GSSW Student Events
From fun community-building activities to self-care sessions and professional development workshops, we offer a wide range of programming to support and enrich your graduate student experience. This page provides information about Commencement ceremonies and upcoming events for students.
Career Services
Career Readiness Workshop: From Offer to Acceptance...Navigating Your Salary
About
You’ve landed a job offer—amazing! But before you jump in with a big “yes,” let’s talk about what that offer really means. Social workers are incredible at advocating for others, but when it comes to negotiating for themselves? That can feel a little trickier. This session is here to help you change that.
Tuesday, June 16
12-12:45 p.m. MDT, Virtual
We’ll cover how to:
- Figure out what you need from a job (your non-negotiables)
- Understand what the role is actually worth in the job market
- Approach salary conversations with confidence and clarity
Whether it’s your first offer or your fifth, this workshop will give you the tools to make sure the job works for you, not just the other way around.
Come learn how to advocate for yourself—because your skills, education, and unique talents are valuable!
Register in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu
Career Services
Career Readiness Workshop: Job Search Feeling Stuck? Let's Talk Strategy!
About
Endless applications. Ghosted emails. That “am I doing this right?” feeling. Sound familiar?
Job searching can feel like a full-time job—and it’s easy to wonder if your efforts are actually getting you anywhere. This session is all about helping you take a step back, evaluate your approach, and make smart pivots when things aren’t clicking.
Monday, June 15
3-4pm MDT, Virtual
We’ll chat about:
- How to tell if your job search is working (or not)
- What to do when it’s time to switch things up
- Creative strategies beyond just applying online
Join GSSW Career Services for a real talk on job search strategy—because sometimes, a small shift can make all the difference.
Register in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu
Career Services
Career Readiness: Boosting Your Job Search with LinkedIn & Networking
About
If your job search feels stuck or you’re not getting the responses you hoped for, it might be time to shift your strategy. Many opportunities aren’t found on job boards—they’re found through people. This workshop focuses on how to use LinkedIn and intentional networking to expand your reach, make connections, and open new doors in your job or field placement search.
Monday, June 15
12-12:45 p.m. MDT, Virtual
Register in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu
Career Services
Exploring Your Pathway: Psychedelic Therapy
About
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is gaining momentum as a promising intervention in mental health care—and social workers are playing a key role in its development. Join us for a thought-provoking panel featuring MSW alumni who are working at the forefront of this emerging field.
Our panelists will share how they became involved in psychedelic therapy, what training and credentials are required, and how they ethically and effectively integrate these approaches into their clinical work. You’ll gain insight into the evolving research, policy landscape, and the potential of psychedelics to support healing from trauma, depression, and more.
Tuesday, May 15
3:30-4:30PM MDT
Register in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu
Student Engagement
The GSSW Mentorship Network Connections & Conversations Event
About
Calling all GSSW Mentorship Network members and those that are interested in joining the Mentorship Network! Join us as we celebrate another incredible year of mentorship within the GSSW Mentorship Network. This in-person gathering brings together Peer Mentees, Peer Mentors, and Alumni Mentors for an afternoon of connection, community, and professional growth.
Whether you’re wrapping up your first year in the program or preparing for graduation, this event is a chance to:
- Meet your Peer Mentee/Mentor or Alumni Mentor in person and celebrate the support you’ve given and received
- Build and strengthen your professional network
- Exchange insights about graduate school, field placements, and post-graduate career paths
- Learn about the Mentorship Network
Come connect with fellow students and alumni in a relaxed, welcoming environment designed to spark conversation, deepen relationships, and support your journey as a developing social worker.
Tuesday, April 21
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. MDT, Craig Hall
**We realize that some of you are not within the Denver area, and we are exploring future opportunities within a virtual space. We welcome any thoughts or ideas you may have to meet this goal.**
For questions or suggestions, please email gssw.studentengage@du.edu
Career Services
Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
About
Join us for an enlightening session on "Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders" with Dr. Lundgren. As the founding member of IUR, Dr. Lundgren brings unparalleled expertise in the treatment and outcomes of substance use disorder and co-occurring disorders. With transformative research that bridges primary care and behavioral health, Dr. Lundgren's has received extensive national and international recognition for her groundbreaking work with testing educational and implementation methods for evidence-based practices, making her a pivotal figure in the field.
Friday, April 17
12 p.m.-1 p.m. MDT, Virtual
Register in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu
Professional Biography, Dr. Lena Lundgren - https://www.du.edu/about/directory/lena-lundgren
Career Services
PATCH Program For Providers Workshop with Denver Health
About
This 90-minute workshop helps health professionals understand the health care concerns, preferences, and realities of today’s youth, offering better ways to connect with adolescent patients and ensure high-quality, youth-friendly services.
Thursday, April 16
3PM-4:30PM MDT
Craig Hall
Register in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu
Career Services
Social Work Association Fair
About
Connecting to the greater Social Work field is pivotal in transitioning from student to graduate. The earlier that one can learn about, join & work with a professional association the better. Come and explore organization information, meet representatives and begin to build your connection to the field.
While you are networking enjoy the light refreshments!
Tuesday, April 14
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MDT
Craig Hall Lobby/Patio
See organization details in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu, registration not required.
Career Services
Aligning Your Career Path & Connecting with the Student Community
About
This event is created to assist MSW@Denver students that have been admitted into the GSSW Social Work program or that have not attended this session in the past as a MSW@Denver student.
We can all use support when it comes to career development and feeling connected to our community! The GSSW Career Services and Student Engagement team invites you to attend this virtual event to learn more about how to align your career path to opportunities and sources with connection to the student, employer, professional communities.
Monday, April 13, 3:30-4:15 p.m. MDT, Virtual
Register in PCO or email gssw.careers@du.edu
Career Services
CDE Licensure for School Social Work & DORA Licensure
About
CSSWA and NASW CO are doing a joint presentation on CDE licensure for school social work and DORA licensure.
Thursday, April 9
12:00 p.m. MDT, Virtual
Register or email GSSW.Careers@du.edu for more information.
Student Engagement
Faculty Purpose Panel: Monica Gutierrez
About
Crave connection with GSSW faculty outside of the classroom? The Faculty Purpose Panel series feature informal casual conversation with a GSSW faculty member. Bring your own lunch, tea, coffee, or snack!
This Faculty Purpose Panel will feature Mónica Gutiérrez.
Tuesday, April 7
11AM-12PM, Craig Hall Margaret Page Library
Register in PCO or email gssw.StudentEngage@du.edu
Mónica Gutiérrez, MSW, PhD is an assistant professor at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), where she’s passionate about connecting classroom learning with real-world change. She was selected for the William T. Grant Foundation Early Career Reviewer Program (2025-2027). She’s also a faculty affiliate with DU’s Latinx Center, Center for Community Engagement to Advance Scholarship and Learning (CCESL), and the Center for Immigration Policy & Research (CIPR).
Dra. Gutiérrez’s path into research and teaching was shaped by the migration stories of her family from rural México. Stories that sparked a lifelong passion for community, culture, and justice. Her work resides at the intersection of urban development, critical race theory, and testimonios (personal narratives), focusing on how gentrification and displacement impact historically under-resourced neighborhoods. She partners with communities to co-create research and advocate for policies that center health equity, sustainability, and place-based belonging.
Before stepping into academia, she spent over a decade working in child welfare, Veterans' health, the criminal justice system, and health promotion. These experiences laid the groundwork for her community-based approach to research and teaching. As a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she deepened her commitment to policy advocacy rooted in community voices and justice-driven solutions.
Dra. Gutiérrez’s contributions to the field of social work have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Emerging Scholar Award from the Association for Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA) and the Doctoral Fellows Award from the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR).
Career Services
GSSW Employer Screening Interviews
About
Are you a soon-to-be MSW graduate ready to make a difference? This is your moment to connect with mission-driven employers who are actively seeking compassionate, skilled, and purpose-driven social work professionals.
Join us for a virtual OR In-person screening interview event designed exclusively for Master of Social Work students preparing to launch their careers.
Employers Registered: CO Dept of Corrections, Restore Counseling LLC, Boulder Neuropsychological Services
Wednesday, April 1
11 a.m.-1 p.m. MDT, Virtual & Craig Hall
Registration Required & Limited.
Schedule your interview in PCO, or reach out to gssw.careers@du.edu for assistance.