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Faculty and Student News – Fall 2009
Graduate Macro Students Lead Out in Faith-Based Social Services Network Meeting
Wednesday November 4th 2009 Graduate Macro Social Work students lead out in a stimulating dialog about how the RGV can better engage faith groups in community service. A nice energized and visionary group of both pastors and lay leaders had a good disucssion about how we can improve communication and better serve the poor and marginalized living here in the Valley. Student will continue to meet with a newly appointed advisory board to actively faciliate on-going planning for linking church ministry groups with commuities in need.
Phi Alpha Mu Fall 2009 Induction
Thirteen new Phi Alpha Mu inductees were welcome into the National Social Work Honors Society on Friday evening as family and friends celebrated their academic success. The group consisted of both BSW graduating in December and May. The officers did an outstanding job of hosting a beautiful meal and ceremony. For the closing of the celebration, faculty continued the tradition started at last year’s induction ceremony of serving the beautiful Phi Alpha Mu cake to both students and families.
 
UTPA Graduate Student Wins NASW-Texas Student of the Year Aileen Palacios a recent graduate from our MSSW new administrative and community practice concentration is soaring among the top students in social work across our big Texas. She was honored by felow members of NASW as the model student for 21st Century social work education at the President's reception at the Annual Conference October 15-17, 2009, in Fort Worth.
 
UTPA BSW Students Presented “Leadership Dynamics of Social Work Students” at Texas NASW Conference held October 15-17th in Fort Worth, Texas. Vickie Orcutt, working with Laura Aguilar-Gonzalez and Dr. Pittman presented findings from a funded research project that explored Latina/o BSW student leadership dynamics. The session was attended by 21 attendees and their session evaluation feedback was very positive.
 
10-15-09 Students in the Social Work Practice III, with Dr. Lydia Arizmendi, participated in the "Senior Olympics" held at the San Juan Nursing Home. They had a chance to see first hand how they can help and make a difference in the lives of our senior citizens.
10-14-09 First group of students from Laredo who are currently enrolled in the MSSW program, at LCC campus. These students take courses online, via teleconference and face to face at the LCC campus. We are happy to have them and hope to see the number increase for next year.
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Faculty and Student News – Spring 2009
Work Study of the Year
On April 23, 2009, our own work study Kyle Williams was awarded the "Work Study of the Year" award. Here in our social work department we have appreciated so much the work that Kyle has done for both, Dr. Sharon Pittman and Ms. Estela Soza-Garza. His cheerful personality and willingness to help made it a joy to work with him. Thank you so much, and Congratulations Kyle! A well deserved award!
Faculty and Student News – Summer 2009
Thailand Experience: BSW and MSW Students Explore International Practice in Study Abroad Class
No more had graduation finished than students were packed and off for a two week international social work trip to exotic Thailand. During the first weeks student had a diverse cultural emersion experience and for the entire week too they visited orphanages, street children projects, and sex trade recovery programs. Traveling with social work and international development students from Andrews University the group gained a much bigger view of the needs of some of the world’s most poorest and oppressed peoples.
 
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September – 2007
Dr. Noe Ramirez and Professor Raul H. Solis presented at the 4th International Colloquium on Social and Political Sectorial Affairs: Cultural and Social Development which took place September 13-14, 2007. The event was sponsored by the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. Dr. Noe Ramírez’s paper presentation was titled “El Currículo de Hoy en Relación al Aprendizaje de Escolares, Responsabilidad Social y Compromisos de la Profesión”. Profesor Solís’ paper was titled: “Desafíos del Trabajador Social y Cultura Anti-inmigrante en los Estados Unidos.”
Dr. Alonzo Cavazos coauthored an article titled "Does Practice Make Perfect? Practicing Professional Skills and Outcomes in Social Work Field Education." The article was published in the journal The Clinical Supervisor.
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May 2, 2007
The BSW Program honored its Spring 2007 graduating seniors with an afternoon luncheon. The speakers included Drs. Hector Diaz and Rosemarie Penzerro, and Professors Raul Soliz and Estela Sosa-Garza.
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| Silvia Vidal, Julia Cuellar, & Joanne Ureste |
Phi Alpha Honor Society Graduates: (left to right)
Sylvia Gonzales, Dawn Clark, Monica Rocha, Joanne Uresti, Dr. Rosemarie Penzerro, Angelica Lopez, & Eberto Soto, Jr. |
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May 1, 2007
The social work department offered its first social work licensure preparation workshop (April 21th, 26th, & 28th). Ten faculty members volunteered their time and professional expertise – see below for list of faculty and presentation topics:
Dr. Lydia Arizmendi - History of Social Welfare; Community Organization
Ms. Sonja Arredondo - Communication and Therapeutic Relationships
Dr. Alonzo Cavazos - Test Taking Strategies; Group and Family Theory and Therapy
Dr. Hector Diaz - Supervision, Administration
Dr. Catherine Faver - Diversity
Dr. Janis Feldman - Assessment & Diagnosis; Psychopharmacology
Dr. Rosemarie Penzerro - Human Behavior and Social Development
Dr. Noe Ramirez - Research and Evaluation
Dr. Shirley Rombough - Individual Theories & Therapies
Ms. Estela Soza-Garza - Values and Ethics
Approximately 55 – 60 participants attended the workshop.
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| Dr. Lydia Arizmendi, Associate Prof. |
Workshop Participants |
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April 24, 2007
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rose Marie Penzerro. Her paper “The relevance of attachment theory and research to social work practice” has accepted for presentation at the Rio Bravo Association (RBA) conference to be held the 11th and the 12th of May of 2007, in the Facultad de Trabajo Social de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. The RBA meeting is sponsored by the Facultad de Trabajo Social de la UANL and the Academic Team “Identidades, Género y Cultura” of the UANL.
April 24, 2007
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Janis Feldman and Dr. Noé Ramirez. Dr. Feldman has just been accepted to present her paper “Enhancing Prenatal Attachment: An Evidence-Based Model to Decrease Adolescent Birth Risks” at the 22nd National Training Institute (NTI), November 30- December 2, 2007 in Orlando, Florida!
At the same time, Dr. Noé Ramirez has just been awarded an undergraduate research initiative grant to collaborate with a student on the project: “Perspectives of the Chicano Movement in El Valle from Activists to Witnesses….”
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April 9, 2007
Congratulations to Drs. Alonzo Cavazos and Catherine Faver!!! Their article titled “Social Work and Spiritual Healing: Partnering with a Curandero” was published in the Winter 2007 edition of Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping. The narrative chronicles the journey of a social worker and a curandero (male spiritual healer) who seek to understand each other’s professional knowledge, values, and skills.
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March 29, 2007
Congratulations!!!! Professor Janis Feldman received notification that her article had been accepted for publication by The Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal. Her manuscript is titled "The effect of support expectations on prenatal attachment: An evidence-based approach for intervention in an adolescent population".
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March 20, 2007
Dr. Noe Ramirez’s article, “The relationship between shame and acculturation among Latino/Chicano Students: Implications for social work education,” which he copublished with Librado De Hoyos, was recently published in the Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work. Congratulations Dr. Ramirez!!!!!
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February 26, 2007
Dr. Shirley Rombough’s article, “The differential impact of Hurricane Katrina on the African American population of New Orleans”, has been accepted for publication in Race, Gender and Class.
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January 28, 2007
Eberto E. Soto, Jr., BSW Major, was featured as the UTPA Student of the Week in the McAllen newspaper, The Monitor. “His volunteer activities include working on a suicide preventin hot line, serving food to the the homeless at God’s Kitchen, and helpign the UTPA Office of Services for Persons with Disablities through note taking for other students who need assistance” (p. 9B).
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December 6, 2006
Drs. Catherine Faver and Alonzo Cavazos received notice that their presentation, titled “Spiritual Competence and Self-Awareness: The Spiritual Timeline as an Educational Tool,” was accepted. They will present at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Social Science Association. The Annual Meeting will be held March 14-17, 2007 in Albuquerque, NM.
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December 5, 2006
Erika Melendez and Anna Farias, MSSW graduate students, co-presented “Working with Latino Children: Theory and Practice” with Dr. Alonzo Cavazos at the 4th Annual Together in Action Seminar which was held in Edinburg, Texas. The workshop was sponsored by The Volunteer Movement & the Hidalgo County Health Department. Congratulations Erika and Anna!
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November 20, 2006
Congratulations Dr. Feldman! She was awarded the Texas Society of Allied Health Professions (TSAHP) Research Award.
Dr. Bruce Reed, Dr. Feldman, & Dr. Wendy Fowler,
Vice-Provost for Research and Sponsored Projects.
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November 16, 2006
Dr. Hector Diaz, Chair and Professor, Social Work received the “Provost’s Award for International Studies.” According to Dean Bruce Reed, “he deservingly received this award due to his many years of research, education, and service in international settings especially in Latin America primarily focusing as helping the poorest citizens.” Dr. Diaz is currently working to establish strong collaborations between his department and ones in Mexico.
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October 27 – 28, 2006
Drs. Catherine Faver, Alonzo Cavazos, and Janis Feldman presented at the 2006 NASW/Texas State Conference, Arlington, Texas. There presentation titles are listed below:
Catherine Faver, Alonzo Cavazos, & Alberto Salinas, Curandero - Social worker and curandero: Making the connection
Janis Feldman - The mental status evaluation (MSE): Enhancing assessment skills to improve patient care
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