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Two New CSWE Minority Fellows

Two College of Social Work students were selected for the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP). These fellowships, funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, are designed to reduce the effects of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities by increasing the number of individuals trained to work with underrepresented and underserved racial/ethnic minority persons with or at risk for mental health and/or substance abuse disorders.

Second-Year MSSW Knoxville Student Hannah Lozano was awarded the Master’s Minority Fellowship.

Hannah Lozano“Communities of color are vastly underrepresented in helping professions, including social work,” Lozano stated. “Providing an opportunity for ethnic minority students to engage, collaborate, and develop their skills and interests through this program is invaluable as it strengthens the presence of BIPoC scholars in the field and increases social work resources for communities of color. I am looking forward to engaging with social work students across the country who share a commitment to equity and change. I owe a great deal to my faculty research mentor Dr. Bamwine, who encouraged me to apply to the MFP. Having a mentor who challenges me and believes in me has allowed me to grow intellectually and professionally. I believe that having a mentor who is willing to invest time and effort into a student’s professional development has a valuable impact in the professional development of aspiring scholars.”

DSW Student Lanalle Darden was awarded the CSWE Doctoral Minority Fellowship.

Lanalle DardenDarden currently serves as the Child, Adolescent, and Family Services Director for a community mental health center with the SC Department of Mental Health (SCDMH). “In this role, I work to expand school mental health services in my region and collaborate with multiple youth-serving agencies to ensure that there is no wrong door to the system of care youth to receive mental health services,” she explained. “I also serve as Zero Suicide Coordinator for the Santee-Wateree region and am working to address the problem of treatment disengagement among emerging adults who are transitioning from the child to adult mental health systems.”

Darden anticipates graduating in 2021 with her Doctor of Social Work.