BUSSW E&I Student Group
BUSSW E&I Student Group – Connect with other students who are passionate about creating a more equitable and inclusive BUSSW. Contact Julia DeAngelo (juliade@bu.edu) and Megan Nizza (mnizza@bu.edu) for more information.
Affinity Groups
Join us in piloting Affinity Groups at BUSSW!
Do you identify as an LGBTQIA+, First Gen, or BIPOC student? If so, we invite you to join our Affinity Groups pilot program to connect with peers across campuses with similar backgrounds and identities as you!
See below for the Affinity Groups we are currently piloting:
LGBTQIA+ Students Affinity Group:
Robbie Sanders (she/they) was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where she earned her MSW from McGill University School of Social Work in 1997. After years of providing clinical services, Robbie turned their attention to non-profit management, where they served as a Program Director for over 15 years, overseeing residential and workforce readiness programs. Following their passion for supporting the next generation of social workers, Robbie joined BUSSW full-time in 2018 after serving many years as MSW clinical supervisor and Field Liaison.
The LGBTQIA+ affinity group meets on the 1st Wednesday of every month at 7pm beginning February 5th, 2025
Join us here: https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/97852644486?pwd=K2CfDGOXljDQpPR4i0M8obZlwNuLn2.1&from=addon
Meeting ID: 978 5264 4486
Passcode: 493826
First Gen Students Affinity Group:
Junior Peña is originally from the Dominican Republic and grew up in Massachusetts. As a first-generation graduate, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communication from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and a Master of Science in Higher Education Student Affairs at Florida State University. Junior is passionate about supporting students from underserved communities, co-creating intentional learning spaces, and re-imagining professionalism through authenticity.
The First Gen affinity group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7pm beginning February 12th, 2025.
Join us here: https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/96781166360?pwd=Df1FjjGN7GDiaRua4eEI7V0ctlA3YF.1&from=addon
Meeting ID: 967 8116 6360
Passcode: 269189
BIPOC Students Affinity Group:
Dana L Benton, Ed.M, MSW, LICSW is the inaugural Director of Career Services, Alumni and External Relations at Boston University’s School of Social Work. Dana is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 15 years of experience as a clinician and administrator in school districts, community-based organizations, and governmental agencies that serve children, adolescents and adults. Dana’s areas of clinical specialty include grief, loss, bereavement, trauma, anxiety, depression, workplace difficulties, social emotional development, career development, race and cultural identity, as well as spirituality and religion. Dana holds two advanced degrees including a Master of Social Work (Clinical) from Smith College and a Master of Education (Risk and Prevention) from Harvard University. Dana is an active member of the Greater Boston Chapter of Black Social Workers (GBABSW), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)- Brockton Branch and the Women in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Committee- Brockton Branch. Dana also maintains a private practice serving adults across the lifespan. She is the mother of a beautiful 9-year-old daughter, who resides with her in a local suburb outside of the greater Boston area.
The BIPOC Affinity Group meetings have been temporarily postponed. More details to follow.
Connect with other students with similar backgrounds as you! Here are the various affinity groups and their contact information:
- Asian/Asian American (asianbussw@gmail.com)
- Non-Binary/Gender Neutral/Gender Fluid (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Mental Health Challenges (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Latinx/Chicanx/Hispanic (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Single Parents/Caretakers (singlecargiversssw@gmail.com)
- Community Organization/Engagement (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Lower Income (lowerincomeaffinity.bussw@gmail.com)
- Parents/Caregivers (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- First Generation Student (firstgenaffinityssw@gmail.com)
- Differently Abled (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Northeast Students (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Southwest Students (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Central Mountain Region Students (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Students in Recovery (busswrecovery@gmail.com)
- International Students (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Veterans (busswveterans@gmail.com)
- Spiritual Students (busswspirituality@gmail.com)
- Jewish Students (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Midwest Students (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Returning to School (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Chronic Health Concerns (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Outdoor Enthusiasts (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- Neurodiverse Students (liamfarr@bu.edu)
- LGBTQA+ (busswlgbtq@gmail.com)
Peer Support Spotlight (Online Program Only)
Peer Support Spotlight
Looking for additional connection, community, and encouragement? Join one (or more!) of the Peer Support Drop-in Sessions this spring in the Student Lounge and meet your Peer Mentors featured below! Our BUSSW peer mentors are ready to offer guidance, support and connection to fellow OLP students. While peer mentors won’t provide tutoring, counseling, or academic advising, they are here to be a valuable resource for you through sharing their wisdom and experience, directing you to resources, and offering words of encouragement. Some sessions will have a specific topic with facilitated discussion, others are more open-ended “general peer support” sessions. Drop-in sessions for Spring 2025 will be held the First Friday, Second Sunday and Third Monday (except Monday holidays) of every month in the Student Lounge:
Drop-in sessions are the perfect place to connect with peers and mentors and gain support and validation for the challenges of graduate education. The Spring 2025 Peer Support drop-in dates are:
- Friday, February 7th at noon EST
- Sunday, February 9th at 5pm EST
- Friday, March 7th at noon EST
- Sunday, March 9th at 5pm EST (Field ed chat- learn about what your peers are doing in their field placement)
- Monday, March 17th at 8pm EST
- Friday, April 4th at noon EST (Work/ life balance)
- Sunday, April 13th at 5pm EST (Field ed chat- learn about what your peers are doing in their field placement)
Meet your Peer Mentors:
Colleen Wasson (she/her) 
About: Colleen is currently in her 9th semester of the online program and is completing her field placement at Teton Behavior Therapy, a private practice located in rural Idaho. In this role, she conducts intake sessions, develops treatment plans, and provides counseling for individuals and families. Colleen has developed a strong interest in working with OCD and anxiety disorders, as well as advocating for awareness of these issues in her state. She is also co-facilitating an OCD support group through OCD Idaho. Outside of her studies, Colleen enjoys cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and spending time in nature. Having experienced what it’s like to be new to the program, she is eager to connect with you in the Student Lounge and hopes that peer mentoring will help put your mind at ease. Colleen is originally from Huntington, New York and currently in Teton Valley, Idaho.
Major: Clinical
Track: Traditional Track
Top 5
- Hobby: Cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking
- Food: Pizza (you can take the girl out of New York, but you can’t take the New York out of the girl)
- Song: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
- Book: The Small and The Mighty by Sharon McMahon
- Quote: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
Dani Simmons (she/her) 
About: Dani is in her 7th semester in the program. She is currently doing her advanced field placement at COMPASS Boston as a Family Clinician, where she conducts individual and family sessions and attends provider collaboration meetings as a short-term in-home clinician contracted through the Department of Children and Families. When Dani is not busy with schoolwork and working, Dani wears the hat of parenting a toddler with her loving husband. Dani remembers how overwhelming starting grad school can feel, especially for students who may be juggling the additional responsibilities of working full-time and raising a family. Dani is originally from Sterling, Massachusetts and is currently in Worcester, MA
Major: Clinical, Trauma and Violence specialization
Track: Traditional Track
Top 5:
- Hobby: Singing
- Food: Ice cream
- Song: Rise up, Andra Day
- Book: Currently the Fourth Wing series
- Quote: “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny” - C.S. Lewis
Eleanor Teague (she/her) 
About: Ellie is in her 2nd year in the online program. She is currently doing her field placement at VinFen in Haverhill, MA in their Adult Community Clinical Services program. Prior to starting the BU MSW program Ellie worked as a teacher in Lawrence where she developed a particular interest working with children with various levels of need. Outside of the program, Ellie loves to hike with her dog and watch reruns of Modern Family whenever possible. She remembers what it is like to be new to the program, and how hard it can be to connect with others while completing courses online! Ellie looks forward to connecting with you in the student lounge. Eleanor is originally from Southeastern MA but is currently in the Merrimack Valley
Major: Clinical
Track: Traditional Track
Top 5
- Hobby: Hiking with my dog
- Food: Tiramisu
- Song: Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
- Book: A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino
- Quote: “I became confident once I decided that having fun was far more important that the fear of looking silly” – Rupi Kaur
Kelly Williams (she/her) 
About: Kelly comes to social work after a career as an editor at an animal welfare nonprofit, and she is now in her 8th semester in the online program. During her foundation placement at a community mental health agency, she provided individual therapy to adults and seniors and co-facilitated a pet loss grief support group. Now she is in her advanced placement at a cancer center. In this role, she helps clients overcome practical barriers so they can access care, provides psychosocial support, and offers a smidge of case management as needed. She hopes to go into oncology social work after graduation. Outside of school, Kelly is an avid reader, runner, gardener, traveler, and lover of all animals. She lives in Maryland with her partner, three dogs, and one senior cat. Kelly was born in Rhode Island and is currently living in Maryland by way of the Midwest (Minnesota/Wisconsin)
Major: Clinical
Track: Traditional Track