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
12/19
Centering joy in AI development and implementation
PIK Professor Desmond Upton Patton and collaborators introduce a joy-informed framework designed to initiate conversations among engineers, designers, and researchers.
News
Faculty & Research
12/18
SP2 faculty, students, and alumni recognized at ARNOVA 2025 Annual Conference
SP2 celebrates the achievements of its faculty, students, and alumni recognized at the 2025 Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) Annual Conference, held November 20 – 23 in Indianapolis, IN.
News
Faculty & Research
12/11
SP2’s Dr. Desmond Patton named to AASWSW Class of 2026
Dr. Desmond Upton Patton has been selected to join the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Class of 2026 Fellows.