School Updates
Molly Allwein, director of professional and continuing education, was the recipient of Vitamin C Healing’s 2023 S.W.A.G. (Social Worker Appreciation of Greatness) Changemaker Award.
The 2023 S.W.A.G. awardees included several Pitt Social Work alumni, including Assistant Professor and Director of Community Engagement Aliya Durham.
Shaun Eack, professor and James and Noel Browne Endowed Chair, won the Gerard E. Hogarty Excellence in Schizophrenia Research Memorial Award, presented at the 40th Annual Pittsburgh Schizophrenia Conference in November 2023.
Stephanie Eckstrom, MSW regional program director at University of Pittsburgh Bradford, was awarded the 2023 Gateway to Equity Award from the Bradford branch of AAUW.
Ron Idoko, associate director of the Center on Race and Social Problems and founding director of the Racial Equity Consciousness Institute, received the 2023 University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Staff Award for Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Idoko also was recognized as a Social Justice Advocate during the 2023 K. Leroy Irvis Black History Month celebration at Pitt and received a 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference UNITE Award.
Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator Leah Mafrica was recognized by the Pitt Social Work Office of the Dean as the inaugural recipient of the Excellence in Service Award.
Associate Professor Mary Ohmer is the vice president of the Society for Social Work and Research.
Michael Schrecengost, business and personnel manager for the Child Welfare Education and Research Programs, and Megan Soltesz, director of administration, were both honored for 20 years of service at the University of Pittsburgh.