A PUBLICATION FROM THE GRADUATE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK
INsight
SPRING 2026
INSIDE THE GCSW
Message From the Dean
The past year has been both a reflection of who we are and a powerful indicator of where we are headed as a college. As I conclude my first year serving as Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work, I am deeply proud of the momentum we are building together—momentum grounded in our values, strengthened by our community, and guided by a shared commitment to impact.
As the largest graduate program at the University of Houston, our college continues to be recognized for excellence, leadership, and meaningful contributions to the social work profession. Being named Organization of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers–Texas Houston Branch is a testament to the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners who advance the mission of social work each day. These achievements affirm not only the quality of our work, but also the purpose that drives it.
At the heart of our success is our unwavering commitment to preparing students for leadership and service. This year, our students engaged in policy and advocacy at the highest levels through opportunities such as the Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP), Social Work Advocacy Day (SWAD), and our inaugural Spring Forum—spaces designed for dialogue, transparency, and meaningful connection across our community. These experiences reflect our belief that education must be both rigorous and responsive to the needs of the world around us. They also reiterate the importance of community and the value of collectivism in working together to respond to the critical needs around us.
We are also advancing our work through strengthened philanthropy and partnerships. The success of Giving Day, the extraordinary support of our students through the Young Alumni Caroline M. Garcia Scholarship—newly established in her name—the creation of a transformational endowment by IntraCare, and the continued growth of our community engagement efforts all underscore a shared investment in our students and in the future of the communities we serve.
Our Charting Our Path to Excellence (COPE) Strategic Plan serves as a living roadmap—aligning our priorities, strengthening our pillars of distinction, and positioning the GCSW to lead with innovation, relevance, and purpose in an evolving social landscape.
It is truly an honor to lead this exceptional college during such a pivotal time. Together, we are charting a future defined by impact, excellence, and possibility—building on our history while shaping what the next generation of social work leadership will look like.
Within INsight, you will find the stories, scholarship, and impact that define our college at this moment in time. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all who made this publication possible and to those whose continued commitment ensures that our future remains one of purpose, excellence, and possibility. May we always remember to Lift As We Climb!
Yarneccia D. Dyson, PhD, MSW
Dean and Maconda Brown O’Connor Endowed Dean’s Chair
Graduate College of Social Work
University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work Named Organization of the Year
We are proud to share that the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) was named Organization of the Year at the recent National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter Houston (NASW-TX) Social Workers’ Gala.
As the leading professional organization for social workers in Texas, NASW-TX advances the profession through advocacy, ethical standards, continuing education, and the promotion of policies that strengthen individuals, families, and communities. Its annual awards recognize individuals and organizations whose work reflects the highest ideals of social work practice and a sustained commitment to social justice, service, and community impact.
The Organization of the Year Award honors institutions that exemplify these values through meaningful contributions to the field. GCSW’s recognition reflects its leadership in preparing practice-ready professionals, advancing innovative research, and building strong community partnerships that address complex social challenges across Houston and beyond.
The award was accepted by Dean Yarneccia D. Dyson, alongside students, faculty, staff, and alumni—underscoring the collective effort that defines the College’s impact. In addition, Ann Liberman, Director of Alumni and Career Services, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her enduring contributions to the profession.
Together, these honors affirm GCSW’s role as a leader in social work education and practice, and its continued commitment to advancing excellence and equity in the communities it serves.
GCSW staff member, Ann Liberman, receiving the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award
GCSW staff member, Ann Liberman, receiving the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award
"These recognitions reflect both the collective strength of our GCSW community and the enduring contributions of leaders like Ann Liberman, whose impact continues to shape and elevate our profession. As we look to the future, the Graduate College of Social Work remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing social work education, strengthening the workforce, and driving meaningful, sustained impact across the communities we serve. It is an honor to lead and serve alongside a community so deeply committed to excellence, purpose, and progress.” - Yarneccia D. Dyson, Dean and Maconda Brown O’Connor Endowed Dean's Chair of the UH Graduate College of Social Work
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION
Recognizing and taking pride in the commendable accomplishments of our esteemed faculty, staff, and GCSW scholars brings immense joy to the entire GCSW community. We are delighted to spotlight their awards and honors.
SSWR Fellow
Dr. Samira Ali, inducted into the 2026 class of Fellows for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR).
SSWR Cluster Chair
Dr. Jodi Berger Cardoso will serve as Cluster Chair for the Immigrants & Refugees (I&R) cluster for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Annual Conference.
CSWE Teaching Academy
Cindy Carter, LCSW, was accepted to the 2026-2027 Council of Social Work Excellence (CSWE) Teaching Academy.
Board Member for NADD
Dr. Yarneccia D. Dyson, elected to serve as a Board Member for NADD, for a three-year term, contributing to the development of intentional programming and communities of practice, nationally.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ann Liberman honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by NASW-TX Houston.
SSWR Cluster Chair
Dr. Edward D. Scott Jr. will serve as Cluster Chair for Black and African Diaspora Focused Research (BADFR). for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Annual Conference.
NADD Next Level Leader
Dr. Quenette Walton selected by the National Association of Deans and Directors (NADD) of Schools of Social Work to participate in its Next Level Leaders in Social Work Education Program.
GCSW Students Receive CSWE Minority Fellowship Program Award
MSW student Elisabeth Adams and doctoral students Marcus Brown, and Chelsea Sanchez selected for the CSWE Minority Fellowship Program (CSWE-MFP).
Advancing Leadership with Intention
This semester, members of the Dean’s Executive Team attended “Next-Level Leadership: An Institute for Women Leaders.” This two-day experience invited women leaders from across higher education to engage in work that was both deeply personal and systemically grounded, with a focus on strengthening leadership identity, expanding networks, and navigating the complexities of leadership in today’s academic landscape.
Stable Sessions
GCSW faculty and students are at the forefront of an emerging therapeutic practice
Clinical Assistant Professor Donna Amtsberg has practiced animal-assisted work since 1997. She came across the Brookside Ranch in 2014 while seeking out sites for student practicum placements. She met owner Dr. Beverly Walsh and was impressed by the ranch’s forward-thinking equine therapy. “These horses have been together [for about 20 years] and have worked under a model that really focuses on choice and consent.” The treatment entails several activities but is generally divided into three stages: self-regulation, equine interaction, and debriefing. According to Dr. Walsh, adolescent clients who have anxiety, depression, or ADHD particularly benefit from this treatment because of its empowering nature. “Horses are good at helping us be more self-led. For some people, partnering with a horse can be the first time they’ve ever really experienced a sense of connection with a secure attachment.”
UH Students Are Advancing Cognitive Health Through Community Care
Launched in 2023 as part of the UH Cougar Initiative to Engage (CITE), CHAIN was designed to do more than teach skills—it was built to transform lives. Under the advising and leadership of GCSW Associate Professor, Dr. Christina Miyawaki, the initiative aims to improve awareness of cognitive health and Alzheimer’s disease within Houston’s Vietnamese American community through culturally informed outreach.
RESEARCH & PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT
Introducing Dr. McClain Sampson, Associate Dean for Research Impact, Innovation, and Engagement (ADRIIE)
Dr. McClain Sampson has been a dedicated member of the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work (UH GCSW) faculty since 2011, contributing to the advancement of research, education, and community‑engaged scholarship. A nationally recognized scholar in maternal and perinatal health, her work examines the social, structural, and policy determinants that shape maternal mental health, morbidity, and mortality, with a strong emphasis on translating research into community‑based interventions and systems‑level change.
Dr. Sampson has authored more than 30 peer‑reviewed publications and secured over $10 million in external funding to support research and training initiatives that improve outcomes for mothers and families—particularly those from historically underserved communities. Her scholarship is deeply rooted in community collaboration and includes leadership on large‑scale initiatives focused on postpartum depression prevention, integrated behavioral health care, workforce development, and maternal health equity, including federally funded programs such as the Healthy Start Initiative. Across these efforts, Dr. Sampson advances solutions that center mothers as whole individuals, strengthen community‑based care models, build a culturally responsive health workforce, and inform policy to improve access, quality, and equity in maternal health care.
An engaged educator and mentor, Dr. Sampson teaches courses in qualitative research methods, integrated behavioral health, and clinical social work practice. She is also a Gallup‑Certified Strengths Coach for the University of Houston and plays an active role in preparing the next generation of social work scholars and practitioners through mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her work extends beyond the university through partnerships with organizations such as the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, where she has contributed to maternal health policy analysis and public scholarship.
As Associate Dean for Research Impact, Innovation, and Engagement (ADRIIE), Dr. Sampson provides strategic leadership to advance the College’s research enterprise and cultivate a thriving scholarly community. She leads initiatives that strengthen research capacity, expand interdisciplinary and community‑engaged partnerships, and support faculty in securing external funding and amplifying the impact of their work. In 2026, her efforts include expanding research collaborations with UH’s College of Medicine, Texas Southern University’s MH‑REACH Maternal Health Center, and the Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute at the University of Houston.
Committed to making research more accessible and actionable, Dr. Sampson also spearheads quarterly workshops designed to demystify and elevate the research process, with topics such as Why Dreaming Is Important for Research, How Strategic Partnerships Lead to Funded Research and Greater Impact, Branding Your Research for Greater Impact, and AI as a Research Assistant. Through her leadership, Dr. Sampson continues to champion research that is rigorous, community‑centered, and intentionally designed to reach—and serve—the communities for whom it matters most.
Legacy Investment Boosts Mental Health Education at University of Houston
By Laurie Fickman
(April 06, 2026 — Health and Medicine)
As IntraCare North Hospital Closes, it Opens Opportunities. A gift from IntraCare North Hospital will support mental health education at the UH Graduate College of Social Work and at the Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing at UH.
In one of its final acts after closing, IntraCare North Hospital has made a $1.6 million gift to the University of Houston to help prepare the next generation of behavioral health professionals serving communities in Houston and across Texas.
“This gift reflects a powerful way an organization can extend its impact,” said Russell T. Dunlavy, vice president for advancement and alumni. “It allows the University to carry forward the commitment IntraCare has made through education in ways that will continue to grow over time.”
The gift from IntraCare, a former psychiatric and behavioral health hospital in Houston, will fund new academic expansion and long-term endowed scholarships at both the UH Graduate College of Social Work and the Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing.
“As we close this chapter for IntraCare, our Board felt a deep responsibility to ensure our mission lives on,” said Deo Shanker, former president of IntraCare North Hospital. “This investment reflects our commitment to the communities we have served and to the future professionals who will continue that care.”
The gift comes at a critical time. Texas faces one of the nation’s most severe shortages of behavioral health professionals. According to the Health and Human Services Commission Health Profession Shortage Area maps, 246 out of 254 counties in Texas are designated as mental health professional shortage areas.
Global support of social work
At the Graduate College of Social Work, the gift will establish the IntraCare Behavioral Health Social Work Endowment, providing long term scholarship support for future students entering the field. It will also support the Global Leaders of Behavioral Health Education program, a training program that prepares social workers to provide mental health services in integrated healthcare settings where medical and mental health services are delivered together.
“Since 2025, IntraCare has supported our GLOBE interprofessional behavioral health training program, helping expand the number of social workers delivering behavioral health services across the region. We appreciate their foresight in establishing an endowment that reaches into the future to provide ongoing support as we carry out the mission to train the next generation of social workers and behavioral health professionals.” - Yarneccia D. Dyson, Dean and Maconda Brown O’Connor Endowed Dean's Chair of the UH Graduate College of Social Work
STUDENT SUCCESS
At the GCSW, student success is defined not only by achievement but by purpose, impact, and readiness to lead in an ever‑evolving social work landscape.
Fellowships & Scholarships
MSW Student Essie T. Richardson
2025 Ima Hogg Scholarship
Congratulations to MSW Student Essie T. Richardson who was awarded a 2025 Ima Hogg Scholarship by The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.
Recipients selected "were chosen for their commitment to strengthening the well-being of communities as professionals in the Texas mental health workforce."
MSW Student Monica Sutton-Bryant
Named 2026 Albert Schweitzer Fellow
MSW Student, Monica Sutton-Bryant, was recently selected as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow. The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston-Galveston (ASFHG) is a one-year leadership development and service-learning program for students in health-related fields.
EVIDENCE of EXCELLENCE
Honoring our graduating students as they prepare to step into their next chapter as alumni, capturing the journeys, voices, and aspirations that define student success at the GCSW and signal what comes next.
Finding New Ways to Heal: How Snakes and Social Work Education Are Expanding Clinical Therapy
From Access to Innovation: Samantha Pueblos Shares Her Passion for Advancing Access and Equity Through People-Centered Technology
At the Intersection of Law, Policy, and Social Work: How Frida Quiroz Found Her Perfect Fit in Impact Litigation and Statewide Advocacy
A Journey Rooted in Resilience: A Working Mom’s Story of Perseverance, Practicum Impact, and Purpose at the GCSW
Redefining Where Social Work Belongs and the Power of Corporate Social Work: Leticia Marisol Barrios and the Power of Corporate Social Work
Honors & Doctoral Achievements
A special congratulatory tribute to those earning their Ph.D.’s from the GCSW this Spring. Your dedication, hard work, and scholarly achievements have not only earned you a well-deserved doctoral degree but have also contributed significantly to the academic excellence of the GCSW.
Dear PhD Graduates,
What a remarkable journey you have undertaken. We encourage you all to stop and recognize not only what you have accomplished, but who you have become in this process.
Your unique journeys began with curiosity, ambition, and the courage to ask questions that had no easy answers, and today, you leave as scholars who have not only found those answers but have reshaped the very questions worth asking. You have spent countless late nights wrestling with data, theory, and doubt. You have revised and reconsidered, defended, and persevered. Through every setback—the chapters rewritten, the moments when the finish line felt impossibly far—you chose to press forward. That perseverance is not a footnote to your achievement; it is your achievement!
The research you have produced, the ideas you have advanced, cross-disciplinary collaborations you’ve made, and the problems you have tackled will echo in classrooms, clinics, and communities for years to come. You’ve also contributed something quieter but equally profound—mentorship, community, and collegiality—showing up for one another through the pressures and peculiarities of doctoral life in ways that made this institution richer and more human-centered.
As you step into this next chapter, as professors, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, innovators, and leaders, carry with you the knowledge that you have already done something extraordinary. You have earned the title of Dr. that precedes your name, but more than that, you have earned the wisdom, resilience, and intellectual depth that no diploma can fully capture. The world you are entering needs minds like yours: rigorous yet imaginative, disciplined yet bold.
Remember this: your voice matters. Your growth does not end here—and most importantly, take pride in this moment of celebration. It has been our privilege, as Associate Dean and Advising Director of the GCSW PhD Program, to walk alongside you on this journey, and we are cheering for everything you are about to become.
With tremendous pride and warmest congratulations,
Quenette L. Walton, PhD, LCSW, Associate Professor
Associate Dean for Doctoral Education, Humana Endowed Chair in Social Determinants of Health
De’Idra Richard, MBA
Doctoral Program Director of Student Advising and Support Service
Anil Arora
Anil Arora
Marcus Brown
Marcus Brown
Helen Clancy
Helen Clancy
Ying Ma
Ying Ma
Ayesha Tariq
Ayesha Tariq
ALUMNI ILLUMINATION
At the Graduate College of Social Work, we know an advanced degree in social work is more than a credential—it’s a catalyst for impact. Alumni Illumination celebrates GCSW alumni whose careers reflect the question at the heart of our #WCYD | What Can You Do? campaign. From advancing policy and leading organizations to providing care, conducting research, and building community-driven solutions, these alumni embody the values instilled through their education and demonstrate the far-reaching influence of social work in action.
Maurya W. Glaude, PhD, MSW
From Classroom Curiosity to Community Healing: Transforming Communities Through Research and Wellness
Elizabeth Westbrook, LCSW
The Pivot That Led to Purpose: Building Bridges Between Therapy and Theology
ShaJuan Alexander, LCSW-S
Building Bridges to Healing and Empowerment: transforming mental health care through leadership and innovation
SOCIAL WORK SPOTLIGHT
Sylvia Brooks Selected to Receive the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work Honorary Alumna Award
For Sylvia Brooks, being named an Honorary Alumna of the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) is both meaningful and deeply personal. Her longstanding connection to the University, its students, and the broader Houston community has been rooted in service, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to expanding opportunity.
A nationally respected civic leader, Sylvia has remained closely engaged with GCSW over the years—not simply as a partner, but as an advocate for student growth and real-world preparation. As a former member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, adjunct faculty member, practicum instructor, and community collaborator, she has helped shape pathways for students to move from classroom learning into meaningful practice. Her work facilitating more than 150 internships through the Third Ward Community Cloth (3rd Ward Cloth) and its partners stands as a testament to her belief that education must extend beyond the classroom and into the communities social workers ultimately serve. Of these, 35 internships were summer placements for undergraduate social work students from Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University, and Springfield College, many of whom contributed to Third Ward Community Cloth service projects.
Sylvia’s distinguished career reflects a lifelong commitment to service and leadership. She began as a child welfare caseworker in Texas and went on to serve as a professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, a recruiter of minority women at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and a leader within United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. Her academic foundation—a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Southern University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California—grounded a career defined by impact.
As the first female President and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) (1990–2007), Sylvia built a legacy centered on access, equity, and empowerment. Under her leadership, the organization expanded critical programs in education, workforce development, and community advancement. Initiatives such as the “Watch Me Read” literacy program supported early childhood development, while partnerships with organizations like IBM introduced workforce training and technology access. Large-scale job fairs connected thousands to employment opportunities, and the Housing Counseling Program helped individuals and families move toward homeownership—one of her signature achievements.
Her leadership has always extended beyond organizational success to broader community transformation. Sylvia was a founding member of the Third Ward Community Cloth Cooperative, an innovative “organization of organizations” designed to improve outcomes for children and families while strengthening connections between the University and the community it serves.
Mentorship and access have been defining forces in Sylvia’s own journey, and she has carried those values forward in every stage of her career. As she prepares to address graduates at commencement, Sylvia’s message centers on resilience, purpose, and impact. She encourages students to “decide what you can do, maintain your focus, and do your best,” while remaining grounded in their values and open to growth and change.
What gives Sylvia hope is the next generation itself. She sees in emerging social workers and community leaders a passion for justice, a willingness to challenge systems, and a commitment to creating meaningful change. Their energy and perspective, she believes, will continue to move the profession—and communities—forward.
Sylvia K. Brooks receives the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work Honorary Alumnus Award (HA '26)
Sylvia K. Brooks receives the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work Honorary Alumnus Award (HA '26)
“As someone who has spent decades observing and working in area of social change in the Houston area, I can honestly state that no one is more deserving than Sylvia Brooks of receiving this award for a lifetime of being an exemplary leader for social change. She has led organizations of change, founded change organizations, established programs that changed lives and taught, supervised and mentored students hoping to be change agents. In so doing she has been responsible for ripples of transformative change for individuals, families and the larger community that will reverberate forever. She is the best; the ideal role model for those wanting to impact the world in a meaningful way as she has done.”
– Elwyn Lee, J.D., Vice President for Neighborhood & Strategic Initiatives
Built with Shorthand