Our Students and Alumni

The power of a conversation

Halimah McBryde, MSW ’23

“UB offered me all that I wanted but so much more.”

Haneul Park, MSW ’20

“I want to make change and make a difference.”

Jessica Mencia, MSW ’21, PhD Student

Making an impact

Mel LeMay, MSW ’20

Bridging gaps to improve outcomes

Kathy Lisborg, DSW ’22, MSW ’14

Our students and alumni find UB to be a rewarding and exciting place to learn, research and collaborate with one another and our world-class faculty.

“Social work would give me the broadest degree that would prepare me either way.”
1/29/25
Chanell McCain, MSW ’15
“I want to make change and make a difference.”
10/7/22
Jessica Mencia, MSW ’21, PhD Student
“The school exceeded my expectations—I’m proud to identify as a social worker.”
1/29/25
Alexandria Meranto, MSW ’19
“With war come so many social problems that need to be addressed.”
12/4/14
Felecia Badio Merriam, MSW ’16
“[The DREAM program is] a great place to make connections with other students and the Buffalo community.”
1/29/25
Marna Metcalf, MBA/MSW ’16
“My UB professors still mentor me. If I seek advice, they always connect me to resources.”
10/25/24
Faustina Palmatier, MSW ’19
“UB offered me all that I wanted but so much more.”
2/22/21
Haneul Park, MSW ’20
"Buffalo, for being a big city, there is such a homey feel to it."
1/29/25
Melissa Pietrkiewicz, MSW ’12
“I can’t say enough good things about my experience with the School of Social Work.”
1/29/25
Thomas Power, MSW ’17 (Online cohort)
“I feel so lucky that I get to make a career out of helping people.”
1/29/25
Victoria Rader, MSW ’17
“UB actively supports independence and engagement, really following a networked approach to building relationships within and outside of the school.”
6/11/21
Sarah Richards-Desai, PhD ’24, MSW ’16
“Dignity is a huge part of my motivation.”
3/30/21
Shatorah Roberson, JD ’12, MSW ’11
“Coming to terms with your own humanity, with both its positive and negative aspects, will help you to grow personally and be a more effective social worker professionally.”
1/29/25
Barbara Robertson, MSW ’13
“I’m working in a goal-driven way to empower clients.”
1/29/25
Julie Rockmaker, MSW ’07
“Witnessing the importance of social workers advocating and providing care to patients was transformative to preconceptions I had about who a social worker was and what they do.”
3/4/24
Destiny Rust, MSW ’24
“I think UB has a lot to offer the community.”
1/29/25
Matthew Schwartz, DSW ’23, MSW ’18
“I’m developing a program to provide support for international students.”
1/29/25
Nurit Fischer Shemer, PhD ’19, MSW ’13
“Every place I'd worked, patient care was number one.”
5/1/13
Marilyn Z. Shine, MSW ’74, BS ’72
Marilyn Z. and Jerome D. Shine Endowment Fund
“Being able to educate people about problems they are unaware of while also being able to support individuals who have experienced those problems firsthand — that’s why I love social work.”
1/29/25
Julia Szprygada, MSW ’13
“With anything, it's really building resilience and ways to adapt and change.”
10/6/20
Tara Taddio, MSW ’08

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