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CHHS News Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics Center for Study of Chronic Illness and Disability College of Health and Human Services Department of Global and Community Health Department of Health Administration and Policy
CHHS Events
Who's
Who in the Department of Social Work Cathleen Lewandowski Chair,
Department of Social Work
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Innovation 101: Trends and Opportunities
in Health Management Information
Presented by the Department of
Health
Administration and Policy
CHHS
and Mason alumni, faculty, and guests attended the afternoon event
featuring John J. Matteo, Esq., Jackson, and Campbell, and Dr. Len
Nichols, director, Health Policy Research and Ethics Center, CHHS. The
speakers led discussions in health management, health technology and
other timely subjects in the field. Alumni and guests had opportunities
for sharing of work experiences and networking. Powerpoints
for both speakers can be downloaded.
This event was the second meeting of CHHS’ Health Administration and Policy Alumni Affinity group. The group was established to bring together alumni who share a commonality of professional interests in the field of health care administration and management. The next meeting is scheduled for Spring 2011. Visit the website for updates. If you are interested in additional information on the HAP Alumni Affinity group, email chhsalum@gmu.edu.
Alumni Chapter Board Outreach to Local Area Alumni
The CHHS Alumni Chapter Board
has started an outreach to alumni by arranging visits to local work
places. In June, the board held an open house at Reston Hospital. In
September, volunteers visited alumni
at the Fairfax County Health Department, Springfield District Office
and Kelly Square in Fairfax, and also visited the Fairfax County
Government Center. Alumni were interested in learning about
post-graduate programs and were pleased to hear about the expanding
academic programs at Mason. A scrapbook of chapter events, flyers on
upcoming events, and door prize drawings added to the excitement of the
visits.
Elaine Bango, BSN '82; Lisa Callahan, BSW '03, MSW '04; Meg Marcus, BSN '86; Lori McLean, MSN '96;Juanita Perkins, BSN '10; Bridget Nesko, BSN '06; Kathleen Ross, MSW '08; and Dawn Whitmore, BSN '10, participated in planning the events.
A visit to Fair Oaks Hospital is scheduled for November 17. Contact Gail Weirich at (703) 993-6018 for additional details or if your work place has a group of CHHS alumni and you are interested in helping to plan an outreach at your facility.
Upcoming Alumni Events
Alumni
Chapter Yoga/Pilates Fundraiser
February 3, February 10, and February 12
Save the date for Homecoming! A weekend of
activities culminates on Saturday, February 5 with the exciting
basketball game. February is also a great month to be kind to yourself
and learn energizing ways to achieve flexibility and strength for our
minds and bodies. The CHHS Alumni Chapter is presenting a workshop in yoga and pilates that
will teach techniques to aid in stress release, develop flexibility,
and strengthen your core.
Focus inwardly to connect with your mind and body, and focus outwardly to connect with un-met needs of CHHS by contributing to student scholarships and programs. The Alumni Chapter will be collecting contributions of any amount at this event to further scholarship opportunities for students.
Please visit CHHS Alumni and Friends for updates and specifics on the event. Contact Gail Weirich at (703) 993-6018 for additional details.
Step Up To The Challenge For CHHS in 2011
CHHS has received a challenge grant from generous donors totaling $17,500 to be applied towards priority needs for the college. This is exciting news! To complete the challenge:
We hope you will consider a gift at this time that will benefit students and faculty in the college. You can request that your gift be applied to a specific program or scholarship fund. Please visit the CHHS Alumni and Friends website for more information on ways of supporting the college. For questions, please contact Gail Weirich at (703) 993-6018.
Spotlight on Social Work Alumni
Donna F. Hatfield, MSW ‘07, LSW
Donna Hatfield entered
Mason’s MSW program in the fall of 2003 as a part-time
student, working full-time as a special agent for the Inspector
General’s Office, U.S. Housing and Urban
Development. In 2007, Hatfield
completed and graduated from our master of social work program with a
3.77 GPA. While a student, Hatfield
was elected as the graduate student representative to the National
Association of Social Workers - Virginia Chapter in 2006, and chosen as
an AARP Fellow in 2007. Hatfield
also received several awards from the Department of Social Work,
including the award for Outstanding Foundation Year Field Performance
in 2005 and the Department’s award for Outstanding Thesis
Project in 2007, entitled “Over 50? What You Need
to Know About HIV/AIDS. A Media Campaign.”
She has been and is a career federal employee with over 25-years experience in law enforcement and security, specializing in national security violations, fraud investigations, major crimes, and victim services for several agencies. Hatfield began her career as a Virginia State Trooper in 1984, and finished her “badge and gun” carrying duties as she pursued her MSW.
Since graduation, Hatfield transferred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Victim Assistance Program as a social scientist, better known as a “Victim Specialist.” ICE’s mission is victim centered, placing the needs of victims first. She is developing ICE’s program for victim education and financial crime prevention for older citizens, conducting presentations nationwide to retirement homes, faith-based organizations, and senior citizen centers. Hatfield is the program manager for ICE’s Victim Notification Program. She has also begun an initiative to develop the first victim service program for LGBTQ victims at ICE.
When Hatfield is asked what her most significant accomplishments are to date besides helping all her victims, she replies, “The day I graduated with my MSW and teaching!” As a leader, she often prescribes Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Finally, she states, “Being a social worker, its values and ethics, has singularity defined who I have been, who I am, and who I will be.”
Julia Hill-Nichols, BSW ‘78
Julia Hill-Nichols’
crafted a skillful career path with her social work degree from Mason
that has led to the recent creation of her own company. Hill-Nichols
has over 30 years experience in human resources and operations, and is
currently the principal of LeadersCove LLC. Her first position upon
graduating from Mason was as project director for Looking Glass II, a
program of the Fairfax County YMCA that provided counseling services to
adolescents and their families. Her first boss was John Coscia, BSW
’77. She later became executive director of student YMCAs in
Pittsburgh followed by her role of vice president of human resources
and risk management for the Denver YMCAs.
In 2000, Hill-Nichols moved into the software world working for a number of corporations. Her most recent position was senior VP of HR for StoneRiver, a group of software development and services companies that support the insurance industry. These positions provided her the opportunity to act as internal consultant to CEOs, Board of Directors, and executive teams. She is known for working with management in the design and execution of organizational change and development. In February 2010, Hill-Nichols launched LeadersCove LLC, a human resource and management consulting firm dedicated to revitalizing leadership.
Throughout her career, Hill-Nichols has attributed her success to her degree in social work and the strong foundation it provided in group dynamics and a systems approach to intervention. “The skills and knowledge that I obtained through the Social Work program at Mason have been invaluable. Professors Morgan, Raskins, Hughes, and Reich were tremendous. I’ve transferred their instruction and guidance to the workplace, improving the leadership skills, problem solving, and group dynamics of numerous companies. I certainly owe them a debt of gratitude.”
For additional information about LeadersCove LLC go to www.leaderscove.com
Let Us Hear from You
We would like to hear from SW alumni about career moves, accomplishments, and recognitions. Please email us and we may post it in the next edition of the Alumni E-news.
To update contact information with the Mason Alumni Association, visit the MASONline Alumni Directory.
Rally in the Valley: Professional Transitions in Social Work
Just a few weeks ago, on
October 7-8, more than a dozen Mason BSW students traveled to the
Shenandoah Valley to enjoy the 30th annual Rally in the Valley.
Participants learned about career opportunities in social work and how
personally fulfilling the work experience can be. The rally is the main
event that the Virginia Social Work Education Consortium hosts each
year in collaboration with the Virginia
Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
Norfolk
State University (NSU) and Christopher Newport University (CNU) hosted
this year’s rally with a theme of Professional Transitions in
Social Work. The rally began on Thursday afternoon with an MSW graduate
school fair, followed by welcoming statements by CNU and
NASW-VA. Betsy Vourlekis, University of Maryland School of
Social Work, was the keynote speaker and gave the students a great
overview of the social work pioneers. Staff from NASW-VA did an
enthusiastic presentation on title protection and the evening ended
with a service project that included the students writing get well
cards to children in the hospital and eating s’mores by a
flaming bonfire.
Friday
morning began with breakfast and then students attended workshops
focusing on topics such as gerontology, non-profit management, forensic
social work, and technology in social work.
We are looking forward to Rally #31 next Fall!!!
Faculty News
Dr. Molly Everett Davis
Dr. Molly Everett Davis, associate professor, Department of Social Work presented a paper at the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, in Atlanta, Georgia, October 16-18. The title of her presentation was "Aging and the Life Course Impact of Cumulative Complex Trauma."
Dr. Davis was also recently appointed to the Arlington County Commission on Aging.
Dr. Michael Wolf-Branigin
Dr. Michael Wolf-Branigin received an award at the Council on Social Work Education for Best Reviewer in 2010, Journal of Social Work Education.
This award honors manuscript reviewers who have shown exceptional service in responsiveness in requests for review, timeliness in submitting completed reviews, and quality of written reviews.
