Experience Day 2023

We look forward to meeting you at Experience Day on March 31 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. MDT. Experience Day is a great opportunity to get to know the people who will support, encourage and inspire you on your social work career journey.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

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Craig Hall

Experience Day Agenda

We have a full lineup of engaging content that includes informative panels from faculty, alumni, and students, mini-classes, and opportunities to learn more about the GSSW program.

March 31, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. MDT 

8:00 a.m. — Check-In & Breakfast

8:30 a.m. — GSSW Welcome with Chief of Staff and Associate Dean for Operations Hope Wisneski

8:40 a.m. — “Starting your GSSW Journey” with Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Lisa Reyes Mason

9:00 a.m. — Faculty Panel moderated by Acting Dean Kimberly Bender

9:45 p.m. — 15 Minute Break

10:00 a.m. — Student Services Panel moderated by Associate Professor Leslie Hasche

10:45 a.m. — 15 Minute Break

11:00 a.m. — Admitted and deposited students attend Mini Classes in GSSW classrooms. Guests stay in the community room for a Q/A session with Chief of Staff and Associate Dean for Operations Hope Wisneski. Coffee will be served from DNVR Coffee CO for all guests.

12:00 p.m.— Lunch & Self-Guided Tour

Faculty Panel

 
Aneesha Bharwani

Aneesha Bharwani

Clinical Professor

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Daniel Brisson

Daniel S. Brisson

Professor

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Heather Renicker

Heather Christine Arnold-Renicker

Clinical Associate Professor

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Lisa Reyes Mason

Lisa Reyes Mason

Associate Professor; Interim Dean of the Graduate School or Social Work

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Marquisha Lawrence

Marquisha Lawrence Scott

Assistant Professor

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Stacey Freedenthal

Stacey Freedenthal

Associate Professor

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Student Services Panel

 
Adela Smith

Adela Smith

Registrar

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Deana Ahmad

Deana Ahmad

Assistant Dean for Students

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Jenna Sergio

Jenna Sergio

Program Manager

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Krislyn O'Sullivan

Krislyn O'Sullivan

Senior Professional Advisor

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Stacy Said

Stacy Said

Career Development Advisor

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Mariegrace Veres

Mariegrace Veres

Director of Enrollment

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Mini Classes

  • Experiential Therapy

    Experiential Therapy can be a guided activity, a game, a mental puzzle to work out, time in nature, or a physical challenge. Through Experiential Therapy, the client often moves out of their comfort zone and into a place of new insights of self-discovery, confidence building, self-awareness, and new methods of how to cope with issues in their life.

    Taught by Associate Professor Julie Laser-Maira

  • Ecological Justice

    We often hear of environmental justice, but what is ecological justice? In this mini-course you will learn how you as a social worker will be activated into ensuring a healthy and flourishing future for people, all other species, and Earth.

    Taught by Clinical Associate Professor Sarah Bexell.

  • Weighing our Worth: An Introduction to weight stigma and weight inclusive practice

    This mini-class begins by introducing the concept of weight stigma and how body weight and appearance is a part of our intersectional identity (and a source of potential privilege or discrimination). Next, we examine how weight stigma infiltrates public health messaging and the potential harms of that stigma. We will briefly review some of the science that supports taking a weight-inclusive approach to health and mental health practice. We end the mini class discussing some brief recommendations for clinical practice.

    Taught by Assistant Professor Erin Harrop.

  • Grief and Loss: A Promotion of the Right to Grieve

    This mini-class will help to define grief and explore how client systems and communities experience grief, not only as it relates to the loss of a loved one, but as it is universally experienced through nontraditional forms of loss. We will explore the spectrum of grief and how we as social workers can promote the human right to grieve as a promotion of our core social work values.

    Taught by Clinical Assistant Professor Amity Good.

  • Let’s Go Global.... Or Should We?

    Join us for a discussion about the ethical considerations of international social work. This mini-class will be available for only the online attendees.

    Taught by Professor of the Practice Ann Petrila.