The MSW Archive was conceived and developed by members of the SSW 752 (section 2) Social Work Research II course under the instruction of Professor Austin Oswald. Many of us in the class already knew each other thanks to our shared learning experiences in Research I, also under the instruction of Professor Oswald. We were joined by several new students in the Spring of 2021, and embarked on yet another semester of remote learning. The following photo is of some of the members of our class who helped shape this research.
Our first assignment in the class was a qualitative research assignment that explored the meaning of being an MSW student during COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. Because many of us were still grappling with the pandemic learning experience, as well as our own challenges making sense of how our education fit into all of the upsetting events we were living through, the assignment resulted in profound insights about our learning experiences. Many of us were inspired to delve deeper into our research, and thanks to Professor Oswald’s sensitivity, encouragement, and flexibility, our assignments and learning experiences were tailored to unearthing more data about our experience as MSW students.
Together we developed a community survey to better understand demographic information about our class, as well as our learning experiences this year. Many of us were shocked by the data our surveys uncovered, and felt an urgent need to make our findings public. As a class we discussed the implications of our research, and some of us expressed a strong desire to create a website to house the findings and materials inspired by our semester-long study into the MSW-pandemic experience. Professor Oswald supported those of us interested in creating a website by allowing us to make this our final project, and also collaborated with us to build this site and synthesize our research data into a more palatable form. Below you will meet the members of the SSW 752 (Section 2) research collective who came together to develop and create this student archive.
Kaitlyn Talibon (she/her) is a 25 year old female. She received her Bachelors in Biological Sciences in 2017 from Binghamton University and will be completing her Masters in Social Work at Hunter University Silberman School of Social Work in May of 2021. She is passionate at helping children affected by childhood trauma and developing interventions that target those affected by adverse childhood experiences. Moreover, she is interested in dismantling the current education system and building one that is more conducive to all students rather than just white students. When not supporting and helping kiddos, she can be found in a pair of running sneakers or hiking boots running around, playing with her dog or hiking to see the beautiful views this world has to offer. She can be reached at talibonk@gmail.com.
Josie Brennan (she/her) is 23 years old and a native New Yorker. She received her BSW from Hunter College in 2020 and will be completing her MSW at the Silberman School of Social Work in August 2021. Josie is dedicated to understanding the complexities of human behavior and how children, adolescents, and families are impacted by different systems. Having interned with the YMCA and Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Josie is passionate about children’s mental and emotional health. She is committed to being an empathetic and supportive resource to each population that she serves. In her free time, she likes to play the guitar and dapple with writing and graphic art. Josie can be reached at (732) 898-0221.
Austin Oswald (he/they) is a Social Welfare PhD candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center and Adjunct Professor at Silberman School of Social Work committed to research and education for queer, disability, and racial liberation across the life course. Austin believes that social workers should be trained in critical methodologies – inclusive of qualitative and quantitative methods – to confront interlocking systems of injustice. They are excited to be a part of this coalition which seeks to improve the educational experiences of students of color at Silberman School of Social Work and beyond. Email: aoswald@gradcener.cuny.edu
Hi there! My name is Evelin Henriquez and I am a graduate student at the Silberman School of Social Work in New York City. Soon I will be graduating and working in the field of geriatric social work. I am passionate about healthy aging, independent living, and creative arts therapies. I believe in the power of deep listening and storytelling, and the potential for change that exists in everyone and everything. When I am not busy “social working”, you can find me scouting dessert spots around the city or experimenting at my desk with words, images, and sound. You can reach me at socialworkingeve@gmail.com.
Maddy Wingerath is a clinical social work student at Silberman School of Social Work. She is grateful to be graduating this May 2021. Maddy received her Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Education from Ithaca College in 2013, and her Master’s degree in Special Education with The NYC Teaching Fellows at Brooklyn College in 2018. Maddy is looking forward to synthesizing all of these passions in a career advocating for adolescents, while promoting restorative justice culture. She is committed to using a critical lens while working towards bridging the macro and micro divide. When Maddy doesn’t have her social work cap on she can be found running in the woods, dancing in her living room, practicing capoeira, or playing ukulele loudly and off key! You can reach her at: mwing91@gmail.com.
Chelsea (she/her) is a graduate student at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She is pursuing the Community Organizing, Planning, and Development Track. She graduated with her Bachelors at SUNY Brockport, majoring in Communications and Social Work and minoring in Psychology. Chelsea is committed to advocating for the social and economic justice of children who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Her commitment to working with children of incarcerated parents has spurred from working at Hudson Link, a nonprofit organization that provides higher education and reentry services to currently and formerly incarcerated people. From working at Hudson Link, she witnessed the implications of incarceration on children and families and the impact that prison reform programs have on fostering healthy parent-child relationships. In her spare time, Chelsea loves to travel, rollerskate, and read.
Nyra Serrant (she/her) migrated from the Commonwealth of Dominica in 2012 and has been a passionate advocate for human rights and equitable access to mental health services. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Binghamton University in 2017 and will be graduating with her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College- Silberman School of Social Work in May 2021. Nyra is passionate about serving those who have limited access to resources and promoting the value of equity for community movement and growth. Her clinical interests center on intersectional identities, working with LGBTQIAP+ populations, as well as understanding family systems. When I’m neither daydreaming about the power of radical feminism nor pointing lasers at objects for my cat, I can be reached at dykenia@gmail.com!
