Doctoral Program

Sanoop Valappanandi, a doctoral candidate in the FSU College of Social Work, was awarded a fellowship from the Grand Challenges of Social Work program this spring.

Two doctoral students from the Florida State University College of Social Work, Oluwaseun "Jay" Jegede and Ngondwe "Pons" Ponsiano, received highly competitive 2026 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Travel Awards to support their participation in the annual conference held in January 2026. Each year, SSWR awards a limited number of travel stipends to doctoral students nationwide selected as presenting authors at the conference.

The FSU College of Social Work (FSU CSW) participated in the 2026 Society for Social Work and Research Conference in Washington, DC.

The College of Social Work is thrilled to welcome the newest cohort of doctoral students. Each doctoral student joins the university community with a unique background and sense of purpose to further advance social work scholarship and the people the field of social work serves.

In light of the recent tragedy at the FSU Student Union, the College of Social Work relocated its Spring 2025 Graduation Event to Opperman Music Hall in the College of Music’s Kuersteiner Building. The event welcomed spring 2025 graduates and their guests, celebrating 51 BSW, 141 MSW and two doctoral graduates.

Ngondwe Ponsiano, or Pons as he also likes to be called, a doctoral student at the FSU College of Social Work, received a 2025 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Doctoral Student Travel Award to help him attend the society’s January conference in Seattle, Washington.

FSU College of Social Work (FSU CSW) participated in the 2025 Society for Social Work and Research Conference in Seattle, Washington. From January 15-19, faculty and doctoral students and affiliates from the Florida Institute for Child Welfare presented more than 40 presentations and sessions at the conference (listed below with FSU CSW participants).

The College of Social Work at Florida State University hosted its 2024 Scholarship and Awards dinner during the 2024 FSU Homecoming week. The event honored six distinguished social work graduates and 112 student scholars.

More than $160K in scholarships was provided to undergraduate and graduate social work students with interests in areas including child welfare, social policy, international social work, social work practice and military veterans.

Alumna Dr. Diana DiNitto (PhD 1980, MSW 1987) is among the 25 newest social workers recognized as an NASW Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF).

“Early parenthood is associated with risk factors for both the mother and child and involvement in foster care amplifies these challenges,” stated Esaa Mohammad Sabti Samarah, a doctoral candidate at the FSU College of Social Work.

A recent study in the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal by Esaa and Professor Melissa Radey and Associate Professor Shamra Boel-Studt at the FSU College of Social Work examined the roles of formal and informal support for mothers aging out of maternity group homes as their young families face a variety of complex challenges.