After receiving his PhD/MSSW from Social Work and MA from the La Follette School of Public Affairs, Steve Webster taught at the School of Social Work in the 1970s and 1980s. He was recently awarded the 2025 Alumni of Distinction Award from the La Follette School. Steve has made important contributions to advancing social justice …
Lissa Merkel, MSW ’14, a former student in our Mental Health Focus Area, and now a licensed clinical social worker in Los Angeles California, has faced major health challenges during her life. First, a lengthy stay in a hospital for emergency surgery, and four years ago, kidney failure, resulted in dialysis. She was recently fortunate …
Social workers step in when individuals need help or communities face gaps – offering support, advocacy, care, and thoughtful planning. That includes Brooke Barcena, who, as a second-year MSW student in 2019, helped create a victim-centered mass violence preparedness plan. Now, as Deputy Director of the Crime Response Program (CRP) within Victim Witness Services in …
Advanced Standing student Kat Froehlich, who is doing a Field Placement with the Area Agency on Aging of Dane County, moderated a panel on the experiences of unhoused older adults at The Human Side of Homelessness — a recent community event. Kat was quoted in this Cap Times article about the event and the increase …
Alum Marcy Bradley, who served on our Board of Visitors, has been a generous supporter of the school for many years. Much of her support is targeted at diversity and social justice. Marcy worked as a social worker Meriter Retirement Services (now Capitol Lakes) in Madison before retiring. Recently, Mel Morgenbesser, head of our alumni …
Jenny Braunginn, MSSW, CISW, Senior Teaching Faculty, has co-authored a second book for the Oxford Workshop Series with the School Social Work Association of America titled, Emerging Trends in School Social Work Practice: Responding to Rapid Change in Educational Ecosystems, with the chapter, “Harnessing Technology to Expand Access and Enhance Engagement.” Braunginn was asked by …
Matt Hanson served in the Army National Guard for nearly a decade – on a mostly fulltime/active duty basis and rising to the rank of captain. At one point, he and the soldiers under his command helped facilitate the integration and resettlement of 13,000 Afghan evacuees after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Now, Matt …
State Superintendent of Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Dr. Jill Underly, appointed School alum Sara Knueve to the role of Assistant Deputy State Superintendent of Academics in March 2025. Prior to this new role, Sara was a policy advisor for the agency. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Sara is an advocate for education for …
In January 2025, alum Jamie Kuhn was named Director of Public Affairs on the Government Solutions Team at Foley & Lardner, a Wisconsin based law firm. Commenting on Jamie’s hiring, Paul Wrycha, managing partner of Foley’s Madison office, explains, “Jamie’s proven leadership in government affairs and extensive relationships at the state and local level will …
Social Work Alum Stephanie Johnson has had a long career working in healthcare. After many years working as a medical social worker, she started her own consulting and coaching practice after her own transformational experience of seeking support from a life coach herself. Fourteen years ago, healthcare and support became personal when her husband Rick …