Author: Becky L Ponder
Illinois Social Work Alumna Helping First-Generation Graduates Thrive Beyond College
When Susan Gershenfeld, PhD ’16, (featured on the right alongside Emily Malamud, a 2013 Illinois graduate and former I-Promise student, now in her fourth year of residency in Pediatric Neurology at Stanford) set out to write her new book What If…Why Not?, her goal was clear: to reach more first-generation college students with practical, holistic […]
New Study Examines What Puts Children in Foster Care at Greater Risk of Maltreatment
A new study from the School of Social Work’s Children and Family Research Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sheds light on an often-overlooked issue: why some children experience maltreatment even after being placed in foster care. Although the percentage of children who experience abuse or neglect while in foster care is small, the […]
Alumna Named 2025 NASW-Illinois Chapter Social Worker of the Year
School of Social Work alumna Franshandra Owens, MSW, LCSW (MSW ’18), has been selected as the 2025 NASW-Illinois Chapter Social Worker of the Year. Owens is being recognized for her exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to survivor recovery through her work as a clinician at the SIU School of Medicine’s Survivor Recovery Center. In this […]
Webinar Explores How Financial Support Impacts Child Neglect
A University of Illinois social work researcher is helping uncover how financial supports can strengthen families and reduce child neglect. The League of Women Voters of Champaign County will host “Economic Supports and Child Health and Well-being” from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22. The free, public webinar will be held via Zoom, […]
Illinois Youth Survey Reveals Concerning Trends in Teen Substance Use
A recent report from the Illinois Youth Survey highlights concerning trends in alcohol and cannabis use among teens across the state. Conducted every two years, the survey gathers critical data on youth behaviors to help inform prevention and intervention strategies statewide. According to the latest findings, Illinois teens are drinking nearly twice the national average, […]
Alumna Jewelry Keodara Named 2025–2026 Peace Fellow
The School of Social Work is proud to celebrate alumna Jewelry Pouna Keodara (BSW ’22, MSW ’23), who has been named a 2025–2026 Titus and Linda Peachey Peace Fellow with Legacies of War. As part of the fellowship, Jewelry will travel to Laos to witness firsthand the lasting impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on local […]
Celebrating World Mental Health Day 2025 through Art, Movement, and Global Connection
The University of Illinois School of Social Work is proud to honor World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2025) with a series of engaging events that highlight the power of art, movement, and global dialogue to support healing, resilience, and community. Sponsored by School of Social Work Beyond Borders Global Mental Health Conference (IIP Implementation […]
PhD Candidates Seeking Academic Appointment
At the University of Illinois School of Social Work, our PhD candidates are advancing knowledge and practice in the field. Their innovative research addresses urgent social issues such as health disparities, child welfare, community engagement, and digital equity, helping to shape solutions that create meaningful change in Illinois and around the world. They are also […]
Redefining Youth Recovery: A Podcast with Dr. Doug Smith
Douglas Smith, Director of the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois School of Social Work, was recently featured on The Catalyst podcast. In the episode, Dr. Smith discusses how teens perceive and define recovery, drawing on findings from the Illinois Youth Survey. He explains why only 5% of surveyed Illinois […]