SP2 MSW alumni win Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work awards

Two recent graduates from the School of Social Policy & Practice Master of Social Work (MSW) Program are among this year’s winners of the Awards for Clinical Excellence given by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW).

Paola Salas, MSW’25 (Second Prize), and Mallory Moore, MSW’25 (Third Prize) were honored for papers that began as class assignments for SP2 Lecturer Sarah Trotta. “We are profoundly honored by this recognition of Paola Salas and Mallory Moore’s excellent clinical work with clients. We are also continuously inspired by and appreciative of Dr. Sarah Trotta’s excellent work with students. It’s a wonderful moment to celebrate the powerful teaching, learning, and impact that are part of the MSW Program at SP2,” says MSW Program Faculty Director and Associate Professor Malitta Engstrom. 

Salas and Moore were recognized at the PSCSW Annual Meeting on November 2.

Paola Salas, MSW’25, received second prize for “Exploring Self and Other: A Shared Journey Through Relational Practice,” a case study centered on a young, second-generation immigrant navigating family estrangement and emotional abuse. PSCSW noted Salas’ application of relational theory and exploration of vulnerability, self-worth, and connection with her client. As Second Prize winner, Salas has been awarded a $300 cash prize and a free one-year membership to the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work.

Mallory Moore, MSW’25, received third prize for “Working with Serenity: Using Relational-Cultural Theory to Guide Brief Treatment in the Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Setting,” an in-depth account of a young girl hospitalized in a child psychiatric ward. PSCSW highlighted Moore’s use of relational and psychodynamic theory and her creative interventions such as music and art to foster safety and connection. As Third Prize winner, Moore has been awarded a $200 cash prize and a free one-year membership to the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work.

The PSCSW Awards for Clinical Excellence were established by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work to acknowledge the outstanding clinical work of students. The program is open to all graduating Master of Social Work students in Pennsylvania, who can be considered for the awards by submitting a paper for review by distinguished judges.

SP2 MSW program lecturer Jennifer C. Jones, PhD, LCSW, was the featured speaker at the Annual Meeting of PSCSW. Her presentation, “Grief as Sacred Terrain: Moving from Personal Pain to Collective Release,” explored grief as a shared, transformative experience. Drawing on Internal Family Systems and Gestalt Therapy, Jones guided participants through teachings, embodied reflection, and a communal grief ritual designed to foster resilience, compassion, and connection amid collective crises.