University of Michigan School of Social Work (2024)

May 4, 1:30 PM ET

Power Center
121 Fletcher Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Directions to the Power Center

The School of Social Work Spring Commencement for Master of Social Work students will be held in-person and livestreamed on the SSW website. The Power Center doors will open for guests and graduates can begin arriving at 12:30pm.

A light reception will be held in the Power Center Lobby immediately following commencement.

Please email ssw.graduation@umich.edu with any questions.

The SSW Commencement will be livestreamed on this page and on the front page of the U-M School of Social Work website.

Letter from the Dean

University of Michigan School of Social Work (1)

Dear Graduates,

Congratulations! We are thrilled to celebrate your hard work and dedication together with your friends, families and loved ones.

In pursuit of your MSW, you have gained the skills, knowledge and training to make a difference in the lives of others. You are effective, practiced facilitators and leaders who know how to take a stand, address injustice and engage the community. As you begin the next chapter of your lives, remember that education is a lifelong process. Keep in touch with your faculty and classmates and keep listening and learning from your clients and colleagues.

University of Michigan social work graduates have a reputation for their expertise, dedication and achievement. Today you join 17,000+ alumni who lead the field as policymakers, agency directors and foundation leaders, who improve lives as accomplished and effective social workers. We look forward to hearing how you apply your talents for the good of people and communities.

You have earned the term “the leaders and best.” On behalf of the Michigan Social Work community, I wish you every success as you reach out, raise hope and change society.

Go Blue,

Beth Angell
Dean and Phillip Fellin Collegiate Professor of Social Work

Speakers

Keynote Speaker Joyce Dixson-Haskett, MSW ‘94, LMSW, ACSW, SAP

University of Michigan School of Social Work (2)

Joyce Dixson-Haskett is a leader in the fight against human trafficking. She advocates daily for the freedom and restoration of dignity and value to those affected by this heinous and corrupt system. She is a survivor of human trafficking and has been commissioned by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to sit on the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission.

She is also a leader in the advocacy for children of incarcerated parents. Her clinical model, Levels of Response to Traumatic Events, (LORTE) has been described as “the most sensible approach in assisting children with incarcerated parents.” Professionals also say: “There are no known programs, including programs in the OJJDP Model Programs Guide, which deal exclusively with the effects that the incarceration of a parent has on a child and address the core issues as the LORTE model does.”

Dixson-Haskett holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and is the founder and owner of Daylily Health LLC in Royal Oak, Michigan, a thriving clinical practice that tackles and defeats mental health problems in the concrete, the abstract and the spiritual. More importantly, she was an incarcerated mother, for 17 ½ years. She knows firsthand how the incarceration of a parent adversely affects the children. Dixson-Haskett began fighting for the rights of women who had been battered and abused, and for their children, while she was yet behind bars; she continues to work diligently on behalf of this elite population. She currently resides in the Houston, Texas area where Daylily Health 2 is being birthed.

Student Speaker Lady Funcke Muñoz

University of Michigan School of Social Work (3)

Lady Alejandra Funcke Muñoz (she/her/ella) is an MSW student in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Pathway. She is a passionate advocate whose academic journey reflects her commitment to integrated health, mental health, advocacy and human rights. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Palm Beach State College. She has also earned specialized certifications from Columbia University and Palm Beach State College, enhancing her expertise in trauma-informed practice and social services.

She served as a graduate research assistant at the School’s Level Up Lab, as a representative in student government, and as a graduate program assistant for both the DEI Office and Community Conversations. She facilitated educational workshops, coordinated community dialogue events, and advocated for formerly incarcerated students' opportunities within the university, fostering inclusivity and equity in higher education.

Funcke Muñoz worked at User Voice and His Majesty’s the King Prison Service in the United Kingdom, where she researched the intersection of incarceration, biodiversity and human rights to inform evidence-based policy recommendations and advocacy efforts.

In recognition, she received the DEI Impact Awards’ Student of the Year, Latinx Research Week 2024 Familismo Award and the Michigan Difference Student Leadership Awards Nominee from M-LEAD.

Funcke Muñoz intends to pursue her PhD and continue her work in higher education advocacy and mental health.

Student Speaker Jessica Leacher

University of Michigan School of Social Work (4)

Jessica Leacher grew up in Milan, Michigan, and holds a BA in Social Relations and Policy from James Madison College at Michigan State University. She spent most of her career working in nonprofits in Washington, D.C., to support community college and university leaders through structured collaboratives, training and workshops that are designed to grow leadership practices and result in more equitable outcomes for students across the country.

At various places of employment, Leacher joined and co-led diversity, equity and inclusion committees, experiencing firsthand the structural inequities replicated within the nonprofit sector. It was because of these experiences that she decided to pursue social work.

During her time earning her Master of Social Work, she has been a Community Change student and a National Community Scholar. She worked for Clinical Associate Professor Daicia Price in the School’s DEI office and Professor Daphne Watkins’ Young Black Men Masculinities and Mental Health Project. Leacher is a lifelong learner and passionate about building creative, inclusive and diverse spaces where every person feels they belong. She intends to pursue a position with a local foundation or nonprofit serving communities in southeast Michigan.

She would like to thank her family and friends for their unwavering support and love.

Commencement Program

Photos from the Ceremony

Coming Soon

University of Michigan School of Social Work (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest school to get into at the University of Michigan? ›

Students often consider the School of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) as easier to get into than the engineering program.

How big is the University of Michigan school of social work class? ›

About half of the MSW course sections have 25 - 30 students and about half have fewer than 25 students. Occasionally, but infrequently, sections are combined into a larger sections (approximately 40-50 students) to provide students with a more rich academic experience.

Is University of Michigan School of Social Work accredited? ›

Yes, the MSW program has been accredited by the CSWE since 1922.

Is social work a hard degree? ›

Earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) poses unique challenges, however. The curriculum is not only academically challenging but also emotionally draining. Finances can present a problem because unlike, say, a JD or MBA student, you're not likely to start earning a fortune the moment you receive your degree.

What is the hardest school to get into at UMich? ›

Though these three campuses share a name, it's U-M Ann Arbor that is the most highly acclaimed and receives the most attention from students worldwide. And of course, U-M Ann Arbor is the hardest to get into. Therefore, we'll focus on how to get into the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor in this blog.

What is the lowest GPA University of Michigan will accept? ›

What GPA is required for the University of Michigan? Applicants' GPA when applying to the University of Michigan should ideally be between 3.7 and 4.0 to be strong candidates. Having less than this will require compensating via other areas of the application.

What is University of Michigan School of Social Work ranked? ›

April 9, 2024

The School of Social Work has again been named the nation's top social work school in U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best Graduate School rankings. Since 2012, our School has had the honor to be ranked # 1 in the nation.

What is a good GPA for MSW? ›

For traditional programs, the majority of graduate schools require a GPA of 3.0 or greater to apply. However, some of these schools will still allow students with a GPA lower than 3.0 to apply if they have taken the GRE (see the GPA table below for more information).

How much do MSW social workers make in Michigan? ›

As of Apr 20, 2024, the average annual pay for a Msw in Michigan is $62,394 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $30.00 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,199/week or $5,199/month.

What College has the best social worker program? ›

Gourman Report Rankings
RankSchoolDepartment
1University of ChicagoSocial Service Admin
2Columbia UniversitySocial Work
3University of Michigan--Ann ArborSocial Work
4University of Wisconsin--MadisonSocial Work
27 more rows

What is the best accreditation for Social Work? ›

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the only approved programmatic accrediting agency for social work programs in the U.S. It operates in all fifty states. As an independent, nonprofit accrediting agency, CSWE ensures high standards for social work education.

Does Harvard have a school of Social Work? ›

Harvard Medical School | School of Social Work. Explore our top-ranked MSW degree, a fully-funded PhD program, and wide-ranging professional education options. Do you want to drive social change? So do we.

What is the easiest degree to get? ›

Check out the easiest college majors below:
  • Humanities.
  • Liberal Arts.
  • Linguistics.
  • Music.
  • Psychology.
  • Religious Studies.
  • Social Work.
  • Sociology.

What is the lowest degree in social work? ›

To be a social worker, you need to hold a degree in social work from an accredited college or university program. The undergraduate degree is the bachelor of social work (BSW). Graduate degrees include the master of social work (MSW), and a doctorate (DSW) or PhD in Social Work.

Is getting an MSW worth it? ›

Social workers on the higher end of the pay scale can break the $83,000 earnings mark, Indeed reports. And salaries for social workers who hold a master's degree are at least $13,000 higher than people with only a bachelor's degree, according to the NASW.

What college in Michigan has the lowest acceptance rate? ›

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is the most selective in the state, admitting about 20% of its nearly 80,000 applicants in 2021-22. This ranks No. 79 overall in the country.

What is the preferred admission at the University of Michigan? ›

Preferred Admission is a way for you to indicate an interest in later transferring to an upper-level program. Acceptance guarantees placement in the upper-level academic unit if you meet certain prerequisites during your first year at U-M.

What is the number 1 university in Michigan? ›

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

Is University of Michigan Ann Arbor easy to get into? ›

For every 100 applicants, only 18 are admitted. This means the school is extremely selective. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation.

References

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