Our Alumni and Students

Our alumni and students share their stories of why they joined the social work field — and how they are making a positive impact through their work.

Featured Profiles

“I have to work full time, so the part-time MSW option really offered me the chance to gain new skills.”
8/4/23
Samantha Bowes, MSW ’23
“The DSW is practice-focused.”
9/10/20
Michelle Fortunado-Kewin, DSW ’22
“I’ve loved being a part of this community since I moved here. Buffalo feels like home.”
2/17/23
Mel LeMay, MSW ’20
“I want our society and world to be better, and I will keep fighting for that — with love, humility and compassion.”
11/3/23
Jessica Al Kadi, MSW ’23
“I am passionate about creating a future for LGBTQ+ youth where they can feel safe and affirmed.”
12/14/22
Jack Kavanaugh, MSW ’15
“The ability to give someone space and attention to express themselves is a true honor.”
8/17/23
Halimah McBryde, MSW ’23
“My UB professors still mentor me. If I seek advice, they always connect me to resources.”
10/25/24
Faustina Palmatier, MSW ’19
“After completing my MSW and realizing I wanted to better understand addiction and develop interventions, attending UB was a perfect fit for my doctorate.”
4/13/23
Charles LaBarre, PhD ’25
“I ended up loving the tech changes in education, and I learned so many new ways to offer specialized treatment options.”
8/9/22
Catherine Heimback-Murdie, DSW ’22, MSW ’03
"I am focused daily on the people who have fallen through the cracks, who have no other place to turn."
6/26/23
Brad Loliger, JD/MSW '13
“The knowledge I’ve gained and the experiences I’ve had in the MSW program have changed me completely.”
1/30/23
Adam Fryer, MSW ’23 (Online cohort)

11/3/23 All Profiles