News & Press

SP2 announces alumnus Dr. Shadrack Osei Frimpong as 2026 commencement speaker

SP2 alumnus Dr. Shadrack Osei Frimpong, NPL'19, a global health leader focused on occupational neurology, will deliver the School's 2026 Commencement address on May 16.

Read More SP2 announces alumnus Dr. Shadrack Osei Frimpong as 2026 commencement speaker

Building pathways to opportunity: A Q&A with Lori Margolin, MSW’82

Lori Margolin, MSW'82, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Hudson County Community College, reflects on how her SP2 education shaped a versatile career across government,…

Read More Building pathways to opportunity: A Q&A with Lori Margolin, MSW’82

Shaping the next generation of social workers: A Q&A with Julie Cederbaum, PhD’09

Julie Cederbaum, PhD'09, now a professor at USC, reflects on how SP2's interdisciplinary graduate group model and lasting peer relationships shaped her career as a…

Read More Shaping the next generation of social workers: A Q&A with Julie Cederbaum, PhD’09

SP2 and CHOP launch National Consortium of Pediatric Health Care Social Work Leadership

SP2 and CHOP launch the National Consortium of Pediatric Health Care Social Work Leadership, a new academic-community partnership uniting pediatric social work leaders nationwide.

Read More SP2 and CHOP launch National Consortium of Pediatric Health Care Social Work Leadership

Shaping the future of responsible AI: A Q&A with Daniel S. Schiff, MSSP’13

Daniel S. Schiff, MSSP'13, now an assistant professor and co-director of the Governance and Responsible AI Lab at Purdue University, reflects on how SP2 shaped…

Read More Shaping the future of responsible AI: A Q&A with Daniel S. Schiff, MSSP’13

Blending empathy & analytics: A Q&A with MSSP+DA student Nature Hu

MSSP+DA student Nature Hu discusses how SP2 taught her to blend empathy with data analysis, connecting individual stories to systemic policy change.

Read More Blending empathy & analytics: A Q&A with MSSP+DA student Nature Hu

How markets can help society adapt to climate change 

When carefully designed and supported by thoughtful public policy, markets can play a meaningful role in helping communities effectively and efficiently manage the risks of…

Read More How markets can help society adapt to climate change 

Alice Xu receives Best Dissertation Award from American Political Science Association

Dr. Alice Xu, assistant professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), has received the 2025 Mancur Olson Best Dissertation Award by the American…

Read More Alice Xu receives Best Dissertation Award from American Political Science Association

Planning ahead in an age of longevity

Tamara J. Cadet of the School of Social Policy & Practice discusses strategies for preparing—financially and physically— for an extended lifespan.

Read More Planning ahead in an age of longevity

SP2 at SSWR 2026: Leading for Transformative Change

Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) is proud to participate in the 30th Annual Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference, taking place January 14…

Read More SP2 at SSWR 2026: Leading for Transformative Change

Centering joy in AI development and implementation

PIK Professor Desmond Upton Patton—of Annenberg and SP2—and collaborators introduce a joy-informed framework designed to initiate conversations among engineers, designers, and researchers.

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SP2 faculty, students, and alumni recognized at ARNOVA 2025 Annual Conference

Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) celebrates the achievements of its faculty, students, and alumni recognized at the 2025 Association for Research on…

Read More SP2 faculty, students, and alumni recognized at ARNOVA 2025 Annual Conference

Musk’s fantasy for a future where work is optional just got more real: U.K. minister calls for universal basic income to cushion AI-related job losses 

In Fortune, Dr. Ioana Marinescu discusses how universal basic income could cushion AI-driven job disruption while warning that AI may also deepen economic inequality. 

fortune.com Musk’s fantasy for a future where work is optional just got more real: U.K. minister calls for universal basic income to cushion AI-related job losses 

Homelessness Appears to Decline, Reversing a Yearslong Trend

Dr. Dennis Culhane was cited by The New York Times for his expert review of data suggesting homelessness declined nationwide, reshaping debates over homelessness policy…

nytimes.com Homelessness Appears to Decline, Reversing a Yearslong Trend

AI tools fail at most real-world jobs, but workers still fear being replaced 

In PhillyVoice, Dr. Ioana Marinescu explains that while generative AI can handle certain routine or cognitive tasks, it struggles to perform the full range of activities…

phillyvoice.com AI tools fail at most real-world jobs, but workers still fear being replaced 

‘A long bridge’: These programs can help foster care youth attend — and succeed at — college 

Sarah Wasch, Associate Director of The Field Center, was featured in Billy Penn discussing barriers foster youth face in college and highlighting campus resources that can help…

billypenn.com ‘A long bridge’: These programs can help foster care youth attend — and succeed at — college 

The afterlife of MLK’s call for a guaranteed income

Dr. Stacia West of SP2’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) joined Make Me Smart to explain how guaranteed income, long advocated by Martin Luther…

marketplace.org The afterlife of MLK’s call for a guaranteed income

Trump Says ‘Housing First’ Failed the Homeless. Here’s What the Evidence Says. 

Dr. Dennis Culhane told The New York Times that Housing First’s primary goal is to end homelessness, and the evidence shows it works, pointing to dramatic reductions…

nytimes.com Trump Says ‘Housing First’ Failed the Homeless. Here’s What the Evidence Says. 

How do “widgets” fit into our services-based economy?

Dr. Ioana Marinescu spoke with Marketplace about how measuring productivity in a services-driven economy is harder than counting manufacturing "widgets."

marketplace.org How do “widgets” fit into our services-based economy?

Most Caring Cities in America (2026) 

Dr. Johanna Greeson shared insights with WalletHub for its Most Caring Cities in America report on how cities can better support children, families, and caregivers. 

wallethub.com Most Caring Cities in America (2026) 

Time banks could ease the burden of elder care and promote connection 

Dr. Chao Guo coauthored an article in The Conversation exploring how time banking—a community-based system that trades services using time as currency—could help address rising…

theconversation.com Time banks could ease the burden of elder care and promote connection 

Did Trump accidentally boost direct giving? 

Katherina (Kat) Rosqueta, founding executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP), told Vox that children’s savings accounts are a proven way to build…

vox.com Did Trump accidentally boost direct giving? 

Elon Musk says that in 10 to 20 years, work will be optional and money will be irrelevant thanks to AI and robotics 

Dr. Ioana Marinescu told Fortune that while Elon Musk predicts AI and robotics will make work “optional” in the next decade or two, the technological and economic…

fortune.com Elon Musk says that in 10 to 20 years, work will be optional and money will be irrelevant thanks to AI and robotics 

Lessons from the dead: CDC reporting system helping prevent violent deaths 

Dr. Millan AbiNader was featured on The Nation’s Health Podcast by the American Public Health Association, discussing how the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System is…

rss.com Lessons from the dead: CDC reporting system helping prevent violent deaths