School of Social Work recognizes distinguished alumni, researchers and students

By Matthew Biddle
Photos by Heather Bellini

The University at Buffalo School of Social Work honored outstanding alumni, researchers and students at its annual Celebration of Excellence, held April 17 at the Garret Club in Buffalo.

Four School of Social Work graduates were lauded with Distinguished Alumni Awards for their career achievements and contributions to social work practice or research.

Annette Zaccari, PhD, LCSW, MSW ’83, president and counselor at Zaccari Counseling Services in Scottsdale, Arizona, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. A fierce advocate for social justice and individuals with disabilities, Zaccari served on the Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries, including a term as chair, in which she fought for increased access to services. Zaccari has run a successful private practice for more than 23 years and teaches as an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University. Among other community work, Zaccari has served on several boards and committees, including the North Phoenix Rotary Club and YWCA.

Jennifer Carlson, LMSW, MSW ’94, accepted the Distinguished MSW Alumni Award in recognition of her career impact in interdisciplinary health care. As director of clinical development at Sheridan Medical Group, Carlson established and oversees an integrated behavioral health department that delivers social and mental health services for clients. Carlson is also a dedicated UB alumna, serving as a longtime School of Social Work field educator, volunteering as a UB Alumni Association board member, and uplifting future social workers by establishing an endowed student award.

Jordan Modrzynski, JD ’14, MSW ’13, received the Louis H. Swartz Memorial Award for using her law and social work degrees to promote awareness of oppression and act as a change agent. As managing attorney for the housing unit at the Western New York Law Center, Modrzynski and her team help low-income clients remain in their homes by ensuring they have access to counsel in housing cases. Modrzynski also oversees the state’s Buffalo East Homeowner Assistance Fund, which assists homeowners in 10 Buffalo ZIP codes with outstanding property tax, water and user fees.

Finally, Paula Allen-Meares, PhD, BSW ’70, chancellor emerita and professor of medicine in the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, received the Distinguished Bachelor of Social Work Alumni Award. Allen-Meares is an international expert on human services in educational settings, mental health in under-resourced communities, and educational access and success. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held appointments at both the Chicago and Urbana-Champaign campuses of the University of Illinois in the schools or colleges of social work, public health, medicine and education. Among other leadership roles, Allen-Meares served as chancellor of the University of Illinois Chicago, vice president of the University of Illinois, and dean of the School of Social Work at both the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Michigan.

The School of Social Work’s Buffalo Center for Social Research (BCSR) recognized Nicole Capozziello, PhD ’25, MSW ’20, with an Excellence in Research Award for her dissertation project, “‘It’s the Roots that Need Water’: A Community-Based Case Study Exploring Buffalo East Side Residents’ Experiences of Nature and Vacant Land.”

Through interviews, neighborhood walking tours and a participatory design studio, Capozziello asked East Side residents to reflect on their experiences with nature — and to envision their neighborhood in the future. Capozziello received a prestigious doctoral fellowship from the Grand Challenges for Social Work to support the project and presented her findings as a 2024 finalist in UB’s Three Minute Thesis competition.

To cap off the evening, the School of Social Work inducted 65 high-achieving students into Rho Kappa, the school’s chapter of Phi Alpha, the national social work honor society. Some students received their honor cords in person at the Celebration of Excellence, while online students will be recognized during a Zoom ceremony on May 1.

Congratulations to the 2025 inductees: Epiphany Adams, Fardowsa Aden, Sarah Alabi, Megan Bailey, Jamie Ball, Hailee Bane, Demi Battin, Grace Beekman, Sara Bolinski, Brynn Brewington, Rebecca Breymeier, Nicole (Nikki) Burst, Joseph Canepa, Cory Cantales, Emily Chambers, Rhianna Chapin, Aidan Coyle, Mia Darrow-Cohen, Holly DePerna, Hallie Domes, Melissa Enns, Brionna Fassett, Nicholas Ferranti, Isabella Funk, Elisabeth Garofalo, Avery Georgakis, Michelle Giacobello, Beth Gill, Samantha Gorski, Shandra Hake, Liam Joynt, Quinlyn Kinmartin, Jade Liao, Cami Linsner, Josiah Lyon, Jillian Margolies, Abagail Mattison, Reagan Mayer, Emma McCarthy, Carly Meyer, Kaitlyn Morris, Roxanne Munroe, Tiffany Nhan, Danielle Northrup, Madelyn Owczarzak, Yarielix Owens, Tracy Poe, Daniella Prades, Kara Riemer, Sharone Rose, Victoria Sasso, Cassie Seibel, Charles Sichel-Outcalt, Tera Siegfried, Jordan Stern, Sally Streets, Gabriella Tilaj, Noah Townson, John Turner, Junelis Villar, Leah Waldman, Naomi Watson, Megan Welch, Erica Wynn and Julie Yost.

Matthew Biddle
Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Social Work
Tel: 716-645-1226
mrbiddle@buffalo.edu