Staff News

The IMPACT Awards honor outstanding students, faculty, staff, groups and student organizations who have demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing our community and advancing the School’s mission.

IMPACT Awards 2025 Recipients

Student Impact Award: Daniella Acosta

Daniella Acosta is an MSW student on the Management and Leadership Pathway, a Flourish office student learner, the SSW Student Government Association In-Person Representative, a member of the Global Scholars Program and the Student Engagement Coordinator at the Center for Campus Involvement.

Acosta is dedicated to creating positive change and fostering inclusivity within diverse communities and proactively seeks opportunities to engage with underrepresented groups. She helped co-create the SSW Student Government Advocacy Committee, amplifying the voices of diverse students. She regularly pursues research opportunities to drive meaningful change and has a passion for practical solutions that directly benefit marginalized communities. Her ability to connect with people from all backgrounds and her commitment to listening and learning have made her a trusted leader in programming efforts. 

Staff Impact Award: Cerise Carrington

As Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Cerise Carrington consistently goes above and beyond her job responsibilities to ensure all students are supported and educated about financial aid and have opportunities to succeed. Her role in hosting webinars on financial aid addresses an often overlooked aspect of student equity—access to financial resources. Additionally, she supports the School’s Association of Black Social Work student organization and plays a crucial role in the school’s relationship with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to ensure our student body is diverse and helps create pathways for students to come to the MSW program. 

Her impact goes far beyond Ann Arbor. She also works with the Office of Global Activities and will serve as a co-lead for the upcoming Global Extension trip to Ghana. Grounded in the principles of cross-cultural understanding and social justice, this project aims to cultivate a deeper awareness of the African diaspora while equipping students with the tools to become culturally responsive therapists and community organizers.

Faculty Impact Award: Ashley Cureton

Ashley Cureton is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan. Cureton explores the educational and mental health needs and outcomes of refugee and migrant children and youth and their families. She seeks to understand how displacement and exploitation impact their overall academic and social development, sense of belonging and cultural identity. 

In addition, Cureton integrates her talents in theater and her passion for travel into her work, using her skills to creatively push social change and bring fresh perspectives to complex issues. Her commitment to using diverse approaches makes a difference and has a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the broader community.

Group Impact Award: Student Government Association Advocacy Committee

The School of Social Work Student Government Association Advocacy Committee has demonstrated exceptional leadership in taking a stand for justice, equality and the protection of vulnerable populations. Their work includes organizing a Know Your Rights event (in collaboration with the SSW Flourish office), which offered essential information and resources to immigrants and refugees on campus. This event provided attendees with the knowledge to navigate legal challenges and protect their rights. Additionally, the committee organized a letter-writing campaign, mobilizing students and community members to advocate for policies important to them. This grassroots initiative provided an effective platform for individuals to directly engage with policymakers, showing the collective power of their voices in the fight for justice. 

Beyond these events, the Advocacy Committee has worked closely with the administration to collaborate on important initiatives that ensure a safe and supportive environment for immigrant and refugee communities. Through strategic dialogue and collaboration, they have helped shape inclusivity, support and protection for these populations on campus.

Research Area Specialist Intermediate Meghan Harrington has received a 2025 Research Study Coordinator Award from U-M’s Office of the Vice President for Research. This award honors staff members for important contributions to the university’s research mission through exceptional performance, and by going beyond the ordinary fulfillment of position duties.  Harrington will receive the award at a reception in May.

MSW Student Career Services Director Michelle Woods is a coauthor of “The Social Work Career Guidebook: How to Land Your Ideal Job and Build a Legacy.” The book encourages readers to take a long view of their career and provides tools and inspiration for every stage of their social work career journey.

Dean Emerita Paula Allen-Meares, Professor Rogério Pinto and Assistant Director of Operations Jerome Rork spoke with Concentrate in a feature article about the School’s art collection, which includes works from Diane Arbus, Sam Gilliam, Keith Haring and Robert Rauschenberg.

ENGAGE Program Manager Fatima Salman, MSW ’15, has been appointed Vice President of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Previously, Salman was president of the NASW Michigan Chapter and chair of the NASW Council of Chapter Presidents.

“I am excited to step into the role of vice president of this very critical organization that serves all social workers in the country,” said Salman. “I look forward to bringing my diverse background and strong skill sets to this organization and hope to be an asset as we champion social justice and empower social workers. I also am happy to be able to represent the University of Michigan School of Social Work —the top social work school in the country — in this national role.”

Academic Program Analyst Jason Harrison and Field Education Coordinator Talia Ingham received the 2024 Colleen Karim Staff Excellence Award. This award recognizes staff members who accomplish exceptional performance and achievements in their job role, going above and beyond in their day-to-day efforts, championing and supporting the work of others, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

ENGAGE Strategist Sonia Harb has been appointed board chair of the Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) in January 2024. MLPP is a nonpartisan policy institute that addresses poverty and analyzes the impact of state and federal budgets and policies on residents with low incomes. “Engaging community and supporting grassroots advocacy is near and dear to my heart and the work the League is doing in that space is transformative,” she said.

Research Fellow Greer Hamilton, PhD ’23, has been selected as an Agent of Change Fellow. Sponsored by the Environmental Health News and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the program is designed to empower emerging leaders from historically excluded backgrounds in science and academia to reimagine solutions for a just and healthy planet.