STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Student Government
The SP2 Student Government is the student governance organization for the School of Social Policy & Practice. To contact the Student Government email sp2gov@gmail.com.
SP2 offers a variety of student organizations funded by the SP2 Student Government. If you’re interested in starting a new student group visit this link for more information. To start a student group you need to have a group mission statement, a chair, a finance chair, and a faculty or staff advisor. If you have additional questions, email the SP2 Student Government at sp2gov@gmail.com.
All students who support this group are welcome to join.
President
Joelle Lingat
Spokesperson for the student body; coordinates student government meetings; actively listens to the concerns and suggestions from the student body and works with SP2 administration to meet the needs of students; facilitates Deans & Students meetings.
Vice President
Katherine Paulikonis
Supports the student government chair and stands in during their absence; helps to coordinate and facilitate meetings and activities for students; serves as primary point of contact for SP2’s student-led organization leaders
Vice President – Finance
Sparsh Maheshwari
Manages budget for student government; helps to allocate funds to student groups, works with SP2 business office to coordinate purchasing procedures and submit budget requests; communicates financial procedures to SP2 student groups; insures that SP2 student groups are following purchasing procedures.
Vice President – Communication
Mallory Moore
Manages internal communications to SP2 student and external communications and relationships with other Penn graduate student groups.
Vice President – Community events
Izzy Namath
Supports the student government’s mobilization and programming initiatives in an effort to encourage and increase community action and social engagement among all SP2 students.
MSW Academic Review Commitee
TBA
Cohort Student Representatives
PhD: Rebecca Pepe
DSW: Caroline Menapace
MSW: Sarah Kelley
NPL Online: Julie Schweigert
NPL: Melissa Kadar
MSSP: Yixi Zhou
GAPSA: Mo Soumaroro and Elyse Cinquino
Dual Degree: TBA
Sequence Committee Representatives
Policy Sequence: TBA
Human Behavior Sequence: TBA
Social Change Sequence: TBA
Foundation Practice Sequence: TBA
Research Sequence: TBA
Advanced Clinical Practice Sequence: TBA
Advanced Macro Practice Sequence: TBA
Committee representatives work closely with our faculty to bring the student perspective to curriculum planning.
MSW Governance Committee Student Representatives
First Year Representative: Amy Thissell and Sofia Carter
Second Year Representative: Shaindy Black and Shayan Rahman
Leadership for the MSW degree program is provided by a group consisting of the program director, plus four-five members of the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2)’s Standing Faculty, a representative of the Field Cabinet and the Field Director. The MSW Governance Group answers to the Dean of the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2).
Policy and Procedures Committee Student Representatives
MSW Representative: Sarah Bousquet
NPL Representative: Melissa Kadar
MSSP Representative: Saloni Tandon
The Committee on Student Policies and Procedures is responsible for developing, reviewing, and/or recommending policies and procedures regarding students. In addition, this committee provides oversight of the selection procedures for student awards and the excellence in teaching awards given to faculty. The committee also serves as the main faculty link with the admissions office for student recruitment. This committee consists of three members of the Standing Faculty, appointed by the Dean. The faculty as a whole elects the chair of the committee.
SP2 Grievance Committee Student Representatives
MSW Representative: Ting Zhong
MSSP Representative: Halla Anderson
NPL Representative: Sam Nguyen
Grievance Procedure: Students are expected to read the following policies and guidelines before filing a grievance. Faculty are expected to be familiar with and to review the grievance guidelines before advising a student to file a grievance. A grievance is a claim that action has been taken by a school representative which is: (1) arbitrary and capricious; (2) discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam Era Veteran or disabled veteran; (3) not in compliance with the School or University of Pennsylvania procedures or regulations. A student may file a grievance at any point in the program. An academic evaluation may not be the subject of a grievance.
MSSP Governance Committee Student Representatives
TBA
Leadership for the Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP) degree program is provided by a group consisting of the program director, plus designated members of the School of Social Policy & Practice’s (SP2) Standing Faculty and staff. The Governance Committee addresses student policies, program curriculum, and program activities.
NPL Governance Committee Student Representative
Ridhi Dar
Leadership for the Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL) degree program is provided by a group consisting of the program director, plus designated members of the School of Social Policy & Practice’s (SP2) Standing Faculty, instructors, alumni, and staff. The Governance Committee addresses student policies, program curriculum, and program activities.