all over the country.
Eric Metcalf, MSSW ’95, is the chief program officer of Communities in Schools-Central Texas. Under his leadership, this organization received the 2014 Greenlights’ Nonprofit of the Year Award. Greenlights presents this award to Central Texas nonprofits whose exceptional delivery of services to the community sets a high standard for effective nonprofit strategy, execution, and lasting community impact.
’96
Elaine Dodson, MSSW ’96, is currently working at the Texas Homeless Network as the continuum care manager for the Texas Balance of State Continuum Care. In this position, Elaine helps communities to strategically and effectively prevent and end homelessness. Elaine is very excited about being a field instructor for the School of Social Work. She received the first social work intern this past January.
Susan Owen (Schauwecker), MSSW ’96, was awarded the 2014 Golden Halo Award from the Children’s Trust of the Roanoke Valley. This award recognizes and honors outstanding contributions to the cause of child abuse prevention, intervention, and advocacy in the Roanoke Valley. Susan has a private practice in Roanoke, where she lives with her husband, Benjamin Owen, MSSW ’99, and their two children, Eleanor, 9, and Elliot, 6.
’00
Seanna Crosbie, MSSW ’00, currently works at the Austin Child Guidance Center in Austin, TX, where she is the director of program and trauma-informed services. Seanna has been with the Austin Child Guidance Center since 2001, and she has served the organization in an administrative capacity since 2010.
’02
Michelle Ballin, PhD ’02, is an assistant professor of social sork at Columbia University. She has recently earned a master’s in bioethics from Columbia, and created a dual degree program in bioethics and social work.
’03
Jennifer Sowinski, MSSW ’03, has recently taken a position as the director of admissions at Cross Creek Hospital in Austin, TX. Jennifer previously worked as a social work supervisor at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center.
Shane Whalley, MSSW ’03, currently works as a peer support unit manager at ViaHope Texas Mental Health Resource. Shane joins ViaHope from the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked as an education coordinator focused on LGBTQ student issues.
’05
Ashley de Jong, MSSW ’05, was recently named president of the board of directors for Keep Austin Beautiful, an organization focused on litter prevention, beautification and community improvement, and waste reduction and resource conservation. Ashley is also the owner of Casa SoCo and Zen Retreat in Austin, TX.
Tiffany Meyer, MSSW ’05, has recently taken a position at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX, where she assists patients and their families with discharge planning needs. Tiffany is also a certified yoga instructor at the 200-hour level.
’05
Johnny Kim, PhD ’06, received the Research Recognition Award from the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association for his contributions to solution-focused brief therapy over the years. Johnny is an associate professor at the Graduate School of Social Work in the University of Denver.
’06
Michael Romero, MSSW ’06, BSW ’05 currently works as a site coordinator with Communities in Schools of Central Texas. Michael was recently the recipient of the 2015 Unsung Heroes Award, presented to site coordinators who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to students. To help students succeed on his campus, Michael facilitates individual and group counseling, supports parents, and works with a variety of community partners to bring in additional resources.
’07
Hannah Jones-Lewis, BSW ’07, is currently a licensed social worker in the Chicago, IL, area. She has recently taken a position at Live Oak Inc., offering trauma-informed psychotherapy and clinical workshops to individuals, couples, and families. Hannah has joined Live Oak Inc. from the Erikson Institute.
Claire McCullough, MSSW ’07, is currently working with the Austin Police Department Victim Services as a victim witness counselor on the crisis team.
Alysa Rosen, MSSW ’07, is the membership services manager for the Greater Seattle Business Association, an LGBT and allied business and professional chamber in Seattle, WA, with over 1,100 members and the mission of combining business development, social action, and leadership to expand economic opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and those who support equality for all. Alysa is very excited about this position, which she started last September.
’08
Edlín Maldonado, BSW ’08, also received master’s degrees in international relations and business administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. Edlín has recently taken a position with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., where she works as a collaborative grant specialist.
Amelia Popham, BSW ’08, received her master in social work from Columbia University in 2010. She is currently working as a social science research analyst in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. In this position, Amelia studies ACF programs and the populations they serve, with a particular focus on economic self-sufficiency for low-income families.
’10
Linda Pham, MSSW ’10, is a medical social worker at Houston Methodist. She is co-author of “Ventricular assist devices: A review of psychosocial risk factors and impact on outcomes,” published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.
’11
Emily Goering, MSSW ’11, is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in social work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She lives in the Washington, DC, area.
Benjamin Heefner, BSW ’11, is currently working as a clinical social worker with Texas Health Resources. He lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Katherine Sanchez, PhD ’11, MSSW ’92, received a two-year, $200,000 grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to screen Hispanic patients for depression and educate them about the disease and treatment options available.
Jennifer Schmalz, MSSW ’11, also holds a master’s degree in public affairs from The University of Texas at Austin. She currently works as a program specialist in the Office of Refugee Resettlement in Washington, DC. Jennifer received a prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship in 2012. During her fellowship she held positions with the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
’12
Sara Baird, MSSW ’12, has taken a position as a therapist with the Austin Child Guidance Center in Austin, TX. In this position, Sara will work to improve the mental health of children and their families through early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Erika Bitar, MSSW ’12, has recently taken a position as a senior placement specialist with Goodwill Central Texas in Austin, TX. Erika has been with Goodwill in the Central Texas area since 2013.
Clarissa (DiSantis) Humphreys, MSSW ’12, has recently relocated to Durham, United Kingdom. She has taken a position as an independent researcher with the Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse. In this position, Clarissa works closely with Project Mirabal, a study conducted out of Durham University that seeks to discover effective tools and strategies for perpetrator programs.
Emily Pulley, MSSW ’12, was recently named the director of instructional programs for the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas. Emily is especially interested in expanding access to education for immigrant and refugee populations. Emily graduated from the School and Social Work with a concentration in Community Administration and Leadership.
’13
Christy Camp, MSSW ’13, is working as a group therapist at Eating Recovery Center in Denver, CO, providing services to female and male adults, adolescents, and children suffering from eating disorders. Christy is currently planning to relocate to the San Francisco, CA, area.
Julia Sanford, MSSW ’13, has recently been hired as a senior social worker with the State of Alabama Department of Human Resources. She comes to the Department of Human Resources from the Young Women Christian Association of Central Alabama.
’14
Jessie Lewis, MSSW ’14, BSW ’11, has been licensed to practice as an licensed master social worker in Texas. She has recently accepted a position with the Seton family of hospitals (Shoal Creek and Brackenridge) in the psychiatric emergency department.
Claudia Peterson, MSSW ’14, has taken a position as a medical social worker at the David Powell Clinic in Austin, TX. The David Powell Clinic provides HIV care, primary care, and psychiatric services to the Austin community.
Wendy Whipple, MSSW ’14, BSW ’13, graduated with a concentration in Community and Administrative Leadership with special focus on occupational social work, employee assistance, and human resources. She has recently been hired as a placement specialist with Goodwill of Central Texas in Austin.
Erin Willig, MSSW ’14, took a position with Communities in Schools of Central Texas in September 2014. Erin is currently a caseworker at Dobie Middle School in Austin, TX. Erin joins Communities in Schools from Cal Farley’s, where she worked as a counseling intern.