News Details
SP2’s Top News of 2024
Authored by: Carson Easterly
Faculty & Research, Student Life
01/23/25
2024 was a year of significant scholarship and impact for Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) — from the establishment of a visionary new professorship in philanthropy, to the announcement of the School’s highest-ever U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools ranking, to new faculty appointments and achievements. A look back at 2024 highlights the School’s excellence in education and research, as well as SP2’s deep commitment to addressing human well-being across multiple dimensions.
The SP2 News Break newsletter captured the highlights of SP2 news produced by the School’s strategic marketing and communications staff as well as by Penn publications. We hope you’ll enjoy this look back at top headlines of the year.
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January
SP2’s Dr. Tamara J. Cadet named to 2024 class of fellows of Society for Social Work and Research
Associate Professor Tamara J. Cadet, PhD, LICSW, MPH, was welcomed to the Society for Social Work and Research 2024 class of Fellows, members who have served with distinction to advance the mission of the Society.
New year brings new faculty to SP2
Two new faculty joined SP2 in January, bringing expertise in health, family systems, nonprofit finance, social entrepreneurship, and beyond to the advancement of SP2’s mission.
Philanthropy and social change
With its free annual toolkit, the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice helps donors create a bigger impact.
February
First-of-its-kind study analyzes digital mourning practices of gang-affiliated youth
A new paper co-written by Dr. Desmond Patton, a professor at SP2 and Penn’s Annenberg School for Communication, explores the use of multimodal tweets to memorialize and grieve the deceased.
SP2 and National Education Equity Lab launch high school course in social work and social policy
Underserved high school students engaged in the National Education Equity Lab will have the opportunity to learn about the social work and social policy professions from SP2 experts.
SP2’s R. Jisung Park named to Russell Sage Foundation Visiting Scholar class of 2024-2025
An assistant professor at SP2 with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School, Dr. Park has been selected by the foundation as one of 17 visiting scholars.
March
Guaranteed income improved financial well-being and quality of life in Paterson NJ
In a report from SP2’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research, findings reveal that pilot program participants benefited from unconditional cash in several ways.
Inclusive innovation
With an emphasis on health, well-being, and advocacy, the new Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology at SP2 is fostering an innovation ecosystem to advance partnerships.
New senior fellow joins SP2
Poised to focus on research related to mental health and homelessness, as well as community engaged learning opportunities for students, Dr. Candice Player has joined SP2.
April
SP2 announces Douglas M. Brooks, MSW, as 2024 Commencement Speaker
Douglas M. Brooks, MSW, a nationally recognized leader in HIV and health care policy and advocacy, as well as a senior leadership fellow at SP2, delivered SP2’s 2024 Commencement speech.
Report: Guaranteed income improved financial health for caregivers in Cambridge, MA
Findings from a guaranteed income program based in Cambridge, MA, reveal a positive relationship between unconditional cash and caregivers’ financial health, employment, and parenting practices.
‘Can technology spark joy and imagination?’
In the 2024 Albert M. Greenfield Memorial lecture hosted by Penn Nursing, SP2’s Desmond Upton Patton discussed how social media and AI might foster well-being.
May
SP2 has been named #8 among Schools for Social Work in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings. This marks SP2’s highest ranking ever, and the second time that the School has appeared in the list’s top 10.
Disability rights photography by Harvey Finkle, SW’61, featured for second annual Art @ SP2 exhibit
In the black-and-white still photographs displayed in SP2’s Caster building, members of ADAPT/Disabled in Action advocate for equal access to the components of an independent life. The images are the work of celebrated social justice photographer and SP2 alumnus Harvey Finkle, SW’61, who visited on April 3.
Exploring sustainable development & the human impact of natural disasters
What factors allow people to prepare for and recover from natural disasters? Dr. Chenyi Ma, a research assistant professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), conducts interdisciplinary research that investigates the role of inequality in disasters’ impact and points to policy solutions.
June
SP2 professor Jennifer Prah inducted into St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame
Themes of health, gender equity, hard work, and discipline have been at the core of Dr. Jennifer Prah’s work — not only in her career as an academic and SP2 faculty member, but also during her years as an accomplished tennis player.
SP2 congratulates 2024 award winners
Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) has announced the 2024 SP2 Award Winners. SP2 Award recipients were recognized for their outstanding achievements by Dean Sara S. Bachman at the School’s 2024 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, at the Palestra.
SP2 honors five accomplished social change agents at 2024 alumni hall of fame ceremony
Five distinguished alumni of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) were celebrated at the 2024 SP2 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, May 17. The evening event marked the sixth year that the School has honored alumni through the SP2 Hall of Fame.
July
Study by SP2 examines potential of direct cash for cancer patients from low-income households
SP2’s Dr. Meredith Doherty and her team have undertaken recruitment at two regional cancer centers for the study, which is supported by funding from actor Bradley Cooper’s One Family Foundation and a grant awarded through the Independence Blue Cross Foundation Institute for Health Equity.
Dr. Jenkins will serve as co-principal investigator of a $442,340 grant from the American Institutes for Research Equity Initiative in the Behavioral Sciences for the project “Moving in Motown,” which intersects with his interest in the relationship between education reform and urban development.
Confronting economic inequality with cash
“You can’t budget your way out of poverty,” says Amy Castro. A founding director of SP2’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR), Castro and the CGIR team are studying how no-strings-attached cash can bring real change to individuals facing financial hardship, providing them with stability and hope.
August
Alice Xu awarded 2024 Harold D. Lasswell Award for best dissertation in the field of public policy
The citation from the award committee describes Dr. Xu’s dissertation as “theoretically ambitious, methodologically creative, deeply rigorous, expertly executed and elegantly crafted.”
Jacqueline Corcoran publishes “Your Child’s Mental Health Diagnosis”
Responding to a troubling landscape, Dr. Corcoran’s book provides valuable information, support, and strategies for parents navigating their children’s mental health conditions and emotional well-being.
The impact of direct cash over a 12-month period included increased ability to exit intimate partner violence, decreased food insecurity, and improved quality of life across a number of additional domains.
September
Penn recently announced $10 million in funding dedicated to its new Center for Media, Technology, and Democracy. The Center will be housed in the Penn School of Engineering and Applied Science and operate in partnership with five other Penn schools, including SP2.
From lower test scores to higher crime rates, economist R. Jisung Park of the School of Social Policy & Practice looks at the daily consequences of climate change.
Directory from SP2’s Field Center aims to help foster youth pursue higher education
For youth who have experienced foster care, the process of pursuing a post-secondary degree may pose particular challenges. The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at SP2 aims to address this issue by raising the visibility of information that can help students find higher education success.
October
SP2 climate inequality projects awarded Penn grants
With a growing focus on climate inequality, SP2 recognizes the climate crisis as a significant social justice issue. Recent University-level grants to SP2 faculty and staff demonstrate the School’s innovative work in this area.
A research team including SP2’s Dr. Desmond Patton has been awarded over $100K by the National Science Foundation to develop a program supporting STEM researchers from underrepresented backgrounds.
SP2 MSW alumni win Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work awards
Recipients Katie Fesperman, MSW’24 and Hannah Smith, MSW’24 won with papers that began as class assignments for SP2 Lecturer Sarah Trotta. The awards were established by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work to acknowledge the outstanding clinical work of students.
November
SP2’s Dr. Tamara J. Cadet collaborates on Penn research awarded $6.5 million grant
As a co-investigator, Associate Professor Tamara J. Cadet, PhD, LICSW, MPH, of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) will collaborate on UPenn PRC’s work with communities in the Philadelphia area to develop, test, and evaluate solutions to public health problems, with a particular focus on cancer.
Bringing social work to Penn’s community engagement
Tapping into his social work background to support and cultivate Penn’s relationship with the local community, Glenn Bryan, C’74, SW’76, has spent decades building connections between his alma mater and the place where he grew up.
Dean Bachman delivers keynote at Penn Center for AIDS Research symposium
With the goal of optimizing implementation and improving outcomes for people with HIV, a team led by Dean Sara S. Bachman of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) is evaluating a novel approach to HIV medical case management (MCM) being implemented by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH).
December
Penn receives $5 million to create first-of-its-kind professorship in philanthropy
The Wieler Family Professorship will hold a primary appointment in Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice and a secondary appointment in the Wharton School. The gift from Scott A. Wieler, WG’87, and his wife, Mary Baily Wieler, will combine the social innovation mission of SP2 with the Wharton School’s capacity to inspire business leaders.
In a joint class within the School of Social Policy & Practice and the Annenberg School for Communication, Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor Desmond Upton Patton invites students to seek fulfillment in less tangible forms and dream big in Journey to Joy: Designing a Happier Life.
Paper on philanthropic strategies wins editors’ prize for three SP2-affiliated authors
The first author is Dr. H. Daniel Heist, a graduate of SP2’s PhD in Social Welfare Program. He is joined by SP2 Professor Ram Cnaan and fellow SP2 PhD graduate Dr. Megan M. Farwell. The award is made on behalf of the Nonprofit Management & Leadership journal and publisher Wiley and is sponsored by the School of Public Affairs at American University.