NYU Silver

NYU SMART (Silver Mental Health Access and Resource Tool) is live! Our new online professional network connects Silver alumni, faculty, and graduating students through searchable directories, referral networks, and communities of practice. It also connects members of the general public to our community through a public directory of quality providers with an educational background they can trust. Access is free through June 2027 for those who sign up for a charter membership soon — register at silver.smart.nyu.edu. As Director of Alumni Relations Naja L. Muhammad told the Class of 2026 during graduation exercises on May 12, “A Silver social work degree prepares you to lead, advocate, and serve wherever your path takes you.” Whether you're a new grad or a seasoned alum, SMART is your way to stay connected. Join us for the official launch celebration on June 4th! [Image description: Screenshot of the NYU SMART homepage above NYU Silver Class of 2026 graduates, dressed in their academic attire, clapping in their seats at the school’s Graduation Ceremony.]

The celebration of our Class of 2026 is continuing at All-University Commencement at Yankee Stadium. Cheers to our #NYU2026 #NYUSilverGrads. Learn more about the ceremony and watch the live stream at nyu.edu/commencement. [Image descriptions: Graduating NYU Silver students pose in their academic attire in their seats at Yankee Stadium before NYU All-University Commencement.]

“As social work scholars, our role is not just to study the world, but to change it.” With those powerful words, Dr. Richeleen Dashield, Director of Student Impact and Innovation, set the stage for NYU Silver’s third annual Research Day. She noted that the event’s theme—”Equity is Freedom: Translational Research for an Inclusive Future”—reminds us that the questions we ask and the methods we use carry ethical, political, and human weight. The half-day event showcased work by scholars ranging from undergraduates to tenured faculty. - Evelyn Macario, BS ’26, shared her op-ed on inequalities for Spanish-speaking families in NYC schools. - Saif Al Owais, BA ’28, read his op-ed on the disparity between responsibility for climate change and vulnerability to its consequences. - Associate Professor Jordan DeVylder presented his research on structural inequality and risk for psychotic symptoms. - Associate Professor Sarah Narendorf shared her work to develop an intervention with and for young adults transitioning from homelessness to supported housing. - PhD student Natalie Green spoke about engaging young people in high school-based research. - PhD student Dget Downey presented their research on anti-LGBTQ+ legislation’s impact on youth mental health. - Daniel B. Tanh, DSW ’26, shared his capstone research on trauma, displacement, and healing within the Southeast Asian refugee diaspora. - Director of Global and Lifelong Learning Ben Sher, DSW ’24, Dayne Albright, MSW ’25, and Josie Elliker, MSW ’25, presented their findings on adaptive leadership as a facilitator in community-based research. The event concluded with poster presentations from undergraduates in Dr. Dashield’s Strategies to Reduce Inequality course. It was a day to gather in community with scholars who are not only advancing social work research but also transforming what it can be when it is inclusive of those it affects. Many thanks to Dr. Dashield, our Office for Research, which co-hosted the event, and all the change agents who joined us.

Community Counseling and Mediation is proud to share that Carmen M. Collado, our Chief Operating Officer & Chief of External Relations, was featured in the @nyusilver May 2026 Inside Silver Newsletter! She was highlighted for her Women's History Month award from Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Inc. (HITN). Thank you to NYU, Inside Silver and HITN for the multiple recognitions of our COO and her dedication to uplifting vulnerable communities through service and mentorship. And congratulations to Ms. Collado and our CCM community at large! Please see the image to read Ms. Collado's feature in Inside Silver.

Don't have a ticket to our Graduation ceremony this afternoon? You can still celebrate our #NYUSilverGrads by watching the live stream starting at 1:15 pm EDT at youtube.com/live/fFddu-V_aiE. [Image description: Purple and white graphic with the NYU Silver logo and text reading “Congratulations NYU Silver Class of 2026, #NYUSilverGrads.”]

Faculty, staff, and students from our Rockland County campus gathered last week to celebrate their Class of 2026 MSW grads. “One of the things that has always made the Rockland Campus so special is the sense of community we’ve built together,” said long-time Administrative Aide Loriana Aviles. The suburban campus is small, so those who study, teach, and work there forge especially close, supportive bonds. Ms. Aviles and Campus Coordinator Dr. Katherine Compitus organized the buffet dinner at St. Thomas Aquinas College, where the campus is co-located. “We want to say how proud we are of each and every one of our students, and especially our Class of 2026 graduates,” said Dr. Compitus. “It has been an honor to watch your growth and to be part of your journey.” [Image description: Two dozen NYU Silver Rockland Campus graduates, staff, and faculty pose in front of a balloon-covered backdrop with a sign that reads “2026 Grad.”]

From the first session to the final farewell, NYU Silver classes turn into communities unto themselves. With most classes limited to 25 students, and Social Work Practice I and II capped at just 15, strong connections are easily forged. It’s bittersweet to see the semester end, but these #LastDayOfClass photos convey pure joy. Thank you to Drs. Daniel Tanh, Faye Zakheim, Gitanjali Thadhani, and the students in their Practice classes, for sharing these “last looks” of the semester. Congratulations to our faculty, students, and especially our soon-to-be graduates on a successful academic year! [Image descriptions: 1) Dr. Daniel Tanh and 13 students in his Practice II class pose next to a white board with the words “Happy Last Day of Class” on it. Two students are holding small dogs and two others are making peace signs. Dr. Tanh is lying in front propped up on his left arm making a peace sign with his right hand. 2) Dr. Faye Zakheim and the 15 students in her Practice II class pose for a last day of class photo under the Washington Square Park arch. 3) Dr. Gitanjali Thadhani poses in her classroom with the 9 students in her Practice IV class on their last day of the academic year. One of the students holds a leather folio with “NYU Silver School of Social Work” embossed on the front.

NYU Silver is honored to have received the Janet Weinberg Community Builder Award last night at the Educational Alliance’s (EA) annual gala. Our school has a longstanding relationship with the organization, which has social work deeply embedded in its centers and programs supporting education, mental health, and community well-being. Our partnership, and especially our practicum placements, have grown under Dean Michael A. Lindsey, who serves as an EA trustee. “This award is especially meaningful because it recognizes the work of our students—our interns—who show up every day with skill, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose,” said Dean Lindsey in accepting the award. One of those students, Andreya Estrada, MSW ’26, introduced Dean Lindsey at the event. Over the past year, she has interned at EA’s Manny Cantor Center (MCC), providing hands-on support to children navigating behavioral and developmental challenges, and connecting families to critical resources. “Being a part of the MCC community has shown me what it looks like when care, dignity, and hope come together in meaningful ways,” said Estrada. “At its core, this work is about helping people, and communities supporting one another. That's what I've learned at NYU Silver and at MCC.” Dean Lindsey thanked EA for its vital services and for being a partner in educating our students to meet pressing needs. “I accept this award with the utmost humility, and with a renewed commitment to continue preparing the next generation of social workers, to deepen this partnership like never before, and assure that the work our students do today translates into stronger, healthier communities tomorrow.” @DrMikeLindsey @EdAlliance [Image descriptions: 1) NYU Silver Dean Michael A. Lindsey accepts the Janet Weinberg Community Builder Award last night at the Educational Alliance’s 2026 gala. 2) Andreya Estrada, MSW ’26, introduces Dean Lindsey at the Educational Alliance’s 2026 gala.]

#TBT: When Dilim Dieke, MSW ’15, and Adjunct Assistant Professor Emily George, MSW ’08, envisioned a space for the social work community to bridge the gap between generations, NYU Silver Director of Alumni Relations Naja L. Muhammad helped bring it to life. To kick off Social Work Month 2026, over 100 professionals and students gathered for “Bridging Connections: A Social Work Networking Night.” Highlights included a guided networking experience and a keynote by Dr. Pia Hargrove, MSW ’02/DSW ’26, on the power of connection for professional development, career longevity, and personal well-being. The free event, co-hosted by The Social Work Ladies Collective, Inc. was a true team effort. We received invaluable assistance from NYU’s Wasserman Center and NYU Silver’s Office of Global & Lifelong Learning (OGLL), Office of Career Design & Social Work Career Readiness (CDR), and School Social Work Training Academy (SSWTA). Special thanks to OGLL Director Dr. Ben Sher, DSW ’24, CDR Director Dr. Tiffany Llewellyn, and SSWTA Project Director Dr. Gabriella McBride, DSW ’23. We’re grateful to all the organizers, volunteers, and attendees who helped foster mentorship and stronger bonds across our community! [Image descriptions: 1) Hosts Emily George and Dilim Dieke speak at a podium with an NYU Silver sign and purple balloons. 2) Three guests pose at the NYU Silver Step and Repeat. 3) A guest holds up two books she won in the event's raffle as another guest smiles behind her. 4) Four guests stand together networking. Guests sit in leather couches networking in small groups. 5) Two guests pose at the NYU Silver Step and Repeat. 6) Co-host Dilim Dieke and OGLL Director Dr. Ben Sher smile at a podium with an NYU Silver sign and purple balloons. 7) Three guests pose at the NYU Silver Step and Repeat. 8) Guests sit in leather couches networking in small groups. 9) Three guests pose at the NYU Silver Step and Repeat. 10) Co-host Emily George stands talking to three guests.]

Carmen Collado reflects on how mentorship shaped her career and the critical role it plays in advancing behavioral health equity. #BehavioralHealth #HealthEquity #Leadership #Mentorship @ccmnyc @nyusilver 📰 Read the article: /mentorship-and-leadership-in-advancing-behavioral-health-equity/

Congratulations Class of 2026! We can’t wait to celebrate this year’s #NYUSilverGrads at our Graduation Ceremony next Tuesday, May 12, at United Palace. See link in bio to check out our Class of 2026 Graduation website and virtual program to learn all about the ceremony and the graduates we are celebrating. #NYU2026 [Image description: Graduating student Victoria Lorenzo, carrying the NYU Silver banner, leads the platform party procession at NYU Silver’s 2025 graduation ceremony as graduating students seated in the auditorium look on.]

“Today, we want to honor all of you, to let you know how much we appreciate your work, your time, your commitment to our students, and your constant audacity to push forward.” With those words, Dr. Juhi Malhotra, Assistant Dean of Practicum Education & Community Partnerships, kicked off our 2026 Practicum Instructor Appreciation Breakfast. The annual event celebrates the hundreds of experienced social work professionals who nurture our students’ education and professional development at public and nonprofit agencies across New York’s complex social services ecosystem. “Without you, we wouldn’t be able to ensure that our students are prepared to go out to the world and into communities to make a difference,” said Dean Michael A. Lindsey. “You patiently share your expertise, challenge our students to grow, and instill in them the ethical principles and compassionate spirit that are the hallmarks of our profession.” In addition to a buffet breakfast and networking opportunities, the event featured a continuing education program, titled “Tuning in: Hip Hop Healing and Empowerment in Social Work.” PhD candidate Aaron Rodwin, MSW ’18/PhD ’26, highlighted research on music and expressive approaches in mental health care, focusing on how Hip Hop based interventions can support healing, engagement, and well-being. J.C. Hall, founder of the Hip Hop Therapy Studio, then led an interactive session providing participants practical tools for integrating music-based approaches in their social work practice. The event was organized by Assistant Director of Practicum Education Michelle Baek, with support from our entire Practicum Education team. We are grateful to them and our practicum instructors, who give our students unmatched hands-on training throughout the academic year. [Image description: Collage of staff, faculty, presenters and attendees at NYU Silver's Annual Practicum Instructor Appreciation Breakfast.]