Social Work is Everywhere

In “Alumni Perspectives and Advice for the Class of 2026,” host Connie Sgarlata (UMSSW MSW ’89) welcomes University of Maryland School of Social Work alumni Lori James-Townes (MSW ’91), Kathryn Zimmerman (MSW ’20), and Jamel Freeman (MSW ’25) to share their social work journeys, defining experiences at the School, and their views on the future of the profession. Lori James-Townes, executive direct...

UMSSW alumnae and founders of the CASH Campaign of Maryland, Robin McKinney, MSW ’01 and Sara Johnson, MSW ’02 discuss their career path into financial social work, challenges faced in the social work profession, and their experience founding the Cash Campaign of Maryland.   To learn more about financial social work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work visit https://ssw.umaryland.ed...

In this episode of the Social Work Is Everywhere podcast, Michelle Reyazuddin, a second-year clinical MSW student and first-gen lead scholar at the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Social Work, speaks with Dean Judy Postmus about the School’s newly developed vision statement: “At the University of Maryland School of Social Work, we envision a future where social work research, practice,...

In this special episode of the Social Work Is Everywhere Podcast, we bring you highlights from our conversations with the OASIS team at the University of Maryland's School of Social Work. Join us as we discuss strategic planning, collaboration, community and global engagement, and the importance of aligning strategic goals with personal and institutional values. Learn about the evolving lands...

Join Dr. Lynn Murphy Michalopoulos and David Robertson on the Social Work Is Everywhere podcast as they explore the Moving Well Project—a groundbreaking initiative delivering mental health and HIV prevention support to long-distance truck drivers in Zambia and beyond. In this episode, you’ll hear from: Sabeen Ahmed, clinical social worker and curriculum developer for the Moving Well app Munsaka Mu...

In this episode of the 'Social Work Is Everywhere' podcast, hosts Dr. Lynn Murphy Michalopoulos and David Robertson interview Dr. Simona Simona, a lecturer at the University of Zambia and Assistant Dean for Research in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Simona shares insights on the critical role of community partnerships in research, emphasizing ethical, relevant, and com...

In this episode of the Social Workers Everywhere podcast, hosts Dr. Lynn Murphy Michalopoulos and David Robertson interview Virginia and Amy from the University of Maryland's Center for Global Engagement (CGE). The discussion highlights the diverse and significant roles of social workers across various industries and the importance of global engagement in education and research. Virginia and...

In this episode of the Social Work is Everywhere podcast, we dive into the global impact of social work through the experiences of students Christa Gloster and Claude Thomas from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. They discuss their participation in the India course, a program developed in partnership with Rajagiri College in Kerala, India. The course offers students the opportunity...

Hosts Dr. Lynn Murphy Michalopoulos and David Robertson engage in a compelling conversation with guests Patrice Forrester and Leigh Beck. Dive deep into the far-reaching impact of social work, the history and mission of the US El Salvador Sister Cities organization, and the role of solidarity vs. charity in global social work. Learn about the inspiring legacy of Oscar Romero and how social work pr...

This episode highlights guest, Thomas Northrop, and host, David Robertson’s participation in the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Provost Global Scholar Program with an emphasis on grief and trauma-informed care and innovative practice in climate change.  Both guests share insights about international collaborations, the importance of community engagement, and culturally grounded approaches to...