Johanna Caplan

“Practicum education is a crucial learning process; it shows how course concepts interact with the communities we serve and allows students to find their strengths through on-the-job training. I’m passionate about helping students get the most out of these experiences to find themselves as social workers.”

• MSW, University of Pittsburgh (2007)
• BA, Psychology, University at Buffalo (2005)

Practicum education; equity in workforce development; program development; child welfare

Johanna Caplan, LMSW, brings nearly 20 years of social work practice experience to the School of Social Work’s Practicum Education team. With focused expertise in workforce development, Caplan has seen how practicum and internship experiences can shape a student’s trajectory — and is passionate about supporting students in reaching their career goals.

Caplan spent over a decade at Say Yes Buffalo, building partnerships with higher education institutions, expanding workforce development and internship programs, and co-designing a youth apprenticeship program — all to increase access and equity in educational opportunities. There, she also served as a practicum educator for the School of Social Work, providing supervision and support for MSW students placed at Say Yes.

Before that, Caplan worked in micro-level social work roles in nonprofit, community agency, school and foster care settings. She holds an MSW and bachelor’s degree in psychology, along with a certificate in social impact management and leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.