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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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Michael Stokely Kelly Summer Institute 2023
Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work invites you to attend the on July 20-21. This year's topic of "Re-Grounding Ourselves, Leveraging Our Strengths, Leading Our Schools" will explore the many ways schools and families have adapted to a rapidly changing educational environment over the past several years.
"The last few years have been so tumultuous for schools due to the disruptions of Covid-19, remote learning, return to the buildings, dealing with mask mandates, and other safety issues," said event organizer Binita Donohue. "The role of the school-based mental health professional shifted tremendously. To me, this theme means that we pause and reflect on those skills and strengths that we used to respond to the mental health challenges, and recognize our leadership role in the process of student and educator wellness."
The two-day institute is designed with school social workers, mental health professionals, school administrators in mind, but any school-based professional would benefit greatly from the skills and knowledge that will be discussed. Featured presenters include Melissa Reeves, Ph.D., NCSP; Katie Greeley, LCSW; and Stacy Gherardi, Ph.D, LCSW.
The Michael Stokely Kelly Summer Institute aims to provide a collaborative platform to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in addressing the diverse challenges faced by students and schools. This institute offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn innovative strategies to support students' overall well-being and academic success. Key takeaways from this year's institute include:
- Examining research-based recommendations for threat assessment that use trauma-informed approaches
- Gain practical skills and frameworks to understand and respond to threats of violent behavior
- Learn about trends in adolescent substance use/misuse during the pandemic
- Integrate mental health into prevention education
- Discuss what "real self-care" can look like
- Connect and network with accomplished industry professionals
- Receive 10 CEUs, including 3 for cultural competence and 3 for ethics
Each of the two days offers programming from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., and includes lunch. Attendees will have the chance to participate in a series of keynote presentations, discussion workshops, and networking opportunities. The institute will be held at Â鶹´«Ã½'s Water Tower Campus in downtown Chicago. Participants can expect a dynamic environment conducive to engaging discussions and networking opportunities.
Last year was the first time the Summer Institute was held since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and also the first Summer Institute since the death of beloved social work professor Dr. Michael Kelly in 2021. Dr. Kelly was a considerable influence on the Summer Institute and the entire school social worker profession. The Summer Institute was inaugurated in his name as a testament to his legacy.
"We wanted to recognize Dr. Kelly's international influence on the profession of school social work," said Donohue. "As a community we felt his loss and took time to reflect on who he was in our own lives, professionally and personally. During the 2022 conference, considerable time was dedicated to honoring Dr. Kelly and allowing members of the community who knew him as a mentor and colleague to grieve his loss. This year, while we will continue to honor him, the entirety of conference time will focus upon fulfilling Dr. Kelly's mission to 'move the field forward.' We know this was Dr. Kelly's driving motivation and we look forward to building upon his legacy."
. General admission to the event costs $100. A discounted cost of $80 is available to Loyola University Chicago alumni and internship supervisors.