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Noor Paracha Hayat Found Home at Loyola
Noor Paracha Hayat gave the student address at the School of Social Work's commencement ceremony in May 2026, reflecting on her journey that led her to Loyola.
Ren Horst Awarded 2026 President's Medallion
As this year’s recipient of the President’s Medallion, Ren is recognized not only for her academic excellence, but for the lived experience, cultural grounding, and unwavering purpose that inform her work in social services.
Loyola professor spotlights mental health on campus
As demand rises for mental health resources on college campuses, Loyola serves students with evidence-based resources. School of Social Work Professor Jonathan Singer, Ph.D. is leading the way.
Introducing Three New Faculty Members
We are pleased to welcome three outstanding scholars and educators as new full-time faculty members: Shannon Dunn, Ph.D., Amzie Moore II, Ph.D., and LaTasha Smith, Ph.D. Each brings a deep commitment to social work education, innovative research agendas, and a passion for teaching and mentorship that aligns with Loyola’s mission and values.
SSWR Conference 2026 Presentations
More than 40 presentations from School of Social Work faculty, students, and alumni were accepted for presentation at the Society for Social Work and Research Conference 2026. Find out when and where you can see them.
Building Bridges Through Bilingual Social Work
Loyola University Chicago’s Online Bilingual Master of Social Work (MSW) program is preparing a new generation of compassionate, culturally responsive social workers capable of navigating systemic barriers and providing critical care in both English and Spanish.
Dr. Abha Rai Named Top 2% Scientist
Assistant Professor Abha Rai, Ph.D., MSW was recently named to the prestigious Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientist List for 2025, a global ranking that honors the world's most influential researchers.
CADC Grant Renewed
The School of Social Work is excited to announce a $452,000 grant for the Certificate in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling (CADC) Workforce Expansion Program. The grant was renewed for the third year by the Illinois Certification Board and the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Substance Use Prevention and recovery.
Serving Those Who Served: A Day in the Life of a VA Social Worker
Join us November 5 for our panel discussion collaboration with Military Veteran Student Services and the Jesse Brown Veterans Association.
Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work celebrated the grand opening of its new Behavioral Health Simulation Lab on Friday, October 17, marking a major milestone in the University’s commitment to advancing behavioral health education and training.
Maribel Lopez, Ed.D. Recognized with President's Volunteer Service Award
Professor Maribel Lopez was recognized with the prestigious award in May for her impressive volunteer work
Goutham M. Menon, PhD, Appointed Dean of the School of Social Work
Goutham M. Menon, PhD, has been appointed as the dean of the School of Social Work. He will join Loyola on July 1 from the University of Nevada-Reno, where he serves as director of the School of Social Work.
Awards
Benjamin Marton: Empowering youth to be advocates for change
Marton, who is one of this year's President's Medallion recipients, is studying for his master’s degree in social work, serves as a graduate and research assistant for two professors, is the president of the School of Social Work Student Organization, and works several days a week as an intern at Loyola Community and Family Services.
Active alumni presented with Damen Award
Licensed social worker Daniel Kill is a long-time advocate for mental health
"Social work education is the future of all academic teaching, even if most academicians don’t know it yet. It mixes training in social theory with mandatory hours of work in the field, putting those theories decidedly into practice -- something that most students clamor for."
SSW Alum and Adjunct Faculty Member Honored as Emerging Leader of the Year
In celebration of Social Work Month, Loyola SSW's very own Sarah Buino has been honored as the Emerging Leader of Year by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)-Illinois Chapter for her exceptional work as a clinician and leadership in promoting social justice and social change.
Loyola Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni Present at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Meeting
Join us during the SSWR 23rd Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA from January 16 - 20, 2019. Attend to our faculty, students and alumni talks. We have included a copy of the presentations. On January 18, our school will be hosting a reception and we hope to see you there.
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Greenstone Lecture Rescheduled for April 11, 2025
Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work will welcome Kimberly Leary, Ph.D., MPA on April 11, 2025 as the speaker for the 2024-25 Greenstone Lecture. Dr. Leary's lecture is titled “When We Reckon," and is presented jointly with Loyola’s Parkinson School of Public Health and the Institute for Clinical Social Work. .
"Change is rarely linear. It is shaped by tensions between progress and resistance, innovation and tradition, urgency, and hesitation," Dr. Leary said of her lecture topic. "This talk explores the dynamics of systemic change, particularly how institutions adapt—or struggle to adapt—when confronted with the need for transformation. Drawing on historical patterns and contemporary shifts, the discussion highlights the challenges of implementing large-scale reforms, the forces that drive retrenchment, and the strategies that sustain progress over time."
"At the heart of lasting change are local changemakers—community leaders, advocates, and engaged community members —who shape outcomes through persistence, creativity, and collective effort. Change is not only driven by policies and institutions but also by the everyday choices individuals make to challenge exclusion, foster belonging, and create opportunities within their own spheres of influence. This session invites reflection on the cycles of change, the role of expertise in navigating complex systems, and the pathways that enable organizations and individuals alike to move forward with intention and impact."
The lecture will be held in-person at Loyola’s Schreiber Center Room 908 (Water Tower Campus) on April 11 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Admission is free, though social workers who wish to earn three Continuing Education Units will be charged $75. CEUs earned at the Greenstone Lecture will satisfy cultural competency requirements for licensure renewal.
About Kimberlyn Leary, Ph.D., MPA
Dr. Leary is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a part-time Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She is an award-winning educator and writer, focusing on government innovation, adaptive leadership, collaboration, and equity. Among her many awards and honors, Dr. Leary won the Hans Loewald Memorial Award in 2020 at the International Forum for Psychoanalytic Education.
Outside of academia, Dr. Leary served as Executive Vice President of , as well as an advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls under President Obama. She was also an advisor to the health division at White House Office of Management and budget and senior policy advisor to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
About the Greenstone Lecture
Each year Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work and the Institute for Clinical Social Work collaborate to bring a distinguished speaker to their audiences.
Joan F. Greenstone, Ph.D., for whom this annual lecture series is named, was a highly valued colleague on the faculty at both Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work and the Institute for Clinical Social Work, prior to her untimely death in 1996.
She and her commitment to excellence in teaching, ethics, and clinical practice have been greatly missed. These lectures are funded through the generosity of Joan’s family.