HUSSW News

HUSSW News & Highlights

JMDavis Retirement

Dr. Janice M. Davis Retires After Nearly Three Decades at HUSSW

The Howard University School of Social Work (HUSSW) announces the forthcoming retirement of Dr. Janice M. Davis, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW-C. Director of Clinical Education and the Office of Agency-Based Education, effective March 2, 2026. Dr. Davis, a proud alumna of HUSSW, has dedicated nearly 30 years to advancing the mission of the school and shaping the career development of countless social work students.

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Gentrification in DC Panel_2025

Gentrification in DC: Applying the Black Perspective

Howard University School of Social Work hosted a virtual alumni-led discussion examining gentrification in Washington, DC through the framework of the Black Perspective. Panelists explored the historical roots of displacement, housing instability, and cultural erasure, emphasizing gentrification as a justice issue shaped by policy choices. The session highlighted the need for structural change, civic engagement, and sustained advocacy to advance housing equity and protect Black communities.

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SSWR 2025-Presenters

Championing the Black Perspective: Howard University SSWR 2026 Presenters

The SSWR Annual Conference brings together leading scholars and practitioners for more than 500 symposia, workshops, and presentations highlighting cutting-edge research methods and critical issues in social work. Howard University School of Social Work is proud to be among the institutions represented at SSWR 2026, contributing scholarship that advances the Black Perspective, interrogates structural inequities, amplifies underrepresented communities, and informs innovative policy and practice. This year, our faculty and doctoral students will present across premier sessions, including special interest groups, policy forums, and research presentations.

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Nourish HU Food Pantry

Thank You for Supporting the HUSSW Food Drive!

The Howard University School of Social Work successfully hosted a 90th Anniversary Food Drive in partnership with the HUSSW Alumni Association (HUSSWAA) and the Student Council Association (SCA), collecting over 1,200 canned goods and non-perishable items to support the Nourish HU Food Pantry. Featured in The Hilltop, the drive showcased the power of community care at Howard

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Husain- 2025 Social Work Impact Award

Dr. Altaf Husain Honored with the 2025 Social Work Impact Award

Dr. Husain, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic & Student Advancement at the Howard University School of Social Work, has been honored with the 2025 Social Work Impact Award by the Public Health Social Work (PHSW) Division of the American Public Health Association (APHA).

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Adjunct Spotlight

Adjunct Professor Tamieka Welsh Champions Mental Health and Healing for Black Women in Essence Magazine

Adjunct Professor Tamieka Welsh of the Howard University School of Social Work was recently featured in Essence Magazine for her article, “5 Powerful Ways Black Women Can Protect Their Mental Health After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis.” In it, she explores the connections between mental health, community, and healing for Black women navigating breast cancer. Her work challenges the “Strong Black Woman” narrative and emphasizes the importance of culturally competent care, supportive networks, and self-advocacy.

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Open House 2025

Howard University School of Social Work Celebrates 90 Years of Excellence

The Howard University School of Social Work commemorated its 90th Anniversary during Homecoming 2025 with a Open House celebration that brought together alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends for an evening of reflection, music, and community. The program featured historical reflections, inspiring performances, and a special anniversary fundraising campaign honoring nine decades of excellence in social work education.

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CSWE APM 20252

HUSSW at CSWE 2025: Faculty, Staff & Alumni Present at the Council on Social Work Education 71st Annual Program Meeting

The Howard University School of Social Work proudly celebrates its faculty, staff, and alumni who presented at the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) 71st Annual Program Meeting, held October 23–26, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. With the theme “It’s Time to Act: Championing Disability Justice and Disability Joy in Social Work,” this year’s conference spotlighted conversations around disability justice, inclusion, equity, and community empowerment. From health equity in public housing to inclusive education, trauma-informed practice, and refugee well-being, HUSSW scholars continue to lead nationally in shaping a more just and joyful future for all communities.

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Rachel Pierre

Rachel Pierre, MSW, Appointed Director of DC’s Department of Human Services

We are proud to celebrate Howard University School of Social Work alumna Rachel Pierre, who was appointed Director of the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) on October 9, 2025. With over two decades of experience across nonprofit and public sectors, Rachel has been a steadfast leader in advancing housing access, youth services, and community-based supports throughout the District. Since joining DHS in 2020, she has championed programs that center dignity, equity, and empowerment for DC residents. Her commitment to service reflects the core values of the Howard University School of Social Work — leadership, justice, and community impact.

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Brittany Flournoy

HUSSW Doctoral Student Brittany Flournoy Awarded Fellowship with the Black and Brown Collective Training and Mentorship Program

Howard University School of Social Work doctoral student Brittany Flournoy has been awarded a fellowship with the Black & Brown Collective Training and Mentorship Program, an initiative supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of California, Davis. As a member of the inaugural 2025–2026 cohort, Brittany joins a network of scholars dedicated to advancing solutions to gun violence in Black and Brown communities.

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John Jacob

Alumni Spotlight: John E. Jacob (M.S.W. ’63)

The Howard University School of Social Work proudly shines an Alumni Spotlight on John E. Jacob, M.S.W. ’63—an iconic figure whose extraordinary career spans civil rights advocacy, corporate leadership, and now, authorship. Jacob’s recently released memoir, I Will Fear No Evil, is both a personal journey and a national call to reflection. In the book, he offers a penetrating assessment of a pivotal era in American history—the Reagan and Bush years—when the country, he argues, ignored critical warnings about the long-term consequences of economic and educational neglect. As President and CEO of the National Urban League from 1982 to 1994, Jacob used his platform to advocate for equity in education, job training, and social services. His voice was among the few consistently calling attention to the widening opportunity gap in American society.

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U-PEP Psychedelic Training

Howard University Faculty Join National Initiative to Advance Psychedelic-Assisted Care Education

June 2025- Three esteemed faculty members from the Howard University School of Social Work—Dr. Gloria Cain, Dr. Janice Berry Edwards, and Dr. Janice Davis—were recently selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the University Psychedelic Education Program (U-PEP) Faculty Fellowship. This national initiative equips educators with the tools to integrate evidence-based, culturally responsive content on the therapeutic use of psychedelics into higher education curricula.

Category: HUSSW Articles

Florence Champagne

Howard University School of Social Work Champions Health Equity Through New Maryland Legislation

Howard University School of Social Work celebrates the leadership of alumna Florence Champagne, MSW, and MSW student Bahati Bridges in advancing critical heart health legislation in Maryland. With support from the Open My Heart Foundation and introduced by Delegate Jamila Woods, MSW, the new law mandates insurance coverage for coronary calcium score testing—a vital screening tool for early detection of heart disease. This achievement highlights Howard’s impact on real-world policy change and its ongoing commitment to health equity and social justice.

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Rowena Wilson

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Rowena G. Wilson – Honoring a Howard Legacy in Doctoral Social Work Education

“Compassion + Action is how I strive to live my personal life,” says Dr. Rowena G. Wilson. “It represents how I interact with others, how I serve them, how I problem-solve, and how I express my humanity—especially with those experiencing pain or suffering. To me, it is natural and human to care about others, to join in the celebrations of life with them, and to extend a helping hand in times of need. Essentially, Compassion + Action is what I call love.” These words beautifully echo the 2025 National Social Work Month theme, “Social Work: Compassion + Action.” Introduced in March but resonating throughout the year, this theme acknowledges the power of empathy backed by purpose and skill—qualities Dr. Wilson has embodied throughout her distinguished career.

Category: HUSSW Articles

Jaden Smith

Howard University's School of Social Work Tackles the School Social Work Shortage with Innovation and Impact

Howard University's School of Social Work is proactively addressing the critical shortage of school social workers through its innovative Project PRESS (Preparing Responsive and Effective School Social Workers). This pilot program places second-year master's students in Washington, D.C., public schools, particularly in underserved areas like Wards 7 and 8, aiming to increase and diversify the school social work labor force. Participants undergo intensive training and receive financial support, equipping them to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed care to students. By fostering strong community ties and emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic challenges, Project PRESS exemplifies Howard University's commitment to social justice and educational equity.

Category: HUSSW Articles

Social Isolation Conference

Social Isolation & the Impact on Communities Conference

On March 22, 2025, the Howard University School of Social Work hosted a powerful and timely conference titled “Understanding Social Isolation and the Impact on Communities.” The event, made possible through the partnership of the Multidisciplinary Gerontology Center (HU-MGC), the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program, and the support of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, brought together practitioners, scholars, students, and community partners for a full day of education, dialogue, and collective action.

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Rev. Rhonda Nixon

Alumni Spotlight: Honoring Reverend Rhoda C. Nixon, MSW, M.Div.

As we celebrate the remarkable 100th birthday of Reverend Rhoda C. Nixon, we honor a Howard University School of Social Work alumna whose life’s journey has been defined by service, faith, leadership, and a deep love for humanity. “In essence, Howard University is my life’s foundation,” Rev. Nixon shared. A proud 1950 graduate of the MSW program under Dean Inabel Burns Lindsay, she credits Howard with instilling in her the core values of flexibility, listening, discipline, and purpose. These principles became the blueprint for a lifetime of groundbreaking work in social work, education, and ministry.

Category: HUSSW Articles

GADE Cover

Howard University School of Social Work to Host 2025 GADE Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

The Howard University School of Social Work is proud to announce that it will host the 2025 Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) Annual Conference from April 2-4, 2025. This event will be held in Washington, D.C., marking the first time the conference will be hosted by a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

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Zibora Gilder

Howard School of Social Work Graduate Student Zibora Gilder Champions Disability Justice on The Roland Martin Show

A passionate advocate for disability rights, Zibora Gilder, a MSW student at Howard University’s School of Social Work and Executive Director of Empowered Hands, LLC, recently made waves on The Roland Martin Show. With over a decade of experience in disability services, her mission focuses on dismantling systemic barriers faced by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, particularly People of Color—a cause fueled by personal experiences, including Ms. Gilder's own brother’s challenges navigating an inaccessible world.

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BHM 2025

African Americans and Labor: Honoring the Legacy of Work and Social Justice

As we celebrate Black History Month in 2025, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has chosen "African Americans and Labor." This theme highlights the profound and transformative ways Black people have engaged in labor across centuries—free or unfree, skilled or unskilled, vocational or voluntary. Work has been a defining feature of Black history and culture, shaping communities and propelling the nation forward despite systemic barriers.

Category: HUSSW Articles

The Dig Feature Articles

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food2feed participant at fundraiser
Nov 5, 2025

WHUR’s Annual Food2Feed Radiothon Provides Hope and Help

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Apr 7, 2022

Howard University Celebrates Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Historic Confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court 

Groundbreaking Peer Case Management Institute

The DC Department of Human Services (DHS) in collaboration with the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP), Pathways to Housing DC, and Howard University’s School of Social Work launched the pioneering Peer Case Management Institute. As covered by the Washington Post, The Washington Informer, and WTOP, the Peer Case Management Institute graduated its first cohort on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. The graduates, once homeless themselves, have completed the comprehensive training program and are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to serve as case managers in the homeless service system. 

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PCMI Graduate