University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice

to SP2 Alumni Weekend!

Last month, our SP2 community came together for a weekend of celebration and recognition. We kicked things off at the SP2 Alumni Reception, where alumni, faculty, staff, and students gathered to reconnect and celebrate all things SP2.

The weekend also honored five outstanding alumni, nominated by their peers and inducted into the Hall of Fame for their profound impact on their fields.

We closed out the festivities at the annual SP2 Jazz Brunch, gathering in the courtyard to enjoy great food, drinks, and live music from a jazz quartet.

Thank you to all who returned to campus to celebrate ✨

"There is not a single thing around you that was not first started in the human imagination. And so I challenge you to think bigger, bolder, and better."

Thank you to our Commencement speaker, Dr. Shadrack Osei Frimpong (NPL'19), for inspiring our graduates at SP2’s May 16 ceremony.

Incoming students, you’re invited to get a head start on your SP2 experience!

Join us this summer for virtual and on-campus events designed to help you feel prepared and connected. You can:
• Meet faculty, program directors, and advisors
• Learn about academics, advising, and practicum opportunities
• Get guidance on financial planning
• Build community with your incoming cohort

🗓 Events take place throughout June, July, and August
🔗 Register now with your application credentials:
https://apply.sp2.upenn.edu/account/login?r=https%3a%2f%2fapply.sp2.upenn.edu%2fportal%2fsummer_event_reg

Still not over it 🎓✨
Check out more moments from SP2 Commencement at https://www.flickr.com/photos/pennsp2/albums/72177720333919078

recently celebrated five distinguished alumni at the 2026 SP2 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 🏆🎉

MSW: Elena Marie DiLapi, MSW’77
NPL: Ling Wang, NPL’10
MSSP: Daniel Schiff, MSSP’13
DSW: Kathryn (Kaye) Smith Pyle, DSW’78
PhD: Julie Tennille, PhD’13

The event marked the eighth year that the School has honored alumni through the SP2 Hall of Fame. Read more about the event and our inductees at https://sp2.upenn.edu/2026-hall-of-fame-ceremony/

Each year, SP2's Excellence in Teaching Awards recognize members of our standing and non-standing faculty who go above and beyond in shaping the next generation of leaders in social work, social policy, and nonprofit management.

At our 2026 Commencement ceremony on May 16 at the Palestra, Dean Sara S. Bachman honored this year’s recipients:

Full-time faculty
✨ Allison Werner-Lin, PhD, LCSW
✨ Kim McKay, PhD, LSW

Part-time lecturers
✨ Meredith Myers, PhD
✨ Reggie Jones, LCSW, MSS, MLSP

Please join us in congratulating these educators for their dedication, impact, and commitment to our students’ success.

Read more about the awardees: https://sp2.upenn.edu/sp2-2026-award-winners/

🎉 Congratulations to SP2 PhD candidate Becca Pepe on her upcoming Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health!

This fall, Becca will join the Department of Health Policy and Management as part of the Housing & Health Collaborative, working under the supervision of Dr. Craig Pollack. Her work will focus on understanding how housing quality, affordability, and neighborhood context shape both individual and population health outcomes.

Becca’s research centers on the burden of unaffordable utility bills, specifically access to safe, reliable, and affordable running water. She examines how policies can better support low-income households, how families navigate water service disconnections, and the broader health impacts of water insecurity.

“My path into housing and health work has been far from linear, which makes this opportunity especially meaningful,” Becca shares. “I am eager to collaborate with national experts, apply what I’ve learned in the PhD program, and engage further in research to improve access to safe and healthy homes.”

👏 Congratulations, Becca!

Can voting make you live longer? SP2's Dr. Femida Handy found health benefits in civic engagement. Read more about her research in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Older adults who voted had a lower risk of dying than those who didn’t — even fifteen years later. Voting could be connected to a sense of purpose, community, and care for others around you. 🔗: https://ebx.sh/6sBvsJ

Today is your last chance to order from the SP2 Pop Shop! Show your hashtag pride 👇

Show your SP2 pride!

The Popshop is live with merch curated just for our community—available for a limited time only. 🛍️ Sale runs through 5/20: https://pennsp2.ccbrands.com