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 …
Alumni and Friends
Marcy Bradley, MSW ’93 Brings “Joy in Diversity” to the School of Social Work
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 …
Sara Knueve, MSW ’03, Appointed Deputy Assistant State Superintendent of Academics at Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
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, …
Jamie S. Kuhn, MSW ’03, Brings Impressive Public Service Experience to the Private Sector
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 …
Stephanie Johnson, MSSW ’91 Advocates for Parkinson’s Disease Registry
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 …
Field Seminar Students Hear from Alums
Students doing a Field Placement with a community agency also take a Field Seminar to complement and investigate their work. The emphasis in this unit is on problem-solving and multi-method, evidence-informed, interventions with active consultation, …
Alum John Schlueter, MSSW ’03 Named Director of Dane County Human Services
The Dane County Department of Human Services in Madison oversees a wide range of services aimed at enhancing the well-being of county residents, including child welfare, mental health services, support for individuals with disabilities, and …
The Social Work Entrepreneur: A Series Highlighting Alums Who Have Created Their Own Businesses and Organizations
Mel Morgenbesser Kristin Scheeler’s, MSW ’05 Patient Advocacy and Case Management Practice After more than 20 years working in the field of gerontology working in hospice, nursing homes, and hospitals, Kristin Scheeler craved independence and …
Q&A with Dr. Michael Hoffmeister: Three-Time Alum, Researcher, and Field Instructor
When Michael Hoffmeister arrived on campus as an undergraduate, he anticipated pursuing a degree in psychology. Instead, a social work class focusing on the formation of social welfare policies and the role of the social …
Joan Levy Zlotnik, MSSW’ 74, Receives Prestigious National Social Work Award
Joan Levy Zlotnik, MSSW ’74, received the 2025 NASW Foundation’s Knee-Wittman Lifetime Achievement Award, “for her efforts in improving child welfare services and bringing awareness to the health and mental health needs of children and society’s …