Alumni Spotlight

Alumnus credits social work education for his success in business

cleveland.com: Richard L. Jones (SAS '75; GRS '81, social welfare), Mandel School Visiting Committee member and social work pioneer, wrote an op-ed on the importance of social workers. Social workers are on the front lines, helping communities navigate the real-life impact of shifting policies…

Alumna leads nonprofit helping Black women at the highest risk for infant mortality have healthy pregnancies and children A new building with life-changing possibilities will soon rise in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood—a $15 million, 15,000-square-foot birthing center for women at the highest risk…

Erin Fiorito, Maureen Kishna and Pamela Mitterling have all been recognized by the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Services' "Whatever It Takes" program. This recognition is given to individuals within the MST community who have demonstrated outstanding and meritorious service. Their dedication to…

Congratulations to Anycia Grady (SAS ’10), chief executive officer at Change Agents to Barriers of Equitable Living (C.A.B.E.L.), and Jessica Wojtalik, assistant professor, who received Alumni and Early Career Innovator of the Year awards, respectively. Learn more about them below. Innovation…

Dorothy Faller (MSSA '75), ACSW, was the special guest on a recent episode of the Mandel School's podcast, Change Leaders. A member of the Mandel School's first management class, she also took coursework in clinical social work. This type of educational combination—in administration and clinical…

As the new associate dean for equity and innovation, one of Scott Wilkes' main goals is to ensure everyone at the Mandel School feels welcomed, safe and valued with respect to their unique identities, perspectives and backgrounds.  Under his leadership, a new director of equity will be responsible…

Tian Xia, a PhD student in social welfare, and recent alumna Katie Russell gave a poster presentation at The Violence Prevention Research Conference. Co-sponsored by the University of New Hampshire and the University of Kentucky, the conference took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from July…

Alumna Alesha Washington, CEO of the Seattle Foundation, brings a Cleveland-born sense of community to the Pacific Northwest Nonprofits played a crucial role in Alesha Washington's upbringing in Cleveland—and provided her first lessons about community-serving organizations. She attended preschool…

Alumna Wilma Peebles-Wilkins (SAS '71) was a recent guest on an episode of the Mandel School's Change Leaders podcast. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1945, Wilma Peebles-Wilkins graduated from North Carolina State University in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in social…