Alumni & Friends

Children who need life-changing heart transplants in Florida will be able to receive free support to help improve medication adherence, which can potentially reduce the frequency of organ rejection over the next two years, thanks to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award for $1.67M to Scene Health (formerly emocha Health), a leading video medication adherence platform.

This year, Kristel Avilus, a former “Pace girl,” was named the new associate executive director for the Pace Center for Girls Leon in Tallahassee, Florida. She is the first girl to become a director in the Pace Center for Girls 38 year history.

She is a licensed clinical social worker and earned her Master of Social Work degree (2018) from the FSU College of Social Work. She was previously the social services manager, representing the first Pace alumna to serve in a management role for the Leon Center. 

Florida State University has chosen alumna Lisa Magruder as the next leader of the Florida Institute for Child Welfare.  

Magruder, the institute’s associate director of research since 2020, takes over the director’s role from fellow FSU graduate Jessica Pryce. Pryce, who served as director for six years, will lead the institute’s Alliance for Workforce Enhancement initiative.  

At the Florida Perinatal Mental Health Conference – Making a Difference Together, Sharon Ross-Donaldson received the 2022 Excellence in Perinatal Mental Healthcare Award.

The award recognizes an individual for their work providing excellent clinical care, training, advocacy, and leadership in perinatal health in Florida and nationally.

Mallory Adams was interested in politics and policy even as an undergraduate at Southeastern University. She was set to take her LSATs and apply to law school when her thesis advisor, both a social worker and attorney, pointed out how congruent her interests were with the field of social work.

"She was, of course, totally right. I am so thankful for her advice," she recollected. "I was drawn to social work due to the wide variety of practice areas and diverse roles through which social workers advocate in their communities."

Kyra Adams (MSW 2012, BSW 2007) knew she wanted to work with mothers and babies even when beginning her journey in higher education. While at Tallahassee Community College she learned about majors that would allow her to make a difference in the lives of mothers and babies and recalls that social work just made sense as the best option to create change.

Growing up in a military family, Tyron Slack, a doctoral candidate at FSU, traveled internationally at an early age and became familiar with fitting into new settings and cultures. His immediate family played a strong role in helping him feel stable and supported during these stressful transitions. He stayed close to home and family while completing his undergraduate degree at  Southeastern Louisiana University in psychology, but with a sincere desire to understand and help people in a meaningful way.

Florida State University will present the 2019 film, No Ordinary Love on Wednesday, February 21, 2023, to raise awareness about the dynamics and impact of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) led the collaborative event in partnership with the Institute for Family Violence Studies at the FSU College of Social Work.

Dr. Terriyln Rivers-Cannon stepped into the role of President of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) on January 1, 2023. She is the first African American President of the organization in its history. She is well-known for her dedication to the social work profession, particularly in the school setting.

Shevaun Harris (MSW, 2004) is reappointed for a second term as Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) by Governor Ron DeSantis. As Secretary, Harris has focused on holistic care for families by working to integrate several systems and services.