Alumni
For more than 100 years, VCU's School of Social Work has thrived on fostering relationships among the community, students, faculty and alumni.
Much of our success stems from their commitment to our mission of promoting social and economic justice in a diverse and multicultural society.
69%
69% of our alumni choose to stay in Virginia
12,000+
Our 12,000+ living alumni stay connected through mentoring, teaching and philanthropic giving
Introducing the School of Social Work alumni engagement officer
Get to know Rachel Zeeve: Fun facts and more
VCU Alumni expanded its team this past fall with the addition of a new role: the alumni engagement officer. With six AEOs onboard, they’re now busy planning and executing dynamic programming for VCU’s colleges and schools, all geared toward boosting alumni involvement and support.
Rachel Zeeve, alumni engagement officer for the School of Social Work, gives us a glimpse into who she is beyond her CV.
What’s the most important item on your bucket list (if you have a bucket list)?
I would love to travel more! Switzerland, Ireland, Japan … not even sure where I would start.
What was your favorite subject in school?
As someone who has always loved writing analytical pieces and engaging in hands-on learning, I am enjoying the capstone course of the M.P.A. program in the Wilder School. I’ll graduate in July.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I am a competitive Olympic weightlifter. I’ve been training for about four years and have competed at the Arnold Sports Festival in Ohio twice and have also competed in meets around Richmond and Northern Virginia.
What’s your favorite way to unwind?
Going to the gym or spending time with my cat, Nemo.
What’s your favorite local restaurant/food truck/brewery?
Garnett’s Cafe, Stella’s Grocery and Perly’s are at the top of my list.
What is your top priority for engaging alumni?
My top priority for engaging alumni is to create meaningful opportunities to connect with the VCU community. Alumni have such diverse ranges of experiences and perspectives, and building supportive spaces and networks for them to share those insights is my goal.
Do you have a city or spot Rachel should add to her list of trips to take? Or do you want to learn more about how you can connect with the School of Social Work? Email her at zeeverb@vcu.edu.
Partner with us
Give your time and talent to help our students and school succeed. You can help by mentoring current students, meeting with graduates in your state, being a guest lecturer or partnering with faculty. Interested? Contact Rachel Zeeve, alumni engagement officer, at (804) 828-6706 or zeeverb@vcu.edu.
Connect with VCU
- View the VCU alumni calendar
- Explore VCU Link
- Check out Volunteer@VCU
- Find or post job opportunities via Handshake
VCU on social media:
I gradually worked my way up to make the School of Social Work more and more important in my family’s budget. I designated a lot of my gift to the Social Work Administration, Planning and Policy Practice Scholarship because it’s really important to me.”
Allison Gilbreath (she/her), M.S.W. graduate and donor; policy and programs director, Voices for Virginia’s Children
The VCU School of Social Work was a pivotal experience for both of us. We were challenged by the faculty, staff and fellow students to look at things through a lens of justice and equality for all people and to advocate for just policies and practices. The decision to create an endowed scholarship was easy, as the university and the school hold such important places in our lives.”
Latest news
Alumni newsletter archive
June 25, 2023
Interim Dean Gomez celebrates 400+ May graduates and the keynote address by NASW CEO Anthony Estreet (M.S.W.'07); a top national award for doctoral alum Viola Vaughan-Eden (Ph.D.'03); two national fellowships for recent graduate Oscar Kemp (B.S.W.'23); and next steps for our four doctoral graduates.
April 23, 2023
Interim Dean Gomez reflects on our Social Work Month alumni event; and shares news of faculty Fulbright awards for Maurice Gattis, Ph.D., and Denise Burnette, Ph.D.; an innovative art-based project by Nicole Corley, Ph.D.; and a feature on how alum Y. Joon Choi (Ph.D.'11) helps teach clergy to prevent domestic violence among Asian immigrant women.
Feb. 26, 2023
Interim Dean Gomez recognizes the appointment of 2007 M.S.W. alum Anthony Estreet, Ph.D., as CEO of the National Association of Social Workers; a host of research presentations at the SSWR conference; a feature on recent graduate Brittany Watson (M.S.W.'22); and a new grant project led by Sunny Shin, Ph.D., to help pediatricians reduce adverse childhood experiences.
Dec. 14, 2022
Interim Dean Gomez shares our school holiday card and reflects on our mutual grief around a spate of shootings; highlights from the CSWE APM conference and our Annual Report; and a recap from our fall event Social Work, Policy & Politics: The Landscape Ahead of November.
Oct. 9, 2022
Interim Dean Gomez recognizes Alumni Stars honorees (M.S.W.’96/SW; Cert.’96/SW) and Emily Yeatts (B.A.’09/WS; B.A.’09/WS; Cert.’09/WS; M.S.W.’12/SW; M.P.H.’12/M; Cert.’12/GPA); recaps Fall Convocation with keynote Paul Harris, Ph.D.; and shares news of alumni Denise Purgold (M.S.W.’97/SW), LCSW, and Sherwood Randolph Jr. (B.S.W.’08/SW; M.S.W.’10/SW), LCSW, M.Div., BC-TMH, being appointed to the state Board of Social Work.
Aug. 14, 2022
Interim Dean Gomez highlights our upcoming Fall Convocation and the addition of four new tenure-track faculty; and we highlight alum Melissa Mason (B.S.W.'15/SW), current M.S.W. student Kwasi Deitutu, Ph.D. student Matt Morgan's national fellowship, and our award winners from our Office of Field Education and across our student and faculty ranks for the past academic year.
June 12, 2022
Interim Dean Gomez reflects on the impact of racially motivated shootings but also celebrates our Top 30 national ranking, our student graduate speakers and three new faculty hirings; we spotlight alumni award winner John Bricout (Ph.D.'98/SW); and meet two interesting sets of recent graduates, a mother-daughter pair and two students named Summer Jones.
April 10, 2022
Dean Angell announces Associate Dean Rebecca Gomez will serve as interim dean; we spotlight alum Angela Giles, D.B.H. (M.S.W.'98/SW); preview VCU's Giving Day; and recognize our Child Welfare Stipend Program, Associate professor Karen Chartier, Ph.D., and three additional alumni in the news.
Feb. 13, 2022
We recognize a variety of research news; spotlight alum Jackie Lawrence (B.S.W.’16/SW; M.S.W.’17/SW); and feature a CSWE honor for B.S.W. student Oscar Kemp.
Aug. 25, 2021
You can support our school as a community cornerstone; we spotlight alum Trina Davis (B.S.’01/H&S; M.S.W.’07/SW); and learn how to become a field placement site.
May 27, 2021
We celebrate our nearly 300 graduating students, retiring M.S.W. Program Director Melissa L. Stewart, Ph.D. (B.S.'86/E; M.Ed.'00/E), and mother-daughter classmates in our M.S.W. cohort
March 31, 20221
We share our commitment to social and racial justice and highlight six student fellows for the Radical Alliance for Anti-Racism, Change and Equity; and recognize a social justice award for alum Sara Van Tongeren (M.S.W.'08/SW).
Jan. 27, 2021
We celebrate our December 20202 graduates; research presentations at the CSWE and SSWR conferences; our gratitude to supports of the Make It Real Campaign; and the inclusion of six alumni in Style Weekly's annual 40 Under 40.
Oct. 28, 2020
We mourn the passing of longtime faculty member Robert "Bob" Schneider, Ph.D., just months after the loss of our other Bob, Robert "Bob" Peay (M.S.W.'74/SW); spotlight alum Jackie Washington (B.S.W.'16/SW; M.S.W.'17/SW); and recognize faculty NIH grant winners Jamie Cage, Ph.D., and Shelby McDonald, Ph.D.
Juy 29, 2020
We acknowledge painful examples of white supremacy and anti-Black racism while affirming that Black Lives Matter, and share Dean Angell's communication on anti-Black racism and violence; welcome new associate dean Rebecca Gomez, Ph.D.; and recognize our annual faculty and staff award winners, Jamie Cage, Ph.D., and Jaime Petrasek.
May 27, 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we celebrate our nearly 300 graduates; faculty Stevara Haley Clark (B.S.W.'09/SW; M.S.W.'10), a Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment winner; and recent graduate John Gyourko (M.S.W.'20/SW), the NASW-VA M.S.W. Student of the Year.
March 19, 2020
We recognize the importance of Social Work Month by honoring 17 alumni featured as "Power Players" in VCU's Shafer Court Connections magazine; Making a Difference Alumni Award for Trenette Clark Goings (Ph.D.'08/SW); and presentations at the Society for Social Work and Research conference.
Nov. 21, 2019
We celebrate the accomplishments of multiple social work alumni, to state and city government positions; recognition from Style Weekly magazine; and awards from the VCU Alumni Pitch Competition, VCU Alumni 10 Under 10, and VCU Alumni Stars.
Sept. 19, 2019
We are expanding access with our fully online M.S.W. Program; spotlight alum Sophia Booker (B.S.W.'18/SW); and recognize VCU Presidential Research Quest Fund recipients Kyeongmo Kim, Ph.D., and Alex Wagaman, Ph.D.
June 19, 2019
We celebrate 463 alumni donors during the Make It Real Campaign for VCU; NASW-VA Social Worker of the Year award winner Bonita Hogue (M.S.W.'84/SW); and graduation speaker and community advocate Marc Cheatham (B.S.W.'05/SW).
April 18, 2019
U.S. News and World Report ranks the school No. 25 in the nation for best graduate schools; alum Laura Booth (B.S.W.’18/SW) wins a Fulbright grant; and faculty Alex Wagaman, Ph.D., is part of a project that receives a major housing stability grant.