News & Press

How extreme heat affects the economy

R. Jisung Park, an environmental and labor economist at the School of Social Policy & Practice, discusses climate change and the impact of extreme heat…

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Leading with a social work lens: A Q&A with Kimberly Browne, MSW’06

Kimberly Browne, MSW alumna and Vice President of Patient and Family Services at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, reflects on her SP2 experience, the moments that…

Read More Leading with a social work lens: A Q&A with Kimberly Browne, MSW’06

Dr. Abigail Ross named SP2 Master of Social Work faculty director

Associate Professor Abigail M. Ross has been appointed faculty director of the Master of Social Work program at SP2, effective July 1, 2026.

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Economic scholar Ioana Marinescu promoted to full professor at SP2

Dr. Ioana Marinescu, a leading economist studying labor markets, antitrust, and AI, has been promoted to full professor at SP2, effective July 1, 2026.

Read More Economic scholar Ioana Marinescu promoted to full professor at SP2

SP2 announces “Technology for Good” as One Book selection

Penn's School of Social Policy & Practice has selected "Technology for Good" by Jim Fruchterman as its 2026–2027 One Book, One SP2 selection.

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SP2 master’s programs celebrate partnerships & student impact

SP2 held its third annual Celebrating Partnerships and Student Impact event on May 14, honoring master's students and community partners across the Greater Philadelphia area.

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SP2 honors five accomplished alumni at 2026 Hall of Fame ceremony

The University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy & Practice celebrated five distinguished alumni at its 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony on May 17.

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SP2 congratulates 2026 award winners

Penn's School of Social Policy & Practice recognized outstanding student and faculty achievements at its 2026 Commencement ceremony on May 16.

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Leading with Purpose: A Q&A with Aldustus (A.J.) Jordan, MSW’00

Aldustus (A.J.) Jordan, MSW'00, president of the Vanguard Group Foundation, reflects on how SP2's values-driven education shaped his community-centered leadership.

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Voting is linked to living longer

A new study co-authored by SP2's Femida Handy shows that among older adults, voting is associated with reduced mortality risk for up to 15 years.

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Equipping Students and Nonprofits for Impact: A Q&A with Dr. ChiaKo Hung

Assistant Professor Dr. ChiaKo Hung discusses data-driven approaches in nonprofit financial management and philanthropy, and how he equips students with practical career skills.

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SP2 launches social work affiliate program with HUP and CHOP

Penn's SP2, in partnership with HUP and CHOP, has launched a first-of-its-kind social work affiliate program connecting hospital social workers with academic research and professional…

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Homelessness Declined in 2024, According to Delayed Federal Report 

Dr. Dennis Culhane was featured in The New York Times, which covered new federal data showing a national decline in homelessness in 2024, providing critical context, noting…

nytimes.com Homelessness Declined in 2024, According to Delayed Federal Report 

Can voting make you live longer? This Penn researcher found health benefits in civic engagement 

Dr. Femida Handy was featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer for research finding that older adults who vote have a lower risk of mortality over time,…

inquirer.com Can voting make you live longer? This Penn researcher found health benefits in civic engagement 

There Are More Shelter Beds Than Ever. It’s Not Enough. 

Dr. Dennis Culhane was featured in The New York Times discussing the growing demand for emergency shelter beds and the ongoing challenges of addressing homelessness…

nytimes.com There Are More Shelter Beds Than Ever. It’s Not Enough. 

Verdicts against Meta, YouTube spur new momentum for kids online safety push 

Dr. Desmond Patton was recently featured in The Hill, where he discussed the growing push to hold social media companies accountable for their impact on…

thehill.com Verdicts against Meta, YouTube spur new momentum for kids online safety push 

Older Americans who vote live longer than those who don’t – new research 

Dr. Femida Handy co-authored an article in The Conversation examining how civic engagement and voting may support healthier aging and lower mortality risk among older…

theconversation.com Older Americans who vote live longer than those who don’t – new research 

Will AI widen inequality between workers?

Dr. Ioana Marinescu was recently featured in the Financial Times, discussing how AI is reshaping the workforce and warning that today’s advantages for higher-paid workers…

ft.com Will AI widen inequality between workers?

This Philly-area school district is standing by its decision not to take phones away from kids 

Dr. Desmond Patton was featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer, sharing his perspective on the growing debate around cell phone use in schools. 

inquirer.com This Philly-area school district is standing by its decision not to take phones away from kids 

NY won’t ask gun permit applicants for social media under court settlement 

Dr. Desmond Patton was featured in Gothamist, where he discussed the risks of using social media in gun permit decisions and cautioned against surveillance-based approaches…

gothamist.com NY won’t ask gun permit applicants for social media under court settlement 

AI could shrink paychecks but stretch them further, a Yale economics professor says 

In Business Insider, Dr. Ioana Marinescu shares that wages could decline as AI automates a growing share of “intelligence” tasks, highlighting a key tipping point…

businessinsider.com AI could shrink paychecks but stretch them further, a Yale economics professor says 

Social Media Fuels Community Violence. Prevention Needs an Upgrade. 

A piece co-authored by Dr. Desmond Patton examines how social media can accelerate community violence and calls for more community-centered approaches to preventing online conflicts…

techpolicy.press Social Media Fuels Community Violence. Prevention Needs an Upgrade. 

OpenAI’s spin on universal basic income 

Dr. Ioana Marinescu was featured in POLITICO, where she discussed emerging ideas around “universal basic capital” and the challenges of ensuring people benefit equitably from…

politico.com OpenAI’s spin on universal basic income 

The Trump Administration’s War on Data Has Fresh Casualties 

Dr. Dennis Culhane was featured in The New Republic discussing how federal restructuring and data reductions could undermine critical research infrastructure and limit the evidence…

newrepublic.com The Trump Administration’s War on Data Has Fresh Casualties