Sunday, December 18, 2016

Congratulations December 2016 MSW MPH Graduates!

Sylvia Ayieko, MSW, MPH (December ’16). Ms. Ayieko graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior. Additionally, Ms. Ayieko was an HRSA grant recipient and graduated with a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Ms. Ayieko completed an integrated field placement at Bethany Christian Services in Athens, GA. While at Bethany Christian Services she provided health services by training foster parents concerning trauma and worked with children with behavioral problems.

Ms. Ayieko looks forward to working with non-profit organizations in Eastern and Central Africa. 

View Ms. Ayieko’s LinkedIn Profile. 


Ashley Bowman, MSW, MPH (December ’16). Ms. Bowman graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior. Additionally, Ms. Bowman graduated with a certificate in Disaster Management.

Ms. Bowman completed an integrated field placement at Stepping Stones to Recovery in Augusta, GA. 

Ms. Bowman currently works as a Behavioral Health Provider. She provides persons, families and vulnerable populations with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses and physical or developmental disabilities. Other responsibilities include patient education and counseling, advising caregivers and making necessary referrals for other social services.

View Ms. Bowman’s LinkedIn Profile.  


Lisa Foster, MSW, MPH, CHES (December ’16). Ms. Foster graduated with an MSW with a concentration in Community Empowerment and Program Development, an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior and a certificate in Nonprofit Management.

Ms. Foster completed an integrated field placement at the JonCaring Foundation in Lebanon, Ghana and an integrated field placement at AIDS Athens in Athens, GA. At both organizations she gained experience providing HIV testing and counseling, sexual health education, and supplemental case management.

Ms. Foster will be working as a Clinical Specialist at Triad Health Project in Greensboro, NC. She will be providing supportive services and coordination of care to people living with HIV/AIDS. 

Ms. Foster is a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. 

View Ms. Foster’s LinkedIn Profile

Rachel Harwell, MSW, MPH (December ’16). Ms. Harwell graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior.

Ms. Harwell completed an integrated field placement at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA.

View Ms. Harwell’s LinkedIn Profile

Amber Hill, MSW, MPH (December ’16). Ms. Hill graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior.

Ms. Hill completed an integrated field placement at Piedmont Athens Regional in Athens, GA. While at Piedmont, she utilized interpersonal skills, effective and appropriate communication, negotiation and conflict management skills, creative problem solving, and critical thinking in order to apply social work expertise to navigate the healthcare system and foster patient-centered communication with all stakeholders. Additionally, she learned to accurately assess a patient's social, physical, economic, and cultural environment in order to utilize available strengths and resources when creating a feasible and safe discharge plan. 

After graduation, Ms. Hill will join the Case Management Staff at Piedmont Athens Regional. Ms. Hill looks forward to developing her social work skills and supporting multi-disciplinary collaborations in this position, as Piedmont moves toward a more integrated, patient-centered care model.

View Ms. Hill’s LinkedIn Profile

Julia Packer, MSW, MPH, LMSW (December ’16). Ms. Packer graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior. Ms. Packer was an HRSA grant recipient, allowing her to receive education specific to treating children, adolescents and transitional-age youth at risk of developing or who have developed a recognized behavioral health disorder.

Ms. Packer completed an integrated field placement at Hillside Inc. in Atlanta, GA where she worked in the Community Intervention Program. While at Hillside she worked with children and adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral health disorders who had been discharged from residential treatment, as well as youth in the foster care system. Ms. Packer researched satisfaction surveys, the effectiveness of community based mental health services and stability of treatment foster care homes. Additionally, Ms. Packer provided in home mental health services to promote family preservation and maintaining stability in the community after hospitalizations.

After graduation, Ms. Packer will work at Hillside Inc. as a Clinical Specialist. She will be providing intensive in-home treatment and support services to families in which there is a risk for out-of-home placement of children. Ms. Packer will be working primarily with the Intensive Family Intervention program and the Promoting Safe and Stable Families grant-funded program.

View Ms. Packer's LinkedIn Profile

Jessica Parker, MSW, MPH, LMSW, CHES (December ’16). Ms. Parker graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior.

Ms. Parker completed an integrated field placement at the Samaritan Center for Counseling and Wellness, where she provided individual therapy, co-facilitated a DBT group, conducted intake assessments, collaboratively constructed treatment plans with clients, gathered epidemiological data and information regarding social determinants of health to inform the creation of a strategic plan, and applied for grant funding for the organization. Additionally, she developed a client satisfaction survey shaped directly by client’s feedback, designed promotional materials for fundraising events, and attended outreach events on behalf of the organization.

Ms. Parker looks forward to utilizing a transdisciplinary perspective to develop and implement creative ways to promote mental health and wellbeing at both the community and individual levels through preventative education, resource coordination, and therapeutic interventions.

Ms. Parker is a Licensed Master Social Worker.  Ms. Parker is also a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

View Ms. Parker’s LinkedIn Profile

Carolyn Robinson, MSW, MPH (December ’16). Ms. Robinson graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior.

Ms. Robinson completed an integrated field placement at Grady Behavioral Health in Atlanta, GA.

Ms. Robinson looks forward to working for the Georgia Department of Public Health as a Healthcare Program Consultant where she will evaluate measures for the state childhood obesity initiative. She will also evaluate work site wellness programs within the Georgia Department of Public Health.  

View Ms. Robinson’s LinkedIn Profile

Elaina Schreckenberger, MSW, MPH (December ’16). Ms. Schreckenberger graduated with an MSW with a Community Empowerment and Program Development concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior. Additionally, Ms. Schreckenberger graduated with a certificate in Global Health.

Ms. Schreckenberger completed an integrated field placement at Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Services in Atlanta, GA. While at Catholic Charities, Ms. Schreckenberger created a Mental Health Awareness Workshop for clients and developed instruments that can be used to evaluate their mental health in a way that can keep the conversation between client and case worker open.

Ms. Schreckenberger looks forward to utilizing both MSW and MPH in a way that she can work with clients and communities to ensure their needs are met to benefit their health and that they are able to reach self-sustainability and self-sufficiency. 

View Ms. Schreckenberger’s LinkedIn Profile

Tyler Smith, MSW, MPH (December ’16). Mr. Smith graduated with an MSW with a Clinical Practice concentration and an MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior. Additionally, Mr. Smith was an HRSA grant recipient.

Mr. Smith completed a integrated field placements at SummitRidge Hospital in Lawrenceville, GA and at Advantage Behavioral Health in Athens, GA.

View Mr. Smith’s LinkedIn Profile



Monday, December 12, 2016

Congratulations Devan Gardner on CHES Certification!

Devan Gardner, MPH-Health Promotion and Behavior/MSW-Clinical student recently passed the CHES certification exam and is now a recognized Certified Health Education Specialist. The national, competency-based exam is a great tool to build up your resume and show future employers you meet standards in knowledge and application of public health promotion and education key concepts. For more information about taking the CHES/MCHES exam, please visit: http://www.nchec.org/ches

Friday, December 9, 2016

Alumni Update: Mumbi Mwaura, LMSW, MPH (Dec '14) new UGA School of Social Work graduate recruitment and continuing education coordinator

Mumbi Mwaura, LMSW, MPH, has accepted a new position as graduate recruitment and continuing education coordinator at the School of Social Work at The University of Georgia, beginning January 2017. Prior to this appointment, Mumbi was a Graduate Recruiter at The University of Georgia Graduate School. 

Mumbi notes, "My degrees will help me understand the needs of current practitioners in terms of continuing education as well as recognizing the value of the interdisciplinary approaches to addressing social problems. I look forward to helping recruit future students in the School who will be the forces of change in our communities." 

Congratulations Mumbi, we look forward to working with you!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Ten MSW MPH students presented at MPH Poster Day

The MSW MPH program was well-represented at MPH Poster Day on December 6, 2016. Ten MSW MPH students presented their capstone work. Pictured from left to right are Tyler Smith, Elaina Schreckenberger, Sylvia Ayieko, Rachel Harwell, Amber Hill, Ashley Bowman, Carolyn Robinson, Jessica Parker, Julia Packer, and Lisa Foster. Congratulations!

Monday, December 5, 2016

Alumna Joelle Pettus published in Journal of Women's Health

Congratulations to UGA MSW MPH alumna, Joelle Pettus (May '15), for being published in the Journal of Women's Health! Read the article.