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Celebrating Social Work Leaders event hosts over 200 and honors 12 awardees

Eight Compass Rose awards were given out along with three Dean’s Special Recognition, one Heart of a Social Worker award and Founding Dean Martin was presented with a portrait at March 10 event

Founding Dean Shadi Martin and Associate Dean Lillie Wichinsky presenting Dinita Smith with Compass Rose Dignity Award

Founding Dean Shadi Martin and Associate Dean Lillie Wichinsky presenting Dinita Smith with Compass Rose Dignity Award

Celebrating Social Work Leaders event hosts over 200 and honors 12 awardees

Eight Compass Rose awards were given out along with three Dean’s Special Recognition, one Heart of a Social Worker award and Founding Dean Martin was presented with a portrait at March 10 event

Founding Dean Shadi Martin and Associate Dean Lillie Wichinsky presenting Dinita Smith with Compass Rose Dignity Award

Founding Dean Shadi Martin and Associate Dean Lillie Wichinsky presenting Dinita Smith with Compass Rose Dignity Award

Founding Dean Shadi Martin and Associate Dean Lillie Wichinsky presenting Dinita Smith with Compass Rose Dignity Award

"We are excited about the strength of our community partnerships and the fact that our school will at last have its own building on campus. The state of the School of Social Work is stronger than ever."

The event was held at the beautiful Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, exactly two years to the day of the inaugural Celebrating Social Work Leaders event on March 10, 2020.  The inaugural event took place exactly one day before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic.  The event was skipped in 2021 due to COVID-19, making this the second celebration of social work leaders event hosted by the School of Social Work and their Community Advisory Board – it made this year’s event one for both celebration and reunion.

The School of Social Work compass rose logo on a sign at the event

Social workers advocate for those most vulnerable in society, provide stability during life’s hardest transitions, and demand the systemic changes needed to make life more just and equitable for all.  The event brought together social worker and community partners from across the state and beyond. There was representation from a wide range of disciplines including school social workers, mental health, medical and clinical social workers, developmental disabilities, aging, child welfare, juvenile justice, suicide prevention and many more.  There was representation by social work faculty, students, staff, alumni, members of UNR and NSHE leadership, political representatives, community partners and dignitaries.  Provost Jeffery Thompson provided the UNR welcome, Founding Dean Shadi Martin presented the state of the School and Associate Dean Lillie Wichinsky highlighted the future plan for the School.

"Despite the challenges of the pandemic, enrollment at the UNR School of Social Work has continued to grow significantly as has the size of its faculty," Founding Dean of the School of Social Work Shadi Martin said. "We are excited about the strength of our community partnerships and the fact that our school will at last have its own building on campus. The state of the School of Social Work is stronger than ever."

Twelve awards were presented during the event, which wrapped up with the announcement of the City of Reno’s proclamation announcing their support of the month’s observance and recognition of the importance the School of Social Work plays in building great social work leaders.

“I want to thank everyone who has played a role in helping our communities navigate all the challenges of this global pandemic," Martin said. "I want to thank all the amazing social work leaders who make a difference every day in our communities throughout the state of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ and beyond.”

Dean Martin clapping
Founding Dean of the School of Social Work Shadi Martin

“As ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ns face public health crises, social justice crises, employment crises and mental health crises, the demand for more skilled, compassionate and ethically oriented social workers has never been greater,” Dean Martin shared. “Social work is one of fastest growing professions in the nation and social workers are the primary providers of mental health services.  The mental health and wellbeing of our communities is directly impacted by the quality and quantity of social work students we graduate.”

Of the 12 awards presented at the event, there were eight Compass Rose awards, three Dean’s Special Recognition awards and one award for the Heart of a Social Worker.

  • Compass Rose Social Justice Award – Eilish Kelderman, MSA Candidate
  • Compass Rose Competence Award – Yezenia Olivera, MSW, School of Social Work, Field Education Program
  • Compass Rose Diversity Award – Teach Me to Grow Healthy, Center for Healthy Aging
  • Compass Rose Integrity Award – Michael Luque, MSW, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Training Partnership
  • Compass Rose Dignity Award (TIE) – Dinita Smith, MSW, Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, Drug Abuse Clinic, & Trauma Intervention Program of Northern ΒιΆΉΣ³»­
  • Compass Rose Service Award – Erin Snell, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, FOREVER 14
  • Compass Rose Relationships Award (TrueNorth honoree) – Ashley Daftary, Ph.D.
  • Compass Rose Leadership Award (Legacy Award honoree) – Paula L. Achurra
  • Dean’s Special Recognition Awards
    • Brenda Nguyen
    • Zach Behl
    • Lillian Wichinsky
  • Heart of a Social Worker – Lady Rota Rosaschi, MPA, LSW
Mayor Schieve presented the School of Social Work this Proclamation in recognition of social work leaders and the profession.
Mayor Schieve presented the School of Social Work this Proclamation in recognition of social work leaders and the profession.

“All the nominees are tireless heroes and are long overdue to be recognized,” Martin said. “We hope everyone who came had a wonderful time and felt proud to be a social worker.”

The event concluded with the recognition of the dedication and contributions of the School’s Founding Dean Shadi Martin.  Chair of Board of Regents, Cathy McAdoo and Dr. Mridual Gautam, Vice President for Research and Innovation presented Dean Martin with a portrait of her given by the School’s Community Advisory Board to be placed at the new home of the School of Social Work.  Regent McAdoo stated, “it is only fitting the portrait of the founding dean hang in the new School of Social Work building forever”.  The new School of Social Work building is projected to open by Spring 2023, after it undergoes a complete renovation.

The UNR School of Social Work looks forward to hosting its 3rd annual Celebration of Social Work Leaders again in March 2023.

  • Portrait of Founding Dean Shadi Martin being presented by Chair of Board of Regents Cathy McADoo and Vice President Mridul Gautam
  • Attendees of the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event at the Atlantis
  • Attendees enjoying Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • A look of joy from an attendee at the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • Table set up at Atlantis for Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • Attendees enjoying a reunion at the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • Catherine Farahi and Dean Martin
  • Compass Rose Award nominees Yezenia Olivera and Natalie Gautereaux at Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • Compass Rose Nominee Natalie Gautereaux sharing during the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • Councilman Oscar Delgado at Celebrating Social Work Leaders
  • Dr. Gautum, Dean Martin and Regent Chair Cathy McADoo
  • Dean Martin and Brenda Nguyen – Dean's Special Recognition Award
  • Dean Martin and Dr. Lillian Wichinsky – Dean's Special Recognition Award
  • Dean Martin and Rota Rosaschi, Chair, Community Advisory Board – Heart of a Social Worker Award
  • Dean Martin and Zach Behl – Dean's Special Recognition Award
  • Dean Martin, Eilish Kelderman – Social Justice Award, Dr. Wichinsky
  • Dean Martin, Dinita Smith – Dignity Award, Dr. Wichinsky
  • Dean Martin, Erin Snell – Service Award, Dr. Wichinsky
  • Dean Martin, Michael Luque, MSW – Integrity Award, Dr. Wichinsky
  • Dean Martin, The Trauma Intervention Program of Norther ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ – Dignity Award, Dr. Wichinsky
  • Dean Martin, Yezenia Olivera. MSW – Competence Award, Dr. Wichinsky
  • Dean Shadi Martin presenting the State of the School at Celebrating Social Work Leaders
  • Dean Shadi Martin with Bryan and Roxanna Martin at the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event at the Atlantis
  • Dr. Lillian Wichinsky presenting at the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • Dr. Mridual Gautam, Dean Martin and Cathy McAdoo, NSHE Chair
  • Dr. Wichinsky talking with a participant at the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event
  • Former Community Advisory Board Member Priscilla Bender enjoying a reconnection at Celebrating Social Work Leaders
  • Provost Jeff Thompson delivering a welcome address at the Celebrating Social Work Leaders event at the Atlantis
  • Regent Chair Cathy McAdoo enjoying a conversation with Provost Jeff Thompson at Celebrating Social Work Leaders
  • Rota Rosaschi, Chair, Community Advisory Board and Paula L. Achurra – Leadership (Legacy) Award
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