Dirt
on the Grape, the Next Course
Saturday, October 2
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Mason
Hall, Meese Conference Room
$15/alumni;
$10/additional guests
Register
Now
The
CHHS Alumni Chapter Board invites CHHS alumni and guests to re-connect
with friends and colleagues and enjoy an evening of socializing.
Sommelier Mary Watson-DeLauder returns and joins Chef Sandy Amato
(Owner, Cooking with Sandy) to educate and tantalize your taste
buds with desserts  and
dessert wines.
For more information on the Dirt on the Grape, the Next
Course, contact CHHS
at (703) 993-6018. You can also view photos from last year's event.
Dirt on the Grape, the Next Course is held in conjunction
with Alumni Weekend. Registration for all events is now
open.
Health Administration and Policy Alumni Affinity Meeting
(Open to all alumni)
Saturday, October 2
4 - 5:30
p.m.
Mason Hall, Room D3
The second Health Administration and Policy Alumni
Affinity event will take place Saturday, October 2 as part of Alumni
Weekend.
Dr. Len
Nichols, director of the Health Policy Research
& Ethics Center, is a highlighted speaker for the event, discussing
hot topics in management, technology and other health management related
issues. For additional information contact us at (703)
993-6018.
At the April 1 HAP Alumni Affinity meeting, Harry
Greenspun, MD, CHHS Advisory Board member and chief medical officer of
Dell Systems, made a presentation to the department’s alumni and faculty.
After the formal presentations, he was able to meet with one of the
attendees, a recent graduate of the Department of Health Administration
and Policy.
Dr. Greenspun made the following comment after the
meeting: "Despite softness in other areas of the economy, demand for
well-prepared personnel to meet the needs of health care and health IT
roles is growing rapidly. As a senior executive at the largest provider of
health IT services worldwide, I feel this pressure particularly acutely.
Faced with a critical open role, our recruiters tapped into our worldwide
network of potential candidates. George Mason University's College of
Health and Human Services was able to provide one immediately who met all
my criteria of education and experience. Within two weeks, I had an
outstanding new member of my team with the skills and energy needed in
such an important role."
Spotlight
on Social Work Alumna
Elizabeth
Padilla, MSW
 Elizabeth
Padilla is a 2010 graduate from the George Mason University MSW program.
While enrolled as a student at George Mason University, Padilla interned
at the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health in the
Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), where she gained
hands-on work experience as a crisis responder. CPEP is a 24 hour a day,
seven day a week operation that provides emergency psychiatric services,
mobile crisis services, and extended observation beds for individuals 18
years of age and older. Padilla's intern duties included traveling to the
scenes of various emergency situations, and providing crisis intervention
and assessment services to clients in distress.
Padilla recently began working
as a social worker at Andrew
Residence in Minneapolis, MN. The facility offers
comprehensive long-term care, treatment, and psychiatric rehabilitation
services for adults experiencing mental illness. Andrew Residence
specializes in providing services to adults living with a diagnosis of
schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The range of acuity among the
212 residents is widespread, therefore treatment plans are tailored to
meet the needs of each individual. The interdisciplinary team includes a
medical director (board-certified psychiatrist), registered nurses, health
educators, master's level social workers, therapeutic recreation
specialists, living skills instructors, mental health workers, and
vocational specialists.
Andrew's large five-story building is
comprised of four residential floors, which house about 53 residents per
floor. Padilla is one of the two social workers on the second floor team.
As a social worker at Andrew Residence, her responsibilities include
conducting pre-admission interviews, completing a psychosocial assessment
on each new client on her floor, and then on an annual basis, and
arranging support service appointments and discharge plans. Additionally,
each social worker manages a caseload of six residents. For the
individuals on her caseload, Padilla is responsible for conducting and
charting on weekly interviews in which she assesses their mental health
status, goal progress, and activities of daily living.
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.
CHHS Alumni Chapter
Board
The Alumni Chapter Board was established for the
educational, professional and social purposes of its members and to
support goals and objectives of its members and to support the goals and
objectives of George Mason University, the College of Health and Human
Services and the Mason Alumni Association.
The CHHS Alumni Chapter events throughout the year target
social, educational, and networking needs of alumni. In the fall, the
Chapter hosts a signature event, in conjunction with Mason's Alumni
Weekend. Throughout the rest of the year, chapter events are held to keep
you in touch with the latest findings in health care and provide
networking opportunities with other CHHS alumni and faculty.
Meet the Alumni Chapter Board members:
Lisa Callahan, BS '03,
MSW '04
Co-President
 Lisa Callahan
enjoys her work with the Alumni Chapter Board and looks forward to
connecting with CHHS alumni, especially with her colleagues and
fellow alumni in social work. She currently works for Fairfax County
government in the Department of Family Services as a long term care
ombudsman.
Callahan enjoys relaxing with gardening, bird watching,
reading, knitting, and antiquing. She enjoys reading books by Stieg
Larsson including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. A favorite
eating place is Aladdin Restaurant in Burke where she enjoys hummus,
lentil soup and mint tea.
Lori McLean, MSN
'96
Co-President
Lori
McLean has lived in the Fairfax area for 30 years. She is a family
nurse practitioner for Fairfax County Health Department and has been in
this position for four years. She also worked for the county health
department for nine years earlier in her career. McLean was an
adjunct faculty member of the School of Nursing for four
years, teaching to undergraduate nursing students. She has been
involved with Alumni Chapter Board for several years.
When McLean received her MSN in 1996, she felt “Patriot
Pride” as she participated in the commencement ceremony. Joining fellow
students and faculty, as family and friends looked on with encouragement,
“I felt so 100% Mason,” she said.
In her free time, McLean enjoys reading, traveling, and
daydreaming about retirement. She enjoys books by James Michener and John
Grisham. She cheers for her favorite Boston teams –Celtics, Red Sox, and
Patriots, and it goes without saying she is a proud Mason Patriot
fan. Her favorite restaurants are Italian and she rates the newly
opened Mason Inn as a “fabulous dining experience.”
Bridget Nesko, BSN
'06
Vice President – Membership
Bridget
Nesko currently works part-time and has served as healthcare legislative
and policy advisor to various political candidates, including those
seeking office in the U.S. Congress, the Virginia State House of Delegates
and the U.S. Presidency.
Nesko graduated from George Mason University School of
Nursing in 2006, receiving the Kitty Parker Leadership Award at
graduation. She has served on the Board since 2006. Nesko was introduced
to the alumni chapter when a previous instructor invited her to an alumni
event. She thoroughly enjoys the networking and social opportunities of an
active alumna with the college. Nesko loves mingling with new grads to
encourage them professionally and to hopefully share the many perks of
being a member of the CHHS Alumni Chapter.
Nesko's hobbies include reading, cooking, politics,
walking, and anything having to do with sand and surf. Her favorite
dining spot is Pulcinella, a quaint Italian restaurant located in McLean,
Virginia.
Kathleen Ross, MSW '08
Vice
President – Membership
Kathleen
Ross’s position with the board gives her an opportunity to keep in touch
with Mason alumni. This past spring she represented the Alumni Chapter
Board at the Social Work MSW presentations.
Ross said, “I was impressed by the creativity and
professionalism of the projects.” She also attended last year’s CHHS
Signature Alumni Event, Dirt on the Grape. “I also truly enjoyed meeting
some phenomenal people at the Dirt on the Grape event.”
Ross teaches adaptive swimming classes for children with
disabilities, and loves seeing someone grow to be safe and have fun in the
water. In her leisure time, she enjoys swimming, walking, tasting wines,
spending time with her almost one year old, Alexander, and her husband,
Keel. Ross and her husband enjoy ethnic restaurants, and their
favorites are Thai Basil and Picante in Chantilly, Virginia. She also
enjoys reading and her favorite book is The Tipping Point, by
Malcolm Gladwell.
Bette Burch, BSN '80
Vice
President - Scholarships & Awards
Bette
Burch enjoys her position with the board and eagerly looks forward to
attending Mason’s scholarship and awards receptions to keep in touch with
students and alumni.
This past year, Bette was featured in an article on the
Mason website at a scholarship
reception held on March 31. The annual event provided an
opportunity for donors to meet the students who benefit from their gifts
and for students to thank donors for their generosity. Nursing major Augusto Paredes-Ubillus, spoke
to guests about receiving the Bette Burch Scholarship Endowment. Burch has
generously supported scholarships for School of Nursing students since
1997.
Burch is happily retired and enjoys knitting and reading.
Her favorite food is seafood and enjoys dining at Coastal Flats and
Sweetwater Tavern.
Robin Patton BS '81, CERG
'06
Secretary
Robin
Patton has been a member of the Fairfax Community and has been employed by
the County of Fairfax for 25 years. She is currently the director of the
land acquisition division for the Department of Public Works and
Environmental Services.
She is a valuable member of the Alumni Chapter Board and
says, “I’ve always enjoyed coming back to the campus and seeing all the
growth and changes! I continue to feel connected to GMU and I hope other
alumni will enjoy staying connected.”
Patton lives with her husband, Jay, in Annandale and in
her leisure time, enjoys reading, cooking, visiting the Eastern Shore, and
watching old movie classics.
Bita Hassannia BS '09
Board
Member at Large
Bita
Hassannia is a recent alumna of Mason and graduated from the Department of
Health Administration and Policy.
"I attended several alumni events which all made me feel
part of a community that was filled with sense of belonging to a group of
people who had a common root of GMU education. The first event I attended
was an alumni dinner boat outing in Old Town Alexandria, then the
wonderful event of the Dirt on the Grape. It was at that event I realized
how great it was to be an alumna and to stay in touch with CHHS, and I
decided to become a board member."
In her leisure time, Hassannia
enjoys yoga, biking, running, reading, and cooking. Her favorite foods
include sushi, Thai, Italian, and most of the Middle Eastern cuisines. Her
favorite book selections are The Da Vinci Code and Eat, Pray
and Love.
Mimi Sodhi, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Faculty Social
Work Liaison
Mimi
Sodhi has recently volunteered to serve on the board as faculty liaison
for the Department of Social Work. She moved to the Fairfax area a year
ago to accept the position of MSW field director in social work.
Sodhi has
two adult children who live in Georgia and she is “re-developing” herself.
Her leisure time activities include playing in a Fairfax women's soccer
league, taking golf lessons, and trying to get into tennis. She is looking
for people to explore the area with and introduce her to good,
non-tourist spots in the D.C. area. She loves to travel and looks forward
in continuing to broaden her understanding of different cultures.
As a CHHS
alumna/us, you can continue to be part of the invigorating environment and
stay connected with classmates, friends, and faculty by joining the Alumni Chapter. You will have many
opportunities to expand on your experiences that began at Mason.
College
News
Reston Hospital Donation Names
Healthcare Technologies
Innovation Lab
Reston
Hospital Center has donated $50,000 to Mason’s College of Health and Human
Services (CHHS). As a result, the college will honor the hospital by
naming the Reston Hospital Center Healthcare Technologies Innovation Lab.
The naming gift was announced at the May 12 graduating nurses’ pinning
ceremony, which was also sponsored by the organization.
"Giving back is something important to all of us at
Reston Hospital Center, but this gift is all the more special to me," said
Cindy Glover, RN, BSN '77, vice president and chief nursing officer at
Reston Hospital Center. "As an alumna of George Mason, I’m proud to give
back to a university that has helped me achieve so much in my own career
and that has had such a positive impact on the nursing workforce at
Reston."
Pictured above (left to
right): Robin Remsburg, Cindy Glover, Shirley Travis
Students
Receiving Department Awards
at May Commencement
Undergraduate Academic
Achievement
Sadaf L. Khan, BS
Outstanding Undergraduate Field Student
Hannah J. Sklar, BS
Outstanding Undergraduate
Student
Claudia M. De
Paz, BS
Undergraduate Excellence in Writing
Award
Teresa S. Hollandsworth, BS
Graduate Academic
Excellence
Alexander J. Taylor, MSW
2010 MSW Thesis
Conference
On Wednesday, May 5, the
George Mason Department of Social Work held its annual MSW Thesis
Conference at the Arlington, Virginia, campus. Over fifty graduating MSW students presented their
projects on a variety of interesting populations, issues, and
topics. This year for the thesis assignment, students had the option
to create a product, such as a training series or website, or to write a
scholarly article to submit for journal publication. An additional
requirement was to write a separate supplemental essay explaining the
student’s individual experiences and efforts put in to achieve their final
project. Students were asked to organize and work closely with a thesis
committee, which included their choice of two Mason faculty members and
one outside community consultant with experience in the chosen topic area.
Some
of the thesis topics explored by this year’s graduating class included
drug and alcohol education guidelines and treatment approaches for teens,
foster care screening standards and processes, the education system in
Kenya, mental illness and recidivism in the United States justice system,
eating disorder prevention, elder care standards, and self-injury in
adolescent females. After the completion of the eight-hour conference, the
elated students and faculty celebrated their successes together at a
nearby restaurant.
Phi
Alpha Social Work Honor Society
Induction
Phi Alpha Honor
Society aims to provide a network for social work students to
promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha membership is offered to
undergraduate and graduate level social work students who demonstrate
academic excellence and achievements in the field. We are proud to
announce that on May 12 of this year, 34 graduate and undergraduate Mason
students were inducted into Phi Alpha. In addition, three formerly
inducted student were recognized for academic excellence at the graduate
school level. One honorary member, Judge Gayl Carr, was also
inducted.
Senior Social Work Students Partner with AARP to
Explore Health Care Needs of Older Adults
(This is article is based on a story that appeared on the
Mason website on, June 1, 2010, written by Dave Andrews)
With the national health care debate as a backdrop,
Mason’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program recently partnered with AARP
– a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people age
50 and over improve the quality of their lives – on a project called,
"Voices for Change: Project Health Care." The project set out to
discover the health care needs of older adults, to learn what older adults
were hoping for from the national health care legislation, and to bring to
light the challenges they face.
During the spring 2010 semester, each of the 35 senior
social work majors interviewed two older adults facing challenges with
various issues such as caregiving, insurance or pre-existing health
conditions. With their project, "Voices for Change: Project Health Care,"
the students aimed to take those stories to a bigger stage.
"We are very proud of these students for identifying an
important and timely issue impacting older adults with health care
challenges and for giving a voice to those who otherwise may not be
heard," says Shirley Travis, dean of the College of Health and Human
Services. "These emerging social workers learned firsthand about the value
and process of advocacy and engagement in health and social policy
debate."
AARP representatives frequently came to the classroom
throughout the semester to familiarize the students with the organization
and its goals of advocating for older adults.
"A project of this caliber that incorporated an important
partnership with AARP was a great opportunity for the students as well as
the university," says Cathy Tompkins, Mason’s BSW program director. "I was
very impressed with how the students took the initiative and with how well
they worked with AARP."
The class decided to hold a press conference at the end
of the semester to showcase their findings. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) and
representatives from AARP were among those who attended.
"This was a great opportunity we had to learn how to make
a positive change within the community," says Rachel Valentine, a recent
BSW graduate and project participant. "Most of those whom we interviewed
had experienced significant challenges with their health. We hope that our
findings will have a lasting impact within the health care debate."
Though the project is over, the personal stories live on.
Thanks to the students’ work, AARP has increased its database of
narratives that can be used in future AARP publications, in debate on
Capitol Hill or in the media to inform the public of health care issues
facing older Americans.
Blazing the Trail: Promising
Practices for Healing Psychological Trauma of Service Members, Veterans,
Families, and Community
 On
May 21, the Mason Department of Social Work, along with Academic Outreach
and the School of Nursing hosted its first continuing education workshop
focusing on strategies to meet the needs of military members, veterans,
and their families. About 50 individuals attended this interdisciplinary
kickoff event. Main speakers included Dr. Donald Thompson, Colonel (ret.),
U.S. Air Force; Colonel Duane Hardesty (ret.), U.S. Army; Rear Admiral
Hugh Scott, (ret.), U.S. Navy; Rear Admiral John Scudi (ret.), U.S. Navy;
and Ms. Ellen Fink Samnick, LCSW, CCM, CRC. Dr. Thompson provided
the opening session with a presentation on community resilience. Colonel
Hardesty, Rear Admiral Scott, and Rear Admiral Scudi discussed career
transitioning for wounded warriors in both the private and public sectors.
Ms. Fink-Samnick closed the workshop with a presentation on professional
self-care.
Pictured above (left to right):
COL Mona P. Ternus, USAFR, PhD, RN, CNS, CCRN, CHHS associate dean
of academic outreach, associate professor; COL Duane Hardesty (ret.),
USA, operation impact, Northup Grumman; and LTC
Lewandowski, USAR, chair, Dept. of Social Work
 Breakout
session speakers included LTC Jeffrey Yarvis, U.S. Army, PhD; Ms.
Jasmine Grams, LCSW, Vicki Kirsch, PhD, LCSW, Mason associate director, Women and Gender Studies;
Dori Rogut, ARNP, BC, and Lora Peppard,
DNP, APRN-BC, faculty, School of Nursing; COL Mona Ternus, USAFR, PhD, RN, CNS, and Keith
Renshaw, PhD. LTC Yarvis is an Army social worker and veteran of Operation
Iraqi Freedom (OIF). His presentation was based on his research and
clinical work on the subtleties of reintegrating returning warriors to the
workplace and their families. Ms. Grams’ presentation focused on military
culture and its implications for providers treating combat trauma
symptoms. Ms. Rogut and Dr. Peppard provided attendees with findings from
their clinical practice and research on the identification and
evidence-based treatment of military members suffering from combat-related
trauma. COL Ternus and Dr. Renshaw co-presented on their research with
families on distress and resilience in spouses and adolescent children of
service members with PTSD. Dr. Cathleen Lewandowski, chair of the
Department of Social Work and veteran of OIF, co-chaired the planning
committee with Dr. Mona Ternus of Academic Outreach. Other planning
committee members were Dr. Mimi Sodhi, Department of Social Work, Ms.
Betsey Zeigler, Brain Injury Services Inc., and Dr. Lora Peppard, School
of Nursing. Planning for a second event in spring 2011 is
underway.
For additional information
contact Cathleen
Lewandowski.
Pictured above (left to right):
Rear Admiral (ret.) John Scudi, of Smart
Solutions; Rear Admiral Hugh Scott (ret.), of TASC, LTC Cathleen Lewandowski,
USAR, chair, Dept. of Social Work; and COL Duane Hardesty (ret.)
USA, Operation Impact, Northup
Grumman
Second
Annual College Dream Tour a Success
On May 1, social work students
hosted over 125 students and their parents and mentors for the College
Dream Tour. This event was planned and implemented by students in
two social work classes under the direction of Dr. Molly Davis and Dr.
Angela Kim. The theme of the event was "Steps to Success" and
involved students being introduced to college life. The opening ceremony
featured a step routine from the Zeta Phi Beta sorority on campus. The
goal of the project was to promote the development of aspirations in youth
11-15 to seek higher education and prevent dropping out.
This year’s tour was the
second event planned by social work students. Students are provided
a hands on opportunity to demonstrate skills in project planning,
implementation, and evaluation. Young guests on campus were able to
experience a tour of the Johnson Center, classrooms and computer labs,
libraries, student unions, dormitory rooms, and the opportunity to eat in
Southside hall with other college students. One of the highlights of the
events was the opportunity to take a picture in a cap and gown in front of
the George Mason statue. Children were given their individual
pictures. The evaluation results suggest that the event was
successful in encouraging students to get excited about the prospect of
going to college. The Department of Social Work and CHHS assisted
with funding for this project along with donations of door prizes and
promotional items from the Mason community and the community at large.
Pictured
above: College Dream Tour participants experience eating in a college
dining hall, while being greeted by the Patriot
Mascot.
New Faculty
Vicki
Kirsch, PhD, MSW, will be joining the Mason social
work faculty in fall 2011. Kirsch earned her MSW in Clinical
Practice from Boston University and Ph.D. in Women’s Studies from Emory
University. She also has an MA in History of Religions (Sanskrit) from
University of Chicago. Kirsch directs practice experience and specializes
in working with survivors of trauma. She also works with issues
around gender identity, spirituality, and eating/body disorders.
Kirsch uses relational psychodynamic psychotherapy,
dialectical behavior therapy, and eye movement desensitization and
reprocessing in her treatment approach. She has spoken at many
workshops and professional trainings on the subjects of trauma, gender,
community systems, DBT, diversity, spirituality, and feminism, among
others. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kirsch to the Department of Social
Work!
Visiting
Faculty
GMU Social Work Hosts Visiting Professor from
China
The
Department of Social Work is pleased to be hosting Dr. Han from Northeast
Normal University in Changchun, China, as a visiting professor this
summer. Changchun is located in northeast China, an area rich in natural
beauty and culture. Dr. Han’s research interest is in social security,
specifically on the topic of social welfare policies and programs for
seniors.
During his stay in the United
States, Dr. Han is attending social work classes and policy forums. He is
also meeting with faculty both in social work and in the college who have
research interests in policies for short and long term care of the
elderly. Dr. Han states that an additional goal is to build
relationships and explore opportunities for faculty and student exchanges.
Pictured above (left to right):
Cathleen Lewandowski, chair, Dept. of Social Work; Shirley Travis,
dean, College of Health and Human Services; Dr. Han, Northeast Normal
University, China
Staff and Faculty
News
Susan Pufnock Receives
Award for Exceptional Support
Ms.
Susan Pufnock, administrative assistant for the Department of Social Work,
received a university award for Exceptional Employee Support. President
Merten presented her with the much-deserved award at a university-wide
ceremony. Mrs. Sally Merten read the citation. Pufnock’s husband,
daughter, and grandson, as well as many of the social work faculty,
attended the ceremony.
The citation read: "For your exceptional support to the
Department of Social Work during the Department’s reaffirmation of
accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. Your exemplary
dedication, technical expertise, and professionalism, contributed
significantly to a successful reaffirmation of accreditation. Further,
your responsiveness to students, adjuncts, and faculty alike, and your
ability to manage complex tasks efficiently and with a positive attitude
are instrumental in assuring the Department runs smoothly."
Many faculty and adjuncts wrote letters of support.
Following are excerpts from letters that were written in Pufnock’s
support:
"Susan’s greatest strength is that she is a person that
gets things done…Mrs. Pufnock is amazing in using her communication
skills. I cannot think of a more deserving person then Mrs. Susan Pufnock
for this award. She frequently goes above and beyond her stated duties in
cheerfully taking care of the many administrative tasks involved in
teaching. In addition to her assistance to adjunct faculty, she has shown
similar service and respect to our students…Having taught at another
institution I can attest that the respectful customer service she provides
to adjunct faculty and students is exemplary, and not always found.
It is without question that she has been instrumental in the positive
teaching experience that I’ve had at George Mason University, and pride in
being associated with the Department of Social Work."
To see the video of Susan’s award, and to hear comments
from faculty, please visit the Friends of George Mason Social Work
page on Facebook.
Michael
Wolf-Branigin,PhD, MSW, Associate Professor, has been designated to the position of MSW program
director for the 2010-2011 academic year. Wolf-Branigin will also be
working as a guest editor for a special mini-issue of the Journal of Social Service Research,
which will focus on the complexity theory in social work. He has
also been consulting with the Zayed High Organization for Humanitarian
Care and Special Needs in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Halaevalu Vakalahi, PhD, MSW, Associate
Professor, is currently in
Aotearoa, New Zealand, as a senior Fulbright Scholar conducting research
on grandparenting among the Maori people. She is being hosted by Massey
University-Palmerston North, School of Social Work and Social Policy, and
is partnered with a research team from the School of Maori Studies. The
team is working to interview grandparents and grandchildren about
grandparenting as a mechanism for transmitting
culture. | 