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 Lily Grob (lilywg@bu.edu), Marcus Shaw (mjshaw@bu.edu), and Ava Thornton (athorn01@bu.edu) for more information.
Creating a Student Group
Interested in creating a student-led organization? BUSSW encourages it’s students to organize with one-another around shared goals, ideas, and identities. If you are interested in creating a group with your peers, please email the CRC director of student services, Junior Pena (junipena@bu.edu), and the CRC student services department email (sswoss@bu.edu). We would be happy to find ways to promote your group’s platform to other students.
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 fall 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 Fall 2025 will be held the Second Sunday 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 Fall 2025 Peer Support drop-in dates are:
Sunday, 9/14 at 5pm with Nate and Alyssa
Sunday, 10/12 at 5pm with Jam and Chiara
Sunday, 11/9 at 5pm with Jam and Chiara
Sunday, 12/14 at 5pm with Alyssa and Nate
Meet your Peer Mentors:
Jam Trott (she/they)
About: A lifelong journey including an international upbringing and prior career in the arts is what brought Jam to social work and continues to be the foundation for their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jam is particularly passionate about working with persons who are neurodivergent / living with a disability, LGBTQ+ folks, and those with transnational identities. Her long term goal is to become an AASECT certified sex therapist. Their current field placement is at a therapeutic boarding school for individuals 8-22 years of age with complex special needs where they facilitate individual, group, and family therapy.
Graduate school, online class, and the enormity that is BU can be isolating—but it doesn’t have to be! Jam looks forward to getting to know you in the student lounge.
Hometown and/or where you live now: Jam grew up in Egypt, but now lives on Cape Cod in MA.
Major: Clinical; Trauma, Violence & Justice specialization
Track: Traditional Track
Top 5
- Hobby – currently, attending concerts with friends
- Food – Gluten free pizza (in any shape or form)
- Song – “Neverender” by Justice featuring Tame Impala
- Book – A Psalm For The Wild Built by Becky Chambers
- Quote – “Two things can be true” – running joke from the TV series Disenchantment
Alyssa Bunnell
About: Alyssa comes to the BU MSW program from a career in accounting for a second act that aligns more with her values and priorities as her life has evolved. She is currently doing her foundation field placement at Tri-Valley, Inc. in Dudley, MA, supporting aging adults 60+ that are generally resistant to supportive services. Going forward, Alyssa aims to provide direct 1:1 and/or couples therapy with the goal of eventually working in private practice. Outside of the program, Alyssa loves to read romance, psychological thrillers, snuggle with her two goldendoodles, and spend time with her Husband, stepdaughter, family and friends. She tries to avoid watching TV, but most of the popular current shows suck her in and she is on her infinity watch of Gilmore Girls. She is located in central Massachusetts. Alyssa remembers what it feels like to see the vast program plan, internship, job(s), and life in front of her and is looking forward to her role as a Peer Mentor.
Major: Clinical
Track: Traditional Track
Top 5
- Hobby: Reading paperbacks, hardcovers, audiobooks, e-reader books and anything I can get my hands on, and diamond painting
- Food: Poke bowls
- Song: You and Me On The Rock – Brandi Carlile
- Book: Anxious People – Fredrik Backman and/or The Collected Regrets of Clover – Mikki Brammer
- Quote: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” – Haruki Murakami
Nate Delk (he/him)
About: Nate worked with autistic kids for twelve years before coming back to school to work on his master’s. He’s currently doing his field placement at the Human Services Center in New Castle, PA, where he is doing outpatient therapy. Outside of class, Nate is an animal lover, with three cats who love to join for classes, and enjoys both video games and being out in the woods. As someone who realized he was ace in his 20s and struggled a long time to get there, Nate is hoping to help the LGBTQ+ community after graduation, probably through therapy. Nate grew up outside Pittsburgh PA, and now lives in western PA.
Major: Clinical
Track: Human Services Track
Top 5:
- Hobby: Role Playing, currently larping
- Food: Pierogies!
- Song: This is tough, it changes a lot. Currently… “Time will change you”, by the Crane Wives
- Book: Dark Tower series by Stephen King
- Quote: “Remember this. Try.” from the TV show Andor.
Chiara Albanese (she/her)
About: Chiara is currently pursuing her MSW with the intention of specializing in the prevention and treatment of trauma. She brings a blend of research expertise and passion for social justice to the program. With a background in psychology and gender studies, she has spent the last several years conducting qualitative research focused on healthcare, particularly working with vulnerable populations including veterans, survivors of human trafficking, and patients with rare diseases. Chiara is currently doing her field placement on the Behavioral Health Team at N Street Village, a non-profit serving homeless women in DC. When she’s not diving into research or coursework, she loves taking a long walk, listening to audiobooks, and eating all of the delicious food DC has to offer. She’s excited to connect with fellow students and learn from their backgrounds and experiences!
Major: Clinical
Track: Traditional Track
Top 5:
- Hobby: Reading (on the beach if I can swing it)
- Food: Pad Thai
- Song: Dancing Queen
- Book: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
- Quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou