Florida State University College of Social Work

⭐️ Kimberly White is our Instructor of the Year!

Kimberly is both a two-time graduate (BSW ’98, MSW ’03) and adjunct instructor with the College of Social Work who works with the Online MSW Program. Her nominator wrote, “I specifically sought her out for both my family counseling and clinical practice classes because I deeply value her teaching style.”

Her nominator added, “She has a remarkable ability to put students at ease and build rapport quickly, creating a safe and supportive environment where open discussion feels natural. It is clear she has a genuine passion for the subjects she teaches, which resonates strongly with her students.”

⭐️ Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Jacobson is our Field Educator of the Year!

Lt. Col. Jacobson with the United States Air Force Mental Health Clinic, who is a forensic neuropsychologist and a field educator for the college’s online MSW program. His student nominator wrote, “Through this internship placement, I have learned more than I ever anticipated and much of that is due to his dedication and intentional guidance.”

The nominator went on to say, “His experience working with service members, trauma, neuropsychology, and medical management has been incredibly insightful. At the same time, he has remained grounded in social work ethics…His mentorship had a lasting impact on my professional identity and I am grateful for the role he has played in my development.”

Graduation Highlight! 🎓💫

Here are a few more of our fantastic students graduating tomorrow:
- Maritza Marrero, BSW
- Marcia Hently, MSW
- Terra Kingston, BSW
- Andrea Jackson, MSW
- Leidy N. Lantigua Ogando, MSW
- Tara Gray, MSW/MS in Criminology
- Stacylove Deravice, MSW
- Jeana Louis, MSW
- Wyatt Chandler, BSW
- Professor Greil-Burkhart's Advanced Seminar MSW students: Alyssa Balliett, Darby Brown, Artemis Dove, Eva Galindo, Gabriel Gomez, Tara Gray, Katheryn Miller, Evelyn Mizrahi, Claire Nicola, Selena Ortiz, Sophia Powers, Lauren Presnell, Presley Smith

⭐️ Gabrielle Lynn Brandon is our Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies Director’s Award recipient!

Gabrielle Lynn Brandon (BSW ’26) was honored with the director’s award, which recognizes a student who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership in the work that advances the institute’s mission. Gabby worked diligently on multiple projects promoting safety, resilience, and well-being for children and families, including playing key roles in the institute’s social media and marketing efforts, helping extend the reach of the institute's research to broader audiences.

She made important updates to the Student Resilience Project, worked on supervised visitation training, and fearlessly engaged in campus outreach, earning the title of the institute's “go-to extrovert.” She graduated in the spring semester and will start the MSW Program in the fall of 2026.

[UPDATED: Open until 8/30] Our summer webstore is now open! 👕❤️💛 We added fresh designs and new items to the collection, including women's fit tees.

🛒 Delivery only
📅 Order by August 9̶t̶h̶ 30th
📦 Items will ship after the store closes

Order here: bit.ly/fsucswSU26

Doctoral candidate Sanoop Valappanandi was awarded a fellowship from the Grand Challenges for Social Work program this year, which allows him to further his research into futures thinking and climate change.

Sanoop will expand on a pilot project that used art, storytelling and collaborative activities to engage fishing communities in Kerala, India, in exploring possible long-term futures for their communities. https://bit.ly/3TXtRh3

⭐️ Beren Crim Sabuncu is the recipient of the 2026 Dianne F. Harrison Doctoral Scholarship!

Crim received the scholarship for the best dissertation prospectus, which was read and reviewed by the Doctoral Program Committee for her prospectus titled, “All illnesses are metaphors: Intimate partner violence, SAVA syndemic and ART adherence among men who have s*x with men aged fifty and older.”

She is an adjunct instructor with the college and serves as a research assistant with the FSU Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment. Her research explores the interplay between social determinants and health outcomes, focusing on trauma etiology within vulnerable populations such as older adults and adults living with HIV/AIDs and s*xual minorities.

⭐️ Lauren Herod is our Doctoral Student of the Year!

Lauren is a social work doctoral student and a two-time FSU graduate (BSW ’15, MSW/MPA ’21). She holds an impressive record for scholarly productivity. Just in the past year, she has had a peer-reviewed publication, two manuscripts in the revise-and-resubmit phase and one non-peer-reviewed publication, along with five papers presented at national conferences. Lauren is pursuing a graduate certificate in measurement and statistics. She is also a guest reviewer for the Clinical Social Work Journal.

Her nominators described her as “a vital member and leader of our research team in the past year, and her contributions and dedication go well above what I would expect from a current doctoral student.”

Graduation Highlight! 🎓💫

Here are a few more incredible summer 2026 graduates:
- Logan Smedley, MSW
- McKenna Ramos, BSW
- Amber Hafner, MSW
- Claire Sciandra and Presley Smith, MSW
- Alyssa Perez. MSW
- Eva Galindo, MSW
- Astrid Carolina Muñoz, MSW