Class of 2004

Lacey Bartness, LMSW, MSW 2004, writes:  I am currently living and working in Greenville, SC. I am a Counselor in Outpatient Services at The Phoenix Center. The Phoenix Center is formerly Greenville County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Lee Anna Belton, MSW 2004 writes: I am currently working as a Treatment Coordinator for Pressley Ridge, a non-profit therapeutic foster care agency located in Washington, DC. I have passed my social work license exam and in a few months will also be working part time as a family therapist. In the Spring 05, I will be start taking some law classes as that is my next professional goal.

Jennifer Blackledge, LMSW 2004, writes: After working two years with a grant to establish a geriatric hypertension program at Palmetto Health, I have now moved to Senior Primary Care Practice (also with Palmetto Health in Columbia) to serve as a "Social Work Case Manager". I am mostly providing direct social work services to older adults, but I am also keeping our hypertension clinic and lifestyle classes up and running!

Tracie Bodford, MSW 2004, is currently working at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine, as a family support social worker. She says she is mostly working with substance-addicted babies, but also carries a beeper and helps with crises that may arise or with families who need emotional support. Tracie is working toward her LCSW license. Her fiancé is a juvenile correctional officer at Charleston Correctional Center in Charleston, Maine. Tracie reports that the weather there is finally somewhat warm! It generally stays in the 50s and 60s. Her plans for the future? They are going to enjoy Maine while they are there and will most likely relocate to North Carolina within two years so that they may finally get married in the presence of their families.

David Cecil, PhD 2004, has been appointed as an Assistant Professor in the East Tennessee State University Department of Social Work.

Mary Ellen B. Chafin, MSW 2004, is the Executive Director for the Institute for Human Services and Public Policy at Louisiana State University Shreveport. Hope you are doing great!

Regina Chestnut, MSW 2004, writes: Hello to all! I’m Regina; I received a graduate degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina in 2004. I see some of buddies are doing well, Just a small SHOUT OUT: Hey Charlita, Glenn & Melinda! I miss ya’ll so much! Well since graduating I move back to my native hometown-Myrtle Beach and provided mental health counseling to adolescents and families at the Myrtle Beach Middle School, employed by the Waccamaw Mental Health Department. Due to my candidacy to campaign for Myrtle Beach City Council in November of 2005, I resigned that position and I began a consulting & training business (Chestnut Consulting & Training) in Myrtle Beach. I am very involved with my community and was appointed to serve on the Myrtle Beach Planning Commission (3 year term). I’m very excited for everyone that has reported accomplishments after graduating! Remember encouragement is from the genuine support of others, determination is from within…you can email me at rchestnut@sc.rr.com. Please continue spreading the mission and values of great social workers and people who care!

Glenn Conklin, MSW 2004, is working for John Snow, Inc., (JSI) in Arlington, Va., as a program coordinator. JSI is an international public health consulting firm with six offices in the United States that work on domestic contracts awarded by state and federal governments around a variety of public health issues ranging from maternal health to tobacco-related issues. Globally, JSI has 47 field offices throughout the world. A bulk of the international work they do is African countries, primarily central and southern Africa. They are a major contractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The largest program in the Arlington, Va., office is Deliver. Deliver is a USAID project that deals exclusively with developing and implementing logistics to provide medical supplies contraceptives to a select group of countries where the infrastructure does not support any type of self-sustainment. Glen provides support to many of the ! programs in the Arlington office, assists with strategic planning, and reviews and audits country and technical assistance reports. He also handles visa processing for employees who travel abroad and develops and implements training for U.S. and field office staffers. Recent training sessions were held in Ghana, Ethiopia, Romania, South African, and the Philippines. Glenn recently returned from Harare, Zimbabwe, where he worked with members of the World Health Organization (based in Geneva, Switzerland) to help develop a curriculum for JSI’s Injection Safety Project, which was funded through USAID and CDC.

Jennifer Crenshaw, MSW 2004, writes: I am living in Six Mile, South Carolina and am working for Hospice Care of South Carolina as the social worker in their Pickens County office.

Sharon D. Daniels, MSW 2004, writes: I am the Shelter Coordinator at CASA/Family Systems in Orangeburg, SC which is a nonprofit organization that house women and their childen who are victims of domestic violence. My duties include overseeing the entire operation at the shelter, managing staff and proving counseling, etc.

Catherine Gregory, LMSW 2004, is now working with the Alston Wilkes Society Youth Services Division as the Quality Assurance and Training Coordinator.

Andrea Harris, MSW 2004, writes: I live in Travelers Rest South Carolina. Since graduation I have worked with South Carolina Mental Health in assessment and emergency services. Recently I started a new job at SpringBrook Behavioral Health in Travelers Rest as their admissions coordinator. SpringBrook offers both an acute care psy. unit for adults as well as a residential treatment program for children and adolescents.

Jessica Hughes, MSW 2004, married “her wonderful love,” Beach Loveland, on May 28th. It’s impossible not to love someone named “Beach”!

Shakina T. Jones, MSW 2004 writes: I currently reside in Trenton, NJ where I am employed as a Mental Health Practitioner at Trenton Central High School.

Michelle Kaiser, MSW 2004, is working as the family selection coordinator for the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina.

Melinda Leabch, MSW 2004. Director of Career and Educational Services at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth. Fort Worth, TX. I have been working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth since graduation in 2004. I have moved up the ladder very quickly in my few years of employment. First began as a Project Advisor for the First Generation College Student Program which is a college prep program for low income first generation college students. I was then promoted to Program Director of Career Launch, which is a job training and job placement program for teenage gang members. From there I received my most recent promotion to Director of Career and Educational Services. I oversee 2 Upward Bound Programs, 2 Educational Talents Search programs (possibility of 2 more by August 2006 – waiting on funding), First Generation College Student Program, Career Launch Program, Youth In Action Program, and 6 Educational Directors. Never thought I would be dealing with budgets totaling over $3 million with multiple funding guidelines and over 40 staff and 15 contractors. It is a very challenging position, but I absolutely love it. Work hard and believe in yourself and you can achieve anything.

Gabby Marquez, MSW 2004 writes: I accepted a position as a Social Worker to coordinate the Office of Social Services at New York University. And...I just passed the exam to be licensed in New York! Good luck to all of you...by the way, don't wait too long before taking the licensure exam!

Frances McConnell, MSW 2004 writes: I am living in Atlanta, GA. I am emplyoyed with Georgia Mentor, a therapeutic foster care and adoption agency. I am a Clinical Coordinator for the Child and Adolescent Unit. It is very challenging, but rewarding at the same time. Hope you all are doing well.

Kimberly McElroy, LMSW 2004, was recently promoted to director of therapeutic  foster care for the Alston Wilkes Society in South Carolina. Kimberly is also a field instructor for the College of Social Work.  

Sherianne (Pancho) McKee, LMSW 2004, writes: I spent 3 ½ years working for the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Goodwill Industries and ended my career there as the Social Work Team Leader.  I had a dual role of supervisor and direct-service provider.  From my experience with this position, I realized that the aspect of my job that I truly enjoyed was counseling individuals with vision loss.  I decided to take my career path in a different direction because of that and am now a Staff Social Worker for the Ontario County Mental Health Center.  I just started my new position and I know I have a lot to learn!  I’m looking forward to this new challenge and hope to be a Clinical Social Worker in a few years with the intent of having my own practice one day.  My best to everyone! 

Sara Cornwell Nolette, MSW 2004, LMSW, married Charlie Nolette on May 29. Sara’s former field supervisor asked her to assist in opening Hospice Care of America in Beaufort, S.C. She started her new position in June.

Brandi Palmer, MSW 2004, writes:  I obtained my LMSW and I am currently employed at Fort Jackson. I am a Exceptional Family Member Program Coordinator under Army Community Service.

Despina Panagopoulou, MSW 2004, returned to Athens, Greece to volunteer for both the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2004 Paralympic Games.  She writes: I have to say I will miss the Olympic and Paralympic Athens and all that comes with such events! Now, after all this, the search for a job has started.

Tracey Phillips, LMSW 2004, is an assistant professor at Springfield College's School of Human Services in Charleston, S.C. She is also a doctoral candidate at Regent University School of Psychology and Counseling. 

Omni Porter, MSW 2004, lives in Rock Hill, S.C., and is a mental health professional at the Catawba Family Service Center.

Cindy Raybould, LMSW 2004, writes:  I am a LMSW working as the Assistant Veterans Affairs Officer for Aiken County, helping veterans and their families receive the benefits due them. I have started a support group for widows of veterans. She got published in the online journal Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics http://www.socialworker.com/jswve/content/view/38/46/

Korey Reynolds, MSW 2004 writes: I am living in Chicago and working for an employee assistant program, Compsych, as a Guidance Consultant. I do assessments and connect people with resources for mental health services. I am also going to be an Aunt for the second time in 3 weeks :)

Maria Janet Rodriguez, MSW 2004, owns Hispanic Awareness, which provides training and workshops to help others understand and appreciate Hispanic culture. She also works for the SC Department of Social Services. She reports that her husband retired from the Army, her oldest daughter got married and is living in Pennsylvania, and her youngest daughter attends Winthrop University.

Mary Rogers, MSW 2004, lives in Bennettsville, S.C., Monday through Friday with her mother, who recently had some health setbacks. She is the mental health court coordinator for Marlboro County and will be working for the local mental health clinic and the courthouse to keep persons with mental illness who have run-ins with the court system stable in their own communities. The program is funded by a three year grant. Mary says the Tri-County Mental Health Clinic has other openings for MSW’s if any of her fellow alumni are interested. Her cell number is 803-920-6742.

Sarah (Greenfield) Rogers, MSW 2004, works for Lexington Baptist Church Counseling Center. She go married in August 2005.

Ross Dean Sparboe, MSW 2004 writes: I am clinical Detox counselor at LRADAC here in Columbia.

Ele Starr, MSW 2004, writes: Hi- I just got my licensure last month and have recently started a new job. I am working at Carolina Medical Review as a Medicaid Behavioral Health Specialist. I really enjoy it. Although I am not doing direct client practice the skills I learned in the social work program assist me daily. I am thankful to the university and the education offered through the college of social work that I was able to get a great job and continue to serve persons in our community who so greatly deserve quality services and commitment. -

Charmella Tyler, MSW 2004 writes: I am a Prevention Case Manager at a non-profit organization, PALSS, here in Columbia. I work with HIV positive persons who are at high-risk of transmitting the virus to others. I just started this job in October. After graduation, I worked as a clinical counselor at a non-profit agency named Bridges. This was a day program for persons with various mental illnesses. In the near future, I plan to return to school to pursue my doctorate in Public Health. I hope everyone from the Advanced Standing 2004 class is doing well

Charleta Wylie, MSW 2004, writes: Currently, I am a social worker in Mecklenburg county (Charlotte, NC)with DSS as a CPS investigator. All is going great, and I am so happy for so many people who recently graduated the program and was able to find a job!

Intae Yoon, PhD 2004, has been appointed as an Assistant Professor in social work at West Chester Univesity in Pennsylvania.

Class of 2003

Donna Slack Bulger, MSW 2003, is currently employed with State Office Department of Social Services as a Foster Care Consultant in Program & Policy and just recently appointed by Richland County Council to The Greater Columbia Community Relations Council for a 3 year term which ends in 2010.

Carrie Dennison Elliott, MSW 2003, a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, is a recipient of the Louis E DeMoll Endowed Presidential Scholarship.

Karen E. Ham, LMSW 2003, works for Winyah Community Hospice Care.

Monica Johnson, MSW 2003, writes: I am currently living and working in Columbia, SC. I am a Career Counselor at Midlands Technical College. Previously, I worked as a Youth Counselor for Calhoun County Public School District. Best Wishes to all of the College of Social Work grads and a special salute to the Class of 2003.

Amanda Martin, MSW/MPH 2003, left South Carolina last September to relocate to Latin America. She is an international team member of Witness for Peace. The organization focuses on fair trade, social justice, and Latin American peace.

Lisa Nelligan, MSW 2003, works at Hospice Care of Tri-County (Sumter, SC).

Judith Nelson (now Judy Hamilton), MSW 2003 is currently working in Augusta, GA for Nephrology Centers of America as a medical social worker. Under LISW-CP supervision with Bob Bradford of Limestone College.

Jenny Powers, MSW 2003, after completing her MSW, Jenny worked two years as a clinical social worker in Charleston, SC with youth and families. She is currently working toward her PhD in social work from Portland State University. Her dissertation focuses on youth in foster care with disabilities.

Robert G. Sanchez-Langston, MSW, BSW 2003, lives in Winston-Salem, N.C., and is the staff development and training coordinator for the local DSS. He began a part-time MPA program at UNC Greensboro last fall

Mona Sawiris, MSW/MPH 2003. Mona has a new job at the Department of Mental Health in Camden, S.C. She counsels teenaged students who are placed in special education services because of mental health disorders. Although she still lives in Columbia, S.C., Mona has moved a little closer to her new job. She sends her sincere thanks to everyone who assisted in her job search.

Sandy Sims, MSW 2003, works for the Appalachian District Hospice as a social work supervisor. She travels within three counties that are all located in the mountains of N.C.

Kesha Wall, MSW 2003 (Advance Standing) writes: I immediately took a position as Program Coordinator of the South Carolina Geriatric Education Center (SC-GEC) at the Medical University of South Carolina. The SC-GEC's aim is to develop and deliver training and education to the range of professionals, faculty, and students who are active, or seeking to become active, in the fields of geriatric care and gerontology. Personally, I just purchased my first home and my 11 and 13 year old daughters are keeping me busy (but I welcome the stress)!!!

Tara Wilkinson, MSW 2003, works for Capstone Companies, which is based in Alabama, as a start-up specialist. She works out of a home office in Rhode Island and travels throughout the country serving as a consultant for residence life programs. She says Capstone Companies is always looking to recruit good people. If you are job searching, e-mail her at tarawilky@yahoo.com.

Class of 2002

Christine Dawkins-Brewster, MSW 2002, has accepted a position with DC Child and Welfare Services in Washington, DC. She will be relocating to the area in late August. DC Child and Family Services is focused on recruitment of social workers to work in foster care and adoptions.

Sybil Derry, MSW 2002 writes: I am currently working in the Metro Detroit area
for a national Hospice organization. I cover the southern Michigan and Detroit area. I have lived in the area for a little over two years and I still hate the weather! But the job is GREAT!

Kelly J. Eppley, MSW, 2002, writes: I moved to the Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina shortly after graduation and found work first with a local United Way and later with an organization serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. Last summer, I finally found and accepted a position that feels like the perfect marriage between a background in writing and editing and my social work education and interest. I’m now serving as the Social Services Manager for Mandala Adoption Services, an international adoption agency in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I manage the home study process for prospective adoptive parents, including contracting with social workers across the state to conduct home studies and editing those studies as families move through the adoption process. In addition, I’m taking Spanish classes at a local community college, and just last spring, I bought a house and adopted, arguably, the cutest dog in the ! world! As the t-shirt says, “Life is good...”

Beverly W. Holmes, MSW 2002. is currently working as a Clinical Researcher with the Clinical Trials Network (CTN) of the National Institute of Drug Abuse and is housed at LRADAC on Devine Street. The CTN conducts clinical trials on promising behavioral, pharmacological or integrated treatments within substance abuse programs. She has also been an active member of the Minority Interest Group whose purpose is to develop a strategic plan for the CTN on minority participation in clinical trials.

Shin Yun, LMSW 2002(Certificate of Gerontology), currently works at Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital in the Heart Center as a medical social worker. 

Class of 2001

Donna W. Aubuchon, MSW 2001, works at Broughton Hospital, Morganton NC. She writes: After obtaining my MSW, I received a promotion to Social Work Supervisor of the Specialty Services Division at Broughton Hospital.

Anton Gunn, MSW 2001, is the Executive Director of South Carolina Fair Share, a nonpartisan, statewide membership organization made up of low income, moderate income and everyday South Carolinians representing a diverse combination of affected consumers, individuals, citizen activists, and organizations concerned with consumer and progressive social change issues.

Dr. Cynthia McFadden, DHSc; LMSW, MSW 2001, recently completed a Doctor of Health Science Degree from Nova Southeastern University. Currently works at as Director of Mental Health Services for Columbia Care Center

Kimberly Sommerville, MSW 2001, is employed at the Center for Elders Independence ( a PACE program) in Oakland, Calif. Kimberly also fulfilled a life-long dream of attending culinary school in 2005. Kimberly wants to connect with her classmates and invites you to e-mail  her at assam5563@aol.com or 1819 7th Ave., Apt. 1, Oakland, Calif. 94606. 

Class of 2000

Jocelyn J Boudreau, MSW 2000, currently works as Corporate Trainer for the Rosecrance Health Network. We are an affiliated group of addictions treatment programs that consists of an adult treatment center, an adolescent treatment center, two recovery homes for female adolescents and a recovery home for women with children. I am responsible for developing and presenting training for new clinical staff. I am also heavily involved in assessing and monitoring clinical competency standards. It is exciting and exhausting work and I've loving every minute of it! My time at USC prepared me to meet each emerging challenge. I am proud to be a part of a new generation of social workers who continue to grow and expand the field.

Wendy Campbell, MSW 2000, is on faculty in the social work department at Winthrop University and loves it. She and her family, including husband, Bill, and daughters Lucy and Sally, are doing great!

Mary Katherine (Nelson) Daniels, MSW 2000, began working after graduation as an early interventionist with Columbia- based Bright Start, helping developmentally disabled children from ages birth to three years old. She helped Bright Start develop a satellite office in Spartanburg and later moved to Atlanta with her husband, Matt. Now living in Charlotte, Katherine was case coordinator for the Carlton Watkins Center, working with developmentally disabled children until giving birth to son Nelson, who turned a year old Aug. 30,2007.    

Jill Fogerty, MSW 2000 works for Villa Fairmont MHRC-Telecare. She writes: I moved to the Bay Area to take a job at a sub-acute psychiatric hospital in 2000. I am taking the social work licensure exams this year (2004).

Amy K. Linder, MSW 2000, is the Associate Director of Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations at Hamilton College in New York.

Sandra McClendon, MSW 2000 writes: I am licensed (LMSW) in Mississippi and work for the Department of Mental Health at the State Office. I am a program evaluator for children's day treatment programs (274 programs)and 5 therapeutic foster care agencies that we license. I have completed my supervision and will in the near future be taking the LCSW exam.

Patrick J. Patterson, MSW/MPH 2000, is program specialist at the Administration for Children and Families in Philadelphia, Pa. Patrick was nominated for a Federal Executive Board Excellence in Government Award. He is a finalist for nonsupervisory rookie of the year.

Class of 1999

Criss Barin, MSW 1999, has joined the team at the Pediatric Tumor Foundation of the United States as their new national programs administrator. While completing the MSW at the COSW, Barin worked as an intern and graduate assistant with the FACT project at Mars Hill College.

Kirsten Ostegren Clark, MSW 1999, is expecting her first child in Novemeber 2004. She lives in Columbia Heights, MN.

Jennifer Murray Connell, MSW 1999, and her husband, Christian Connell, Ph.D., a 2000 graduate of the U.S.C. Clinical/Community Psychology program, are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Clare Margaret Connell in March 2000. Connell will be returning to her job as clinical instructor of social work at the Yale Child Study Center, where she works in the Family Support Service Program doing community-based family and foster care preservation/reunification. In addition, Connell is working on a pilot project called Good Faith Parenting, which is a collaboration between Yale mental health professionals and community church leaders.

Shannon (Watson) Cook, MSW 1999, is a counselor for the older blind through the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.  Sharon got married in October 2003 to Steve Cook, Jr. of Lancaster SC.

Jay Gabbard, MSW 1999 writes:  I have just accepted an Assistant Professor position in Social Work at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. My wife Stephanie and son Blake are doing great and we are excited about this new chapter of our lives.

Jay Gabbard, MSW 1999, writes the following. After graduating in 1999, I began Ph.D. studies in social work at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. I am currently a third-year student and have recently begun work on my dissertation proposal. My substantive topic area is the provision of mental health services to severely mentally ill (SMI) homeless individuals. I also have also been involved in research on therapeutic work with juvenile sex offenders, interventions with aging caregivers of adult SMI children, and the impact of spirituality on health/mental health. I got married in June of 2001 to the former Stephanie McFerren of Weirton, West Virginia and we reside in Birmingham, AL. In June of 2001, I was awarded a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Minority Research Fellowship and I was renewed for the fellowship for the 2002-2003 year. I would love to hear from my former classmates and professors at samoansw@hotmail.com

Gene Rodgers, MSW 1998, was recently promoted to state director of behavioral health services, a community and home-based provider of mental health services. Gene was elected president of North Carolina’s largest and most influential association, representing providers of community-based services, the North Carolina Providers Council.

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Are you an alumni of the College of Social Work?  If you would like to have your information posted on the next "Alumni Focus" please e-mail your bio to Chris Monsma at monsma@sc.edu