HUSSW News

HUSSW News & Highlights

September 3, 2026

Howard University School of Social Work recognizes 988 Day on September 8, 2026, by highlighting efforts to expand mental health education, suicide prevention training, and access to crisis resources across campus. Through professional training and institutional advocacy, Associate Professor JaNeen Cross, Ph.D., and Professor and Dean Emerita Sandra Edmonds Crewe, Ph.D., MSW, ACSW, have advanced mental health education and resource awareness through their SAMHSA-funded grant work. Their efforts are helping prepare individuals across academic disciplines and professional roles to recognize mental health concerns, respond with greater confidence, and connect people to the appropriate support.

Category: HUSSW Articles

August 31, 2026

The Howard University School of Social Work welcomed 150 new Master of Social Work students and five first-year doctoral students this fall, beginning an academic journey that will challenge them to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their professional practice, and consider what it truly means to be #Howard-Prepared. Held in person for students in the school’s flagship program and virtually for students in the online program, Fall 2026 MSW orientation connected incoming students with faculty, staff, alumni, University leadership, academic resources, and one another. Across both experiences, students were introduced not only to the expectations of graduate education, but also to the intellectual and professional tradition that distinguishes social work education at Howard.

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May 19, 2026

On Friday, May 8, 2026, the Howard University School of Social Work celebrated the Summer 2025, Winter 2025, and Spring 2026 graduating classes during its annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony. The event honored 180 MSW graduates and 6 Ph.D. graduates for their academic excellence, leadership, scholarship, and commitment to advancing social justice through the profession of social work. The ceremony also recognized distinguished student award recipients who exemplify the enduring strength of the Black Perspective in social work education and practice.

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March 3, 2026

Dr. Janice Berry Edwards, MSW, PhD, LICSW, received the prestigious Professional Writing Award, at the Biennial Conference of the American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work (AAPCSW), recognizing her prolific scholarship and contributions to clinical social work. A professor at Howard University School of Social Work and President of AAPCSW, Dr. Edwards has distinguished herself through her leadership, psychoanalytic clinical practice, and influential publications.

Category: HUSSW Articles

March 1, 2026

The Transformation to Triumph Women’s Summit, held February 27–March 1, 2026, convened professionals, students, and community leaders at Howard University and The Gathering Spot DC in response to widespread layoffs affecting Black women. The three-day hybrid event featured sessions on civic engagement, personal branding, financial identity, leadership, contracting, and global networking. School of Social Work representatives played a central role, including welcome remarks from Dean Sheara Jennings and presentations by alumni, faculty, and students.

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February 13, 2026

In recognition of Black History Month, we are proud to spotlight Black-owned businesses across Washington, DC. Supporting Black entrepreneurs is one tangible way to honor legacy, strengthen local economies, and invest in community sustainability. Economic empowerment has long been central to Black resilience and progress. This month, we encourage our community to shop intentionally and support the businesses that help shape the cultural and economic fabric of our city.

Category: HUSSW Articles

February 9, 2026

As we celebrate this year’s Black History Month, the Howard University School of Social Work honors Andrew Billingsley, Ph.D., a distinguished sociologist, scholar, and academic leader. His enduring legacy reflects a vision that helped shape a pivotal period in Howard University’s history, particularly within the School of Social Work and its commitment to the Black Perspective.

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January 30, 2026

We congratulate alumna Brandi Pittman, MSW, LCSWA, on the publication of her children’s book, Feelings Are A Part of You. Inspired by her work with children and families, Brandi created this book to help young readers identify their emotions, express themselves, and learn healthy coping skills. It’s a practical resource for parents, caregivers, and educators looking to support emotional awareness from an early age.

Category: HUSSW Articles

January 28, 2026

The School of Social Work at Howard University is thrilled to celebrate the release of Transformational Empathy: Erasing the Space Between Us and Them written by Associate Professor Tracy R. Whitaker, DSW, ACSW. This book is a courageous invitation to pause, reflect, and examine how we show up for the people we serve. Dr. Whitaker confronts the divisive notion of “they’re not like us”—a sentiment that has been used to justify discrimination, exclusion, and dehumanization. She challenges social workers and helping professionals to reflect honestly on how this mindset can show up, even unintentionally, in systems meant to support individuals experiencing criminal justice involvement, substance use disorders, homelessness, and poverty.

Category: HUSSW Articles

School of Social Work

HUSSW News & Highlights

HUSSW Turns Mental Health Awareness Into Campus-Wide Preparedness

HUSSW Welcomes the Newest Class to the Mecca

Honoring 2026 Graduates and Student Leader Award Recipients

Dr. Janice Berry Edwards Honored at the AAPCSW Biennial Conference

Transformation to Triumph Women’s Summit Convenes Leaders, Scholars, and Community in a Collective Call to Reinvention

Honoring Black History Through Economic Empowerment

The Leadership and Legacy of Andrew Billingsley

Alumni Spotlight: Brandi Pittman, MSW, LCSWA

Faculty Spotlight: New Book by Dr. Tracy R. Whitaker

HUSSW Publications and Leadership Awards

Howard Way Newsletter

HUSSW Monographs

Inabel Burns Lindsay Education Leadership Award

The Dig Feature Articles

Howard University Partners with C. Alan Bennett to Bring Barbershop and Salon to Campus

Class of 2030 Begins Howard University Journey with 14th Annual ‘Day of Service’

The Howard University Student-Led Bus Protest that Challenged Virginia’s Jim Crow Laws

For Master's Graduate Jamerson Watson, Social Work is Not Just A Profession; It's a Ministry

Physicist Kim Lewis Brings Energy and Experience to Help Shape Howard University’s ‘R1’ Vision