Barry University School of Social Work

Dr. Sarah Ingram-Herring: NASW-FL Palm Beach Unit SW Educator of the Year

Dr. Michael Alicea: NASW-FL Miami Dade Unit Lifetime Achievement Award

Nelson Santos: NASW-FL Miami Dade Unit MSW Student of the Year

Alumni:
Rachel Badilla (MSW 2020): NASW-FL Miami Dade Unit SW of the Year

Patricia Benson (BSW 2023, MSW 2024): NASW-FL Miami Dade Unit Emerging Social Work Leader Award

Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.

In honor of National Social Work Month, our faculty came together to formally present the NASW Proclamation.

🎥 Watch the full proclamation in our most recent Reel.

Join us in celebrating the leadership, advocacy, and service of social workers who continue to shape a more just and compassionate society.

Wednesday evening, Barry University’s School of Social Work joined our faculty and community partners at the Art Basel Human Trafficking Awareness Project—a powerful exhibition amplifying the voices and artwork of survivors.

We were especially proud to see MSW students attending and engaging with this important work, including two students who were meeting their professor in person for the first time after months of virtual learning. Moments like these strengthen our mission and our community. ♥️✨

World Mental Health Day

A reminder that mental health is not a luxury — it’s essential.

Every one of us carries a story, a struggle, or a silent battle.

Let’s make today about listening, supporting, and opening space for healing.

Even in moments of crisis, people deserve access to care, connection, and compassion.

At Barry University’s School of Mental Health and Social Work, our faculty are dedicated to preparing the next generation of social workers and clinicians who understand the neurobiological roots of trauma and the power of healing relationships.

Our trauma-focused educators, researchers, and practitioners integrate neuroscience, mindfulness, and evidence-based practice to help communities move from survival to resilience — because when we understand how trauma lives in the body, we can teach others how safety, regulation, and connection begin within.

💬 Let’s talk openly:
• It’s okay not to be okay.
• Reaching out for help is a sign of strength.
• Checking in on someone might change their life.

🛠️ What you can do:
• Take a pause — breathe, journal, walk, connect.
• Limit your news or social media when it becomes overwhelming.
• Share resources or helpline numbers.
• Talk to someone you trust.
• Help destigmatize — share your story or encourage others to do so.

💚 You are not alone.
💚 Your feelings, your story, your healing matter.
💚 Today and every day, we stand for a trauma-informed world.

❤️

We’re proud to celebrate Elizabeth Ringler-Jayanthan, LCSW, DSW student at Barry University School of Social Work, who recently presented her poster titled:

“Integrating Trauma-Informed Care for Afghan Newcomers from a ‘Friendly Visitor’ Approach” at the International Refugee Health and Migration Conference (IRHMC)

Elizabeth’s work highlights culturally responsive, trauma-informed care models for Afghan newcomers, emphasizing trust-building and community connection through a “friendly visitor” model.

🌍 The IRHMC is the premiere international conference for refugee health providers, rotating annually between the U.S. and Canada. We are thrilled to see our students represented on a global stage.

🎓 Faculty and student scholarship rooted in compassion, innovation, and global justice.

🔗 Learn more about this impactful conference: https://refugeesociety.org/refugee-health-conference/

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Leading with Innovation and Compassion 🧠🌱
Barry University faculty are helping shape the future of mental and behavioral healthcare.

Dr. Paul Czerwonka (Nurse Anesthesiology) and Dr. Eva Nowakowski-Sims (Social Work) were selected to join the University Psychedelic Education Program (U-PEP)—a national initiative preparing educators to train future clinicians in the ethical, evidence-based use of psychedelic-assisted therapies.

U-PEP brought together 63 fellows from 30 universities to explore how treatments like psilocybin-assisted therapy can support healing for PTSD, addiction, depression, and more.

Their participation reflects Barry School of Social Work’s commitment to interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and socially responsive education that empowers graduates to lead in emerging fields of care.

📍 Read more in our latest blog.
🔗 https://blog.barry.edu/2025/06/23/pioneering-the-future-of-patient-care-barry-university-faculty-join-national-psychedelic-therapy-education-initiative/

🎧 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jennifer Williams on the Crackin’ Backs Podcast
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What happens when clinical expertise meets deep intuition and lived experience?⁠
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Barry University School of Social Work Associate Professor Dr. Jennifer Williams recently joined the Crackin’ Backs Podcast to share her unique path as a trauma therapist, educator, and integrative healer.⁠
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In this powerful conversation, Dr. Williams explores:⁠

🔹 How nervous system regulation and presence enhance trauma treatment⁠

🔹 The intersection of neurobiology, energy healing, and lived experience⁠

🔹 Why she believes healing requires both science and soul⁠

🔹 Her journey from clinical frameworks to deeply personal transformation⁠
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Dr. Williams’ work challenges us to expand how we think about healing—rooted in trauma-informed practice, guided by evidence, and open to the full complexity of the human experience.⁠
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🎧 Listen now on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform: Crackin’ Backs Podcast – Episode with Dr. Jennifer Williams

https://youtu.be/0p0fTx_9S2U?si=d1BdG9X-tcGLfb8F⁠

📚 Interested in learning from faculty like Dr. Williams? Explore our trauma-informed MSW and DSW programs—where science, soul, and social justice meet.

🔗 Learn more about our programs and faculty:
https://www.barry.edu/en/academics/social-work/⁠

🎓✨ DSW Alum Spotlight ✨🎓

Proud to celebrate a powerful milestone from one of our own — Dr. Laura Reinman, DSW Class of 2024, has just published her capstone in a peer-reviewed journal! 🖊️📚

Her article, Transforming Embodied Racism to Embodied Resilience: Recommendations for Collective Healing Among Black Justice-Involved Males Held in Residential Placements, is a must-read for anyone passionate about trauma-informed care, racial justice, and healing-centered practice.

This important work offers bold, evidence-based pathways toward collective healing and resilience within one of our most vulnerable and underserved communities.

💡 Read it here:
https://www.tandfonline.com/share/BPQDQXMCYZPXC9JPPSJZ?target=10.1080/0735648X.2025.2492754

Congratulations, Dr. Reinman! 🖤👏

🎓 “From the moment I started the program, I knew I was in the right place.” – Sheila Nevers, MSW ‘25

Sheila’s story reflects why so many students choose Barry University’s School of Social Work. From our trauma-informed, neurobiologically grounded curriculum to our deep faculty mentorship and real-world community connections, students find more than just a degree—they find purpose, support, and a path to meaningful change.

Why do students choose Barry for their MSW?
✔️ Trauma-informed curriculum rooted in the latest neurobiology
✔️ Faculty who are mentors, advocates, and seasoned practitioners
✔️ Strong reputation throughout South Florida’s clinical and community networks

To learn more about Sheila’s experience as a recent graduate, click the link below.

https://blog.barry.edu/2025/05/14/a-journey-of-resilience-sheila-nevers-path-to-msw-graduate-future-changemaker-in-law/