Excellence in Teaching Awards are presented to members of the standing and non-standing faculty of SP2 in recognition of excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Winners of this award are chosen by the Student Policies and Procedures Committee from the pool of five full-time and five part-time faculty with the highest quantitative scores for “overall quality of the instructor” on the course evaluations.

The full-time faculty awardees are Kim McKay, a lecturer in the MSW and MSSP programs; and Meredith Myers, a lecturer in the NPL program and a senior fellow in the Wharton School’s Center for Leadership & Change Management.

The part-time lecturer awardees are Valerie Dorsey Allen, a lecturer in the MSW program; and  Jeannine Cicco Barker, a lecturer in the MSW program.

Kim McKay has a PhD in social work and an MEd in human sexuality studies from Widener University, as well as an MSW in social work and BS in child and family development from the University of Utah. Dr. McKay has over 20 years of social work experience, including case management, administration, supervision, policy, and clinical work. They have taught undergraduate and graduate students in social work programs for more than a decade. Dr. McKay has taught many courses throughout the social work curriculum, with a particular focus on the integration of gender and sexuality. They have presented their work at national and international conferences, including the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), the American Association of Sexuality Educators, the Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), the American Public Health Association (APHA), and the International Social Work and Sexualities conferences in Montreal, Canada and Olten, Switzerland.

Meredith Myers is a senior fellow in the Wharton School’s Center for Leadership and Change Management. She has been a member of the Penn faculty since 2009, working at the Wharton School, SP2, and the Positive Psychology Center. Dr. Myers has won teaching awards in the Wharton School and SP2’s MS in Nonprofit Leadership program. Dr. Myers is also the executive director of Job Crafting LLC, an organization that helps people bring more purpose and engagement to their work. In her research and consulting, she has coached international leaders, executives, and board members in corporations, non-profits, government, and mission-critical teams. Her key areas of interest include optimal human performance, leadership, collaborating in contentious contexts, training the trainer, bias in decision-making, and the science of emotions. Dr. Myers holds a PhD in organizational behavior from Case Western Reserve University. She is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business, having earned a BS in economics from the Wharton School and a BA in international studies from the College of Arts & Sciences.

Valerie Dorsey Allen received her DSW from Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice in 2010 with a dissertation titled “Educational-Entertainment as an Intervention for Adolescents Exposed to Community Violence.” Dr. Allen has extensive experience as a counselor, career development officer, and administrator with the Department of Labor’s Job Corps Program. As the director of Penn’s African American Resource Center (AARC), she focuses on addressing the needs of the Penn community and on improving the quality of life for faculty, staff, and students, especially those of African descent.

Jeannine Cicco Barker is a licensed psychologist and board-certified art therapist. She has a therapy and consulting private practice in Philadelphia. Previously, she was a psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) of the University of Pennsylvania for several years. At CAPS, she led the interdisciplinary Eating Concerns Team and focused on the wellness of first-generation low-income students and students with marginalized identities. She has presented widely on the intersection of mental health and social justice, advocating for the needs of underrepresented and marginalized students and communities, and systemic trauma and internalized oppression. She holds doctorate and master’s degrees in clinical psychology from Widener University, a master’s degree in art therapy from Drexel University, and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Pennsylvania, which she attended as a Philadelphia Mayor’s Scholar. At SP2, Dr. Ciccio Barker teaches in the racism sequence and brings a lifetime of personal and professional experience living in and working with marginalized and underserved communities. She serves on the board of directors at Food Empowerment Project, a vegan food justice organization based in California.

SP2 Community Award of Excellence for Staff

This recognition is presented annually to an SP2 staff member who demonstrates a commitment to the SP2 community through service, collegiality, and overall community engagement.

This year’s awardee is Bre Bonner, associate director of student affairs at SP2. She works closely with SP2’s associate dean to provide advocacy, mentoring, and support for students in all degree programs and to support the creation and delivery of programs and services that foster a positive student experience. Ms. Bonner received her BS in psychology with minor in art from Ursinus College and her MA in counseling from Rosemont College. Before joining SP2, she was a survivor services clinician in an outpatient mental health facility that offered evidence-based treatments for those suffering from the effects of trauma.

Hal Levin Award

This award is presented to meritorious students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare program who are continuing the process of completing course work. The awardees are Samaita Jana and Codi Smith.

Dr. Ram Cnaan Award

This award is presented to a meritorious student in the Doctorate in Clinical Social Work program who has completed their third year of coursework. The awardee is Amber Ann Flanigan-Bodrick.

Wilson Spigner Award for Social Policy Excellence

This award is presented to a graduating student in the Master of Science in Social Policy program who has a demonstrated record of intellectual inquiry and academic excellence and who is committed to using research to analyze and shape social policy locally, nationally, and/or globally. The award is named in honor of the Reverend Dr. Welford Robinson Wilson II, and his daughter, Carol Wilson Spigner, the first faculty director of the MSSP program, who have notably increased equity and equality among marginalized groups through research-based change in policy and organizations. The awardee is Jin Ye.

Excellence in Social Impact Award

This award is presented to a meritorious graduating student in the Nonprofit Leadership Program who has a record of academic excellence and has shown promise in using their talents and knowledge to create positive social impact. The awardee is Delaney Quinn Bantillo Pearlman.

Richard J. Estes Global Citizenship Award

This award is presented to a graduating international student in the Nonprofit Leadership Program who embodies a commitment to social impact, who has a record of academic excellence, and who is committed to using their talents and knowledge to make a difference in the world. The awardee is Maria Andrea Giraldo Gallo.

Rosa Wessel Award

This award is presented to a meritorious graduating student in the Master of Social Work program who is selected based on academic performance and one or more of the following: exemplary student leadership, innovative activities in the field practicum, and exceptional community service. The awardee is Sarah Meher Pallivalapil-Karerat.

Dr. Ruth E. Smalley Award in International Social Welfare

This award is presented to a member of the Master of Social Work graduating class who, through their writing, participation in class discussions, and experience, has demonstrated an interest in, and a working knowledge of, the international and cultural dimensions of social work practice, and the application of practice to research. The awardee is Marissa Louise Heath.