James Madison University Social Work Department

Celebrating First-Generation Excellence!

We are thrilled to celebrate Tiffany Andes (Social Work's Administrative Assistant) and our students: Kaelyn Linahan, Emysja Caul, and William Michael Gibson who were recently inducted into JMU’s Tri Alpha (Alpha Alpha Alpha) Honor Society, recognizing the achievements of first generation college students.

This honor reflects their hard work, leadership, resilience, and commitment to education - and we are so proud to have them as part of our Social Work community.

Please join us in congratulating them on this well deserved recognition!

We’re excited to welcome Professor Kim as a full time instructor!

Currently serving as a field supervisor and an adjunct instructor, Professor Hyuntae Kim will be joining us full time to teach core SOWK and FAM courses. We’re thrilled to expand his role and welcome him in this new capacity.

Professor Kim earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles and an MSW from the University of Washington in Seattle. After completing his MSW, he spent nearly five years teaching English as a Second Language in South Korea before returning to the US to work in public service and healthcare settings.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia, Professor Kim brings professional experience across healthcare, mental health, aging, and public benefits systems, including work with Veterans and adults with severe mental illness. Currently, he is Program Director for the Claude Moore Precious Time Program at James Madison University, partnering with students and community organizations to support caregivers of children with disabilities.

We’re excited for our students and community to benefit from Professor Kim’s experience and commitment to teaching and practice!

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Shawn McNally as an Assistant Professor of Social Work this fall. Go Dukes!

Dr. McNally is a soon to be PhD graduate of the University of South Carolina’s College of Social Work and earned his BSSW and MSW from the University of North Dakota. He brings valuable experience as a school based mental health professional, providing therapy and clinical supervision in Central Minnesota.

His research focuses on the mental health and well being of adolescents and emerging adults, with special attention to how mental health messaging in schools and on college campuses influences well being and help seeking through a Self Determination Theory lens.

We’re excited to welcome Dr. McNally to the JMU community and can’t wait to see the impact he’ll make with our students and programs!

JMU Social Work students had a fantastic time at Rally in the Valley in Lynchburg! They connected with peers from across the state, learned from faculty and practitioners, and dove into important issues shaping social work practice.

The Rally in the Valley is an annual conference and networking event for social work students across Virginia. Sponsored by the Virginia Social Work Education Consortium (VSWEC), it brings BSW students together to connect, attend workshops, and explore career and graduate school opportunities.

Treasure hunters, this is your moment! It’s officially JMU Giving Day, and the Mad Money Box is still out there, hidden somewhere inside the HBS building… waiting to be discovered!

The student that finds it gets the power to give it away – donating the prize to the fund that means the most to them.

And if you’re one of our alumni, a proud parent, or a valued community partner, today is your chance to be part of something bigger.

A gift to CHBS, no matter the size, and to any of our three funds, helps shape future leaders, fuels student success, and creates lives filled with purpose long after JMU.

Learn more about giving to CHBS on Giving Day: https://give.jmu.edu/schools/JamesMadisonUniversity/giving-day-2026/pages/colleges-schools-libraries/chbs?campaign_view=true

Social Work had a busy and exciting Friday!

We hosted the Phi Alpha National Honor Society Induction Ceremony to welcome our newest members, presented a “Finding Your 50” student panel to help students learn about completing their pre-field experience, and connected with future students at the CHBS Middle School Pathway event.

A special thank you to Phi Alpha faculty advisors Dr. Poe and Dr. Gyourko, along with student leaders Hailey LaFever and Molly Stein, for coordinating the Phi Alpha events. We also appreciate Nora Darradji for leading the planning and volunteers at the Social Work table during the Pathway event.

We’re grateful for the teamwork and dedication that made the day such a success!

Multiple Career Stages — Social work alumni recently attended the Interprofessional Professional Ethics workshop sponsored by Harrisonburg City School District, with participation of Rockingham County professionals. About 100 participants represented School Counselors, Attendance Specialists, Restorative Justice Practitioners, School Nurses, Behaviorists, School Social Workers, and School Psychologists. The workshop focused on the comparison of professional ethical standards, collaborative work on case studies, and discussion about tensions related to trying to address students' and their families' needs in the current political context. Representing the JMU Social Work Department across professional career stages were Gerard Veglia (Class of 2013) and Rosemary Sangabriel Baker (Class of 2015); and current SOWK field student, Julissah Vazquez (Class of 2026), with Megan Marker (Behaviorist at Spotswood Elementary) (Class of 2008)

SOWK Faculty Book Highlight. Big congratulations to Dr. John Gyourko on the publication of Understanding Child Welfare (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2026)!

This open access book takes a closer look at child welfare systems in the U.S., with insights from around the world, and highlights policies and reforms that can make a real difference for children and families. Dr. Gyourko teamed up with leading scholars from universities across the country on this meaningful project.

Check it out here: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035359127

Well done Dr. Gyourko on this great achievement!

Congratulations to Our December 2025 BSW Graduates!

Last Friday, the Department of Social Work and Phi Alpha Honor Society proudly hosted the Senior Send-Off to celebrate the incredible achievements of our graduating seniors.

Your hard work, dedication, and passion for social work have brought you to this milestone, and we couldn’t be prouder.

Here’s to new beginnings and making a difference in the world! 💜💛

Do you want to change the world?

Social Work faculty members Dr. Simon Funge and Dr. Nancy Poe and students Becca Lipper and Makenna Crookshanks asked this question at the annual JMU Majors and Minors Fair.

The students did a fantastic job sharing their experiences in the Social Work major, explaining what social workers do, speaking to the wide range of opportunities available in the profession, and advocating the benefit of earning a BSW for eligibility to apply to accelerated (one-year) Advanced Standing MSW programs

More information about our Social Work major and minors programs can be found on our website: https://www.jmu.edu/chbs/socwork/index.shtml