2025 Staff & Faculty Awards
Author(s)
GSSW
Communication Team
Social work staff and faculty are honored for exceptional teaching, scholarship and service
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) staff and faculty live the school’s mission to advance justice through social work education, research and practice. In 2025, the school recognized several staff and faculty members, and a field supervisor, for their outstanding contributions toward fulfilling that mission.
Staff Appreciation Award
Three staff members were recognized for exceptional service in 2025:
- Director of Instructional Design and Assessment Neomi Vin Raviv (pictured on the left) leads the design, implementation and management of GSSW’s curricular and instructional strategy.
- As Director of Budget and Operations Jennie Morris (pictured at center) oversees budget planning; contracts and agreements; and personnel, business, and expense matters. She has worked for GSSW for 25 years and is the school’s longest-serving current staff member.
- Director of Enrollment Mariegrace Veres (pictured on the right) oversees the strategic planning and implementation of GSSW’s recruitment and enrollment initiatives.
Award for Excellence in Teaching — Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct Professor Angela Nicole Holton
Adjunct Professor Angela Nicole Holton is a certified life coach and teaches the Social Work Clinical Practice Lab.
Award for Excellence in Teaching — Appointed Faculty
Professor Eugene Walls
Professor Eugene Walls develops and teaches courses that focus on power, privilege and oppression and center a critical approach to social justice.
Award for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students
Professor Leslie Hasche
Professor Leslie Hasche integrates her research and previous mental health practice experience into teaching theory-based and contemporary issue courses related to social work, aging and intergenerational justice.
Clinical Master Teacher Award
GSSW alumna and Clinical Associate Professor Julianne Mitchell
GSSW alumna and Clinical Associate Professor Julianne Mitchell (MSW ’02) is the lead faculty coordinator for the Children and Youth Pathway. The Clinical Master Teacher Award was established by Jana Edwards (MSW ’78) and other alumni to recognize outstanding faculty whose teaching and training impacts the careers of future clinicians.
Jeffrey Jenson Endowed Annual Research Award
Associate Professor Kaipeng Wang
Associate Professor Kaipeng Wang is the recipient of the Jeffrey Jenson Endowed Annual Research Award, which was established by Philip and Eleanor Winn Endowed Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Jenson to recognize a tenure-line or research faculty member whose research has impacted a social issue of importance to the field. Wang’s research examines social determinants of health and mental health disparities among older adults to inform the development, evaluation and implementation of culturally sensitive interventions to improve their mental health outcomes.
Kay M. Stevenson Faculty Citizenship Award
Professor of the Practice Kate Ross
The Kay M. Stevenson Faculty Citizenship Award is given annually to recognize outstanding service to the school by an appointed faculty member. This year’s recipient is alumna, Professor of the Practice, and Assistant Dean of Field Education Kate Ross (MSW ’97).
