Classnotes

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1970s

Zygmunt Malowicki, MSW ’77, retired from The House of the Good Shepherd in Utica, NY after 41 years—the last 30 as assistant executive director.

Robert Schwartz, MSW ’77, is the manager of quality care initiatives at Sheridan Medical Group in Kenmore, NY.

Edo Vander Kooy, MSW ’77, has worked at Community Missions of Niagara for almost 25 years. He enjoys his current position as manager of the Personalized Recovery Oriented Services Program, as well as conducts a men’s trauma group.

Louis J. Moran, MSW ’78, LCSW, published “American Foursquare, Behind the Façade,” the second edition of his memoir about his early life; it covers abuse, coming out and psychological insights. Now retired, Moran lives in Denver, CO.

1980s

Bonnie Fader Wilkenfeld, MSW ’83, a school social worker and recipient of her PhD in clinical social work from Rutgers University, co-authored “Practicing maternal virtues prematurely: The phenomenology of maternal identity in medically high-risk pregnancy,” in Health Care for Women International.

Ellen Fink-Samnick, MSW ’83, principal/owner of EFS Supervision Strategies, has been named to the advisory board for Reverberation 5.0, a new national collective to empower women over 50 in the workplace. She resides in Burke, VA.

After 28 years in various positions at Baker Victory Services, David Gordon, MSW ’83, has opened a full-time practice, working with adults, couples, adolescents and families. He also consults and trains, including extensive work with Adoption Star, specializing in the adoption of older children. He resides in Amherst, NY.

John Shear, MSW ’88, is a social worker for Lancaster Public Schools and runs a private practice. He lives in West Seneca, NY.

1990s

Lauren May-Jones, MSW ’90, BSW ’73, retired from the VA and is now a social work consultant at Catholic Health System/Sisters Hospital School Health Program. She resides in East Aurora, NY.

Anne Sherman, MSW ’90, is director of community-based services at Hillside Children’s Center. She lives in Bergen, NY.

Mary MacLeod, MSW ’91, received her PhD in counseling and human development from the University of Rochester. She resides in Rochester, NY.

Pamela Schasel, MSW ’91, LMSW, is a certified care manager at Laping, Surdej Associates, LLC. She lives in East Amherst, NY.

Evelyn Burgess, MSW ’92, LCSW-R, is assistant director for UB’s Upward Bound Program. She resides in Buffalo, NY.

Christopher Scozzaro, MSW ’92, obtained his PhD in counselor education from UB. In addition to being a social worker for West Seneca Central School District in West Seneca, NY, he is in private practice and is an adjunct teacher at UB.

Frederick Marschner, MSW ’97, LCSW-R, owns and operates New Insight Counseling in Tonawanda, NY.

2000s

William Korthals, MSW ’00, is a suicide prevention case manager and senior social worker with the VA Myrtle Beach. He resides in Murrells Inlet, SC.

Kristin Surdej, MSW ’00, is celebrating 10 years as principal and aging care manager at Laping, Surdej Associates LLC, a private geriatric care management firm in Buffalo.

Pamela Gross, MSW ’02, is an elementary school social worker at the Ripley Central School District in Ripley, NY.

Ginny Riedman, MSW ’02, became a counselor with the Diocese of Rochester Public Schools in Rochester, NY.

Elizabeth McPartland, MSW ’03, is the chief operating officer for Child & Family Services in Buffalo, NY.

After 13 years with Catholic Charities, Heather Bell, MSW ’04, is now a senior counselor at Horizon Health Services. She lives in Batavia, NY.

Elizabeth Woike-Ganga, MSW ’04, is the chief operating officer for BestSelf Behavioral Health. She resides in East Amherst, NY.

Kristen Luppino-Gholston, MSW’ 05, is now director of the Daemen College Saffrin Center for Sustainability and Civic Engagement. She was formerly with the WNY Women's Foundation, where highlights included publishing "Pathways to Progress, Vol. 2" a report on the status of WNY women and girls, and launching “All In,” a large scale gender equity initiative. In late 2017, she was named to Buffalo Business First's 40 under 40.

Lisa Rizzo, MSW ’05, co-authored, “A gateway to healing: a community-based brief intervention for victims of violence," in the Journal of Community Psychology. She is a primary care social worker at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY.

In addition to founding and running Rachel’s Experience, a non-profit that works with people and communities to prevent diseases, promote cognitive health and improve their quality of life, Rachel McCarley, MSW ’06, LCSW, CSSW, provides social work services for the Buffalo Board of Education. Her company has been acknowledged by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and she has received additional awards and recognition. She is working on a book highlighting emotional and cognitive care.

Carol Whitlow, MSW ’06, LCSW, now retired, is an active Red Cross Mental Health volunteer. Her activities include traveling the country facilitating workshops with ROTC, pre-deployment, and Hero Care call center workers, as well as providing workshops for military children who have had a parent injured or killed.

Ashley Chadwell, MSW ’08, an elementary school social worker for Orchard Park Public School District, resides in Lancaster, NY.

Robin Hartinger-Saunders, PhD ’08, MSW ’97, is an associate professor and director of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Education and Training Program at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.

Ryann Hartmayer, MSW ’08, has transitioned to become a private practice therapist, as well as joining a group of professionals to create Mind Body Consulting, a collaborative group committed to treating clients from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Jana McDermott, MSW ’08, is the Virginia branch director of the Bethany Christian Services. She resides in Richmond, VA.

Christine Rine, PhD ’08, MSW ’97, is the MSW program director and has been promoted to associate professor at Edinboro University. She recently published a book chapter “Analyzing the problem: Access,” in C. Moniz & S. Gorin (Eds.), Behavioral and mental health care policy and practice: A biopsychosocial perspective.

Tara Taddio, MSW ’08, became certified as a registered yoga teacher. She is a social worker for the Buffalo Public Schools, residing in West Seneca, NY.

Andrea Russell, MSW ’09, is a social worker at WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center Day Treatment. She resides in Buffalo, NY.

2010s

Amanda Budwine, MSW ’10, is the director of behavioral health for Jericho Road Community Health Center in Buffalo, NY.

Caryn Domzalski, MSW ’10, was promoted to assistant program director at the University branch of BestSelf Behavioral Health. She lives in Cheektowaga, NY.

Rayna Grossman, MSW ’10, was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and is a rabbi and director of religious services at the Lions Gate, a Jewish continuing care retirement community in Southern New Jersey.

Elaine Rinfrette, PhD ’10, is the social work department chair at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. She resides in East Concord, NY.

Renee Garnier, MSW ’11, LCSW, is a behavior and medical social worker at MD 24 House Call, Beyond Counseling, and Encompass Home Health. She lives in Mesa, AZ.

Patrick Hull, MSW ’11, is a therapist for the child development-community policing program in Charlotte, NC. He enjoys partnering with police officers to identify, assess, and treat children at risk of developing PTSD. He resides in Rock Hill, SC.

Lisa Maynard, MSW ’11, is implementation specialist at the Center for Adoption Support and Education, working on a federal grant to implement adoption competent mental health training in all U.S. states, tribes and territories. In her private practice, she focuses on women's issues, trauma, life transitions, and adoption. She resides in Pittsford, NY.

Jamy Stammel, MSW ’12, LCSW, is a counselor and therapist at BestSelf Behavioral Health. In addition, she’s an adjunct professor at Simmons College and UB, as well as a training affiliate at the UBSSW Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care.

Beatrice Turner, MSW ’12, is director of compliance and continuous quality improvement at Jewish Social Service Agency. She resides in Rockville, MD.

Sarah Utkin, MSW ’12, is director of health homes for Jewish Family Services and lives in Hamburg, NY.

Danielle Eadie, MSW ’13, was promoted to bereavement manager at The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care. She resides in Tonawanda, NY.

Molly M. Harrington, MSW ’13, is a clinical consultant at Vatica Health. She is an adjunct professor (psychology) at Erie Community College. She also volunteers for UB’s Alpha Sigma Tau sorority.

Shyquiera Lee, MSW ’13, is mental health specialist at Endeavor Health Services in its school-based program. She is stationed at school #74 within the Buffalo Public Schools.

Emily Phelps, MSW ’13, is the assistant director for Student Life and Leadership/Gender and Sexuality Resource Center at SUNY Oneonta.

Christina Barrett, MSW ’14, is an SUD clinical supervisor with Horizon Health Services. She resides in Clarence, NY.

Nicole Israel, MSW ’14, a renal social worker for Unity Dialysis Center at St. Mary’s, lives in Fairport, NY.

Catherine Mazzotta, PhD ’14, an assistant professor at Buffalo State College, co-authored “Insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and danger: Their impact on victims' return to court for orders of protection,” in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Paul Muccigrosso, MSW ’14, is the program director and a faculty member at Medaille College @ Albion Correctional Facility. He serves on the Brain-Body Health Technology Institute board of directors, and this fall will begin serving as an SSW Joining Forces – UB field educator. He resides in Lancaster, NY.

Angela Doria, MSW ’17, is a family consultant at KidsPeace, a therapeutic foster care agency in Williamsville, NY.

Jennifer Kilpatrick, MSW ’16, is a school social worker for Cortland County BOCES and resides in LaFayette, NY.

Frankie Kraft, MSW ’16, LMSW, is a behavioral health therapist at Niagara Falls Medical Center in Niagara Falls, NY.

Sarah Reynolds, MSW ’16, is a primary therapist at Genesee Mental Health Center Child & Youth Services in Rochester, NY.

Lisa Noelle Sears-Ricotta, BA/MSW ’16, LMSW, CASAC, is a psychiatric case manager for Erie County Medical Center MICA Clinic. She resides in Orchard Park, NY.

Dawn St. John, MSW ’16, is a foster home licensing specialist for Devereux Advanced Behavior Health in Florida.

Kaitlin Tomasulo, MSW ’16, a trauma therapist, provides intensive trauma therapy retreats for the Trauma Institute and Child Trauma Institute in Buffalo, NY.

Sara Andrew, MSW ’17, LMSW is a behavioral health therapist in the Community Mental Health Clinic at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center in Niagara Falls, NY.

Bakht Arif, MSW ’17, LMSW, is a case manager and outreach/training coordinator for the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project in Washington, DC.

Kelly Bates, MSW ’17, is an elementary school social worker for the Holley Central School District in Holley, NY.

Christina Cali, MSW ’17, is the Rochester Regional Health Women’s Community residence supervisor; she resides in Rochester, NY.

Samantha Paige, BA/MSW ’17, is the coordinator of student-athlete development at Southeast Missouri State University.

Kaneisha Wheelock, MSW ’17, is a HUD-VASH (VA Supportive Housing) social worker with the Seattle VA. She accepted the position part-way through her post-graduate fellowship with the Puget Sound VA Addiction Treatment Center.

Lindsey Allen, MSW ’18, is a project coordinator for Peaceprints of Western New York.

Dan Calabrese, MSW ’18, is a therapist/clinician at Hudson Valley Mental Health in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Jamie Core, MSW ’18, a clinician II in trauma services at the Arizona’s Children Association, resides in Tucson, AZ.

Margaret Finnegan, MSW ’18, is a DBT therapist for BestSelf Behavioral Health. She lives in Hamburg, NY.

Travis Hales, PhD ’18, MSW ’14, is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at University of North Carolina Charlotte.

Emily (Hammer) Louisos, MSW ’18, is a mental health counselor for BestSelf Behavioral Health. She lives in Williamsville, NY.

Rebecca Levy, MSW ’18, is a substance use counselor at Horizon Health Services. She resides in Buffalo, NY.

Ling Li, MSW ’18, is a behavior health clinician for the Mental Health Service Corps in New York City. She lives in Jersey City, NJ.

Jonathan Puma, MSW ’18, is a substance use counselor at Evergreen Health Services and lives in Snyder, NY.

Allyson Roach, MSW ’18, is a child mental health counselor for Endeavor Health Services. She resides in Orchard Park, NY.

Matthew L. Schwartz, MSW ’18, joined Horizon Health Services as a mental health counselor. He lives in Buffalo, NY.

Kaitlin Scott, MSW ’18, is a mental health counselor at Endeavor Health Services. She lives in Albion, NY.