Alumni & Friends

Erika Cuffy, an assistant teaching professor at the College of Social Work, was awarded a 2025-26 University Teaching Award for Community Engaged Teaching.

Phyllina Sunshine Valus Arnold (BS '02, MSW' 10), who goes by Sunshine, has worked in the social work field for more than two decades, but it's only since 2023 that she has worked with Citrus County Fire Rescue as a part of the county's community paramedicine program.

From an early age, Patrick (Pat) Garvey (BSW ’72) heard about the importance of an education from both of his parents, Robert and Jean Garvey. After the untimely death of his father when he was 12 years old, Pat and his four siblings continued to hear that message echoed on an almost daily basis from his mother.

Each year, Oasis Center for Women and Girls (Oasis Center) highlights trailblazers in the Tallahassee-Leon County area, recognizing individuals across all professions who have paved the way for future generations to thrive.

On January 22, the FSU College of Law hosted the 2026 FSU AI Day in the Capital event, which brought together leaders in government, law, technology, and academia from across the university to examine the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for public institutions, civic infrastructure and ethical governance.

Dr. Walter Hudson was a highly regarded faculty member at the FSU College of Social Work during the 1980s and came back in the 1990s. When Dr. Hudson passed away in 1999, he was posthumously honored by colleagues, family, and friends who contributed to fund a scholarship for future doctoral students. More than a dozen students were supported by the scholarship over the years. Eventually, however, the funds were depleted, and the fund was on the verge of being closed.

"My vision for my career began when I was seventeen years old," reminisced Edlin Hernandez. "I met a trained social worker who shared his journey working in a hospital-based program supporting young teen mothers, connecting them with resources to help them succeed."

“I have always been fascinated by human behavior,  our relationships with others and what contributes to our individual and collective well-being,” recalled Leslie Langbert (BS ’93, MSW ’95), “and the Master of Social Work program was an ideal opportunity for me to gain the training to work in behavioral health with clients from a lens of recognizing their resilience, and also understanding the environmental and structural factors that shape their experiences.”

MSW student Sarah Lovins Bacani is both an FSU student and an FSU employee working within FSU Advising First, a part of the Division of Undergraduate Studies. "I currently work in the Center for Academic Guidance, where we specialize in early response interventions for students who are beginning to show signs of academic disengagement or risk of dropping out," she shared.

Florida State University is commemorating a rare and historic achievement, marking 175 years since its founding. This milestone celebrates the university’s longstanding tradition of excellence and highlights its continued growth and significance as a leader in higher education.