Three social work students named Western New York Prosperity Fellows

By Sarah J. Watson

University at Buffalo School of Social Work students Vanity Jones, Aicha Niang and Ryan Tropf have been awarded the Western New York Prosperity Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Backed by the generosity of the Prentice Family Foundation, the WNY Prosperity Fellowship helps students prepare for careers that drive economic development and growth in Western New York.

Jones, LMSW, MSW ’24, is a PhD student in social welfare, an Arthur A. Schomburg Fellow and the president of the UB Association of Black Social Workers. She has run a healthy relationships group for middle school children, counseled survivors of domestic violence, co-facilitated multiple workshops for teens, co-planned and facilitated a simulation at a Teen Dating Violence Summit, and conducted internal research for Black women receiving services at a local domestic violence shelter.

Additionally, Jones is the co-founder of Building Black Relationships by Initiating Development, Growth and Empowerment (BBRIDGE), a domestic violence and healthy relationship advocacy platform that integrates evidence-based research, community and public conversations in the Black community. Her goal is to become a professor at a top research university where she can connect with young adults through teaching and mentorship. Jones hopes to partner with community organizations to keep students connected with their communities, providing practical ways they can use what they learn in class in their lives. 

Niang is a dual degree student in the BA/MSW program. She is a first-generation student from a West/North African immigrant household and is inspired by her own journey of resiliency and purpose. One of her deepest core values is advocacy. She considers herself an educator, learner, changemaker and nurturer. These strengths align with her passion for social work and her focus on family and child development, driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to equitable and quality services across the social determinants of health.

Niang is actively involved in community outreach and leadership opportunities, most recently through the UB Startup and Innovation Collaboratory, where she works as a student assistant and project lead. She has also served as a campus health educator in UB’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program and participated in student governance as a member of the African Student Association. Her long-term goal is to work with underrepresented communities as a social worker, fostering a sense of belonging and well-being while laying the foundation for a global health care initiative.

Tropf is a second-year MSW student and a former tech entrepreneur. After co-founding and leading an educational technology startup for over a decade, he pivoted to a career in social work to address the systemic barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals in both employment and mental health care. His leadership in building inclusive workplace practices led to industry-low turnover rates and the successful development of internship programs focused on workforce equity.

Now, he is combining his experience in human resources, operations and trauma-informed care to support neurodivergent adults in reconnecting with their authentic selves and finding stability in work and life. Tropf’s vision is to establish Western New York as a national model for neurodiversity-affirming practices in both therapy and employment. After licensure, he plans to open a private practice while consulting with local businesses to create more inclusive workplaces.

The WNY Prosperity Fellowship provides a strong network of support, combining rigorous instruction with hands-on experiences that deepen students’ understanding of the region’s economic challenges and opportunities. In addition, fellows gain valuable professional experience through internships in their fields of interest, where they work directly with and are mentored by leaders in upper-level management.

The Prentice Family Foundation was created by its generous benefactors, Bryant H. Prentice III and his wife, Joan P. Prentice. Its goal is to promote the economic development of the Western New York area by combining support for college and graduate students who demonstrate an entrepreneurial drive with investments in businesses located in Western New York.