BUSSW Commencement 2024: Photo Gallery & Recap
Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) celebrated its newest class of MSW and PhD graduates at the 2024 BUSSW Commencement Ceremony, May 16th. Graduating students from the online and off-campus programs joined their Charles River classmates at the main Boston University campus for the big event, and loved ones came from far and wide to honor their accomplishments. Despite a little rain, nothing could dampen spirits on this momentous occasion!
Browse through our photo gallery and recap to experience the day’s events.
Jump to a section:
- Photo Gallery, Pt. 1: Off-Campus & Online Programs Pre-Ceremony Reception
- Photo Gallery, Pt. 2: Procession & Ceremony
- Photo Gallery, Pt. 3: Post-Ceremony Reception
- Event Recap (text)
All photos by Dave Green Photography
Off-Campus & Online Programs Pre-Ceremony Reception
Procession & Ceremony
Post-Ceremony Reception
All photos by Dave Green Photography
Event Recap
Degrees were conferred to the Class of 2024 on Thursday, May 16, at the School’s 2024 Commencement ceremony at the Walter Brown Arena. The graduating class included students from BUSSW’s on-campus, online, off-campus and hybrid Master of Social Work (MSW) programs and its doctoral program.
Jackie Jenkins-Scott, interim president of Roxbury Community College, gave the convocation address, and graduating MSW student Lara Badain presented the student speech. Prof. Ellen DeVoe presented the Excellence in Teaching Award to Lecturer Rick Cresta, and Dean Barbara Jones presented the class gift, a contribution to the Judith Perlstein Field Education Fund which will support future MSW field interns at BUSSW.
Prizes and gifts were also presented to 11 of graduating students:
- The Saul and David Bernstein Prize for group work students who demonstrate outstanding merit in the classroom and the field was awarded to Lesley Lopez.
- The Herbert R. Strean Memorial Prize for psychodynamically oriented clinical practice students who demonstrate outstanding merit was awarded to Benjamin Lewis and Hannah Odell.
- The Carl D’Ettore Memorial Prize for a clinical practice student placed in a health care setting who demonstrates outstanding merit was awarded to Lily Meleney.
- The Sarah B. Lange Changemaker’s Prize for macro practice students who demonstrate commitment to social justice through work, community service, volunteerism and/or field placement was awarded to Celeste Martinez Rivero.
- The Dean’s Award for Leadership in Social Work for a part-time student who demonstrates outstanding merit in the classroom, field and community was awarded to Kate Glynn.
- The Faculty Award for Excellence in Social Work Practice for students who demonstrate outstanding merit in the classroom, field and community was awarded to Desiree Hartman.
- The Frances (Frankie) Frank Award for outstanding students in the Advanced Lowy-GEM Program in Aging and/or Aging Specialization was awarded to Katherine “Kat” McCluer.
- The Online Program Leadership Award for an online student who demonstrates outstanding leadership excellence in the classroom and the field was awarded to LeeAnn Soto.
The awarding of diplomas and hooding marked the official transition from student to graduate. Dean Barbara Jones conferred the MSW degrees, and Associate Professor Daniel P. Miller, associate dean for doctoral education, conferred the doctoral degrees to the graduating students from BUSSW’s PhD in Social Work program.
Dean Jones presented farewell remarks followed by a brief speech from Angela Yarde, the new president of the School’s Alumni Association, who welcomed the Class of 2024 to the School’s alumni body and invited them to participate in the association as members of the Alumni Board.
The remarks, followed by the recessional (“Feeling Good” by Lauryn Hill) marked the Class of 2024’s full transition from student to graduate.
Congratulations, BUSSW Class of 2024!