Student Organizations
Harness your passions, connect with peers, and build your community.
Student organizations at the School of Social Policy & Practice provide a world of opportunity for students to expand and enhance their SP2 experience through advocacy, service, and practice. They are also a hub for social and educational activities that span the entire Penn community.
All students who support a group are welcome to join.
SP2 Student Government
The student governance organization responsible for funding many SP2 organizations and events.
ASIAN CULINARY CULTURE CLUB
Offering a captivating journey into the world of Asian culinary traditions.
Association of Black Social Workers
Committed to empowering people of African ancestry and enhancing their quality of life through advocacy, service delivery, and research.
AsW COLLECTIVE
Provides a space for SP2’s Asian American-, Native Hawaiian-, and Pacific Islander-identifying students to find community and pursue professional development opportunities.
STUDENTS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY
Social advocacy to support people impacted by the criminal-legal system and to elicit lasting systemic change.
Youth Advocacy Project
The Youth Advocacy Project (YAP) brings together social work and law students to support young people charged as adults in the Philadelphia area.
Interested in Starting Your Own Group?
SP2 students can also start their own affinity or interest group. If you’re interested in starting a new student group, complete this form. Please note that to start a student group you need to have at least a chair, a finance chair, and a faculty/staff advisor. If you have additional questions, email sp2studentlife@sp2.upenn.edu.
Reserve a Room for Meetings
To reserve a room in the Caster Building (including the Lobby area), McNeil Building, or 3815 Walnut, please review the information and fill out the form on this page.
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE A ROOM AT THE GRADUATE STUDENT CENTER >
Get Involved at Penn
SP2 students are encouraged to get involved in graduate life outside of SP2 to broaden their experience and connect with graduate students in other schools.
News
Faculty & Research
03/27
SP2 launches social work affiliate program with HUP and CHOP
Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), in an innovative partnership with the Departments of Social Work at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has established a first-of-its-kind social work affiliate program.
News
Student Life
03/27
SP2 announces alumnus Dr. Shadrack Osei Frimpong as 2026 commencement speaker
Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) has announced that SP2 alumnus Dr. Shadrack Osei Frimpong, NPL’19, a global health leader and scholar whose work focuses on occupational neurology, will deliver the School’s 2026 Commencement speech on May 16.
News
Alumni
03/24
Building pathways to opportunity: A Q&A with Lori Margolin, MSW’82
In this Q&A, MSW graduate Lori Margolin reflects on what drew her to SP2’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program, the accomplishments she’s most proud of, and what she looks forward to in the next chapter of her work.