Social Work Journeys

Season 4, Episode 7: Kary Stone and Lorelai Vargas on Leadership, Systems Change, and the Future of Social Work

In this conversation, we’re joined by two remarkable leaders in social work and systems change: Lorelai Vargas and Kary Stone.
Lorelai Vargas, Bryn Mawr’s scholar in residence, brings experience across government, philanthropy, and community innovation, and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at AHRC New York City. She is also a Bryn Mawr alum and a member of the GSSWSR Board of Advisors.
Joining her is Kary Stone, a social worker with decades of leadership in child welfare and systems reform. Kary serves as Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability at the National Association of Social Workers, and is Chair of the GSSWSR Board of Advisors.
Together, they reflect on values-based leadership, stronger communities, and what it takes to build a more just and sustainable future for social work.
Listen now.

Season 4, Episode 6: Provost Dee Matthews on Poetry and Social Work's Healing Intersection

Airea D. "Dee" Matthews, Provost and Professor of Creative Writing at Bryn Mawr College and the former Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, shares her profound insights on using writing as a way to access deep emotional truths, process trauma, and foster healing. Her journey to poetic clarity reveals how language can serve as both refuge and catalyst for growth.
Provost Dee Matthews explores the striking overlaps between poetry and social work, and their shared roots in attunement, presence, and care as they aim to make invisible stories visible. She discusses practical ways social workers can incorporate simple, accessible poetry into their practice, transforming silence into a space of reflection and healing. 
 
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Simulacra
- Bread And Circus
Connect with Provost and Professor Dee Matthews
- Website: https://www.aireadee.com/
- Instagram: @aireadeefam
 

Season 4, Episode 5: Intergenerational Insights on Black Identity & Social Work

A special episode for Black History Month featuring an intergenerational panel of students and alumni from the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Panel includes Liz Barden, a first year master’s student at the GSSWSR; William Collins, class of 1972; Julius Hayes Jr. class of 1987; and Leaida Dever, a second year master's student at the GSWSR. The discussion was moderated by Lance Wilson, class of 2016, also the academic advisor and writing support on the school's student and career services team. 
 

Season 4, Episode 4: Prof. Deeya Haldar on Trauma Informed Lawyering

Join us as we explore the intersection of social work and law with Professor Deeya Haldar from Villanova University. Discover the principles of trauma-informed lawyering and how they empower relationships with clients who have experienced trauma. 

Season 4, Episode 3: Prof. Marc Schulz on the Power of Relationships

Join Mary Florence Sullivan as she delves into a conversation with Prof. Marc Schulz, exploring his journey into psychology, the profound insights from his book, The Good Life, and the pivotal role of strong relationships in shaping our well-being and communities. Discover how interdisciplinary approaches in psychology and social work can enhance our understanding of human flourishing.
To get you own copy of The Good Life (A New York Times Bestseller): https://bit.ly/4p89XKN
 
 

Season 4, Episode 2: Prof. Cindy Sousa on Storytelling as Healing in Social Work

In this episode, Mary Florence interviews Prof. Cindy Sousa, professor of social work and health studies, about the power of storytelling in social work. Drawing on her social work and public health background, Dr. Sousa discusses her interdisciplinary research approach, community-led narrative methods, and the importance of culture and place in work with Palestinian, Syrian, and Rohingya families.
The conversation highlights bearing witness and accompaniment, parenting and mothering as acts of resistance, and the professional responsibility of social workers to sustain communities through joy, care, and collective meaning-making.

Season 4, Episode 1: Prof. Veronica Montes on Borderlands, Belonging, and Care

In this episode Prof. Veronica Montes, Associate Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Studies at Bryn Mawr College, discusses her journey as an immigrant scholar, her research on transnational families and migrants' emotional lives, and her use of feminist decolonial methodologies. She explains the concept of "Borderlands", shares how photography preserves memory and serves as research data, and offers practical advice for social workers.

Reflections and Celebrations: The Social Work Graduate!

This episode features conversations with graduating social work students Abby, Jordan, and Serena Rose as they reflect on their growth and experiences throughout their graduate program and share their aspirations and the challenges they’ve overcome.
Join the celebration as they discuss the importance of community and reflection in social work, and begin their journey beyond the classroom into the broader social work community!