Boston University School of Social Work

We are proud to congratulate Lyndsey McMahan, assistant dean of teaching and innovation at BUSSW, on receiving the 2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award.

McMahan, alongside Matthew King, an instructional designer with BU Virtual, earned the national honor for MP783: Planning and Program Development, a course recognized for excellence across course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment and learner support.

"Their work is instrumental in shaping the future of education and stands as a testament to excellence in course design," said Dr. Lisa Clark, associate vice president of academic transformation at Blackboard.

McMahan brings nearly two decades of experience in international development, DEI and leadership to her work at BUSSW, and her commitment to human-centered learning is reflected in every aspect of this recognition.

Read the full story: http://spr.ly/6180B8Y3QO

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

At BUSSW, we believe every person deserves to live with dignity, safety, and the freedom to be fully themselves. Social workers have always been on the front lines of that fight, advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals and families in communities, in policy, and in practice.

This June, we celebrate the resilience and joy of the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirm that our commitment to equity and inclusion does not begin or end with a month on the calendar. It is who we are.

And shoutout to the BUSSW Class of 2026 for making pride part of the regalia this year!

Photos by Dave Green Photography

Dennie Butler-MacKay (SSW ’89) knows the power of bringing your whole self to your work.

From her first days at BUSSW, Dennie learned to find her voice and trust in what feels impossible. She recalls graduating alongside her eight-year-old daughter, honoring both her own journey and the shared sacrifices of family.

Her field experiences shaped her approach to social work: being present with clients, collaborating across systems, and finding resilience in the face of challenges. Dennie, who received the 2018 BUSSW Alumni Association’s Outstanding Career in the Field of Social Work Award, has carried these lessons into her work as co-director of Racial Justice and Equity Initiatives at Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center.

Her advice for students and future social workers is simple but powerful:

💬 “Listen for the poetry, notice how you feel, embrace community, and keep seeking clarity on the gifts that are yours alone to give.”

Bean stopped by the Institute for Equity in Child Opportunity & Healthy Development (IECOHD) at the BU School of Social Work today! 🐾

Bean enjoyed learning about the conditions that support child health and wellbeing, and the IECOHD team all enjoyed some snuggles and tug games.

Associate Professor Jennifer M. Gómez recently joined the Choosing Help podcast for a conversation about Cultural Betrayal Trauma Theory, the framework she developed to understand what happens when harm comes from within a marginalized community and the systems meant to help don't feel safe.

Dr. Gómez discusses the mental health impacts of cultural betrayal, why survivors often stay silent, and what healing can look like inside and outside of therapy.

"The road to healing starts with a nugget of a belief that healing is possible, and that it's even possible for you."

Read the full story and listen to the episode: http://spr.ly/6185B8pg7c

The rain had other plans. The Class of 2026 did not. 🎓☔

Congratulations to every graduate who crossed that stage on May 14 — you earned every single second of this. The world needs you, and we are so proud to call you BUSSW alumni. 💙

🔗 Full recap + photo gallery: https://www.bu.edu/ssw/bussw-commencement-2026-photo-gallery-recap/

Assistant Professor Darien Alexander Williams has been named a Camargo Foundation Fellow for Fall 2026, selected from more than 1,000 international applicants.

This fall, he heads to Cassis, France to advance "Hijra Theory: Black Planning and Islams of the Great Migration," research that repositions Black Muslim communities as visionary architects of urban life in cities including Detroit, Chicago, and Boston.

Read the full story: http://spr.ly/6183B86Ut1

Professor Mary Collins is exploring why young women worldwide face unequal access to employment and training — and what policy can do to change it.

She recently brought that question to an international workshop at Koç University in Istanbul where she presented comparative research on gender equity in the transition to adulthood across the U.S., South Korea, and India.

Read the full story: http://spr.ly/6180BBhhbG

May is AAPI Heritage Month. And in social work, honoring a community means understanding what it needs.

For AAPI individuals, mental health care has long been shaped by gaps: in research, in cultural responsiveness, and in who gets to see themselves reflected in the clinical frameworks meant to help them.

BUSSW's Dr. Hyeouk "Chris" Hahm is working to change that. Learn more about her research and where she's taking it this month: http://spr.ly/6183BBAIvH

"A truly historic moment for our school and our profession." - Dean Barbara Jones

Yesterday was something special. Boston University honored Dean Emeritus Hubert “Hubie” Jones (SSW'57) with an honorary doctorate at its All-University Commencement. The hood was placed on his shoulders by Cassandra Clay (SSW'79), Dean’s Advisory Member and BU Trustee — an SSW alumna honoring an SSW legend.

Dean Emeritus Jones has spent decades pouring into this city — building programs, shaping policy, and mentoring generations of social workers. Seeing that legacy recognized on BU's biggest stage, by someone who carries that same BUSSW DNA, made it that much more meaningful.

Congratulations, Dean Emeritus Jones. Saying this is well-deserved doesn't even come close.