Speakers

GCSW: Festival of Ideas & Anniversary Dinner
From Evidence to Action, Mobilizing Community Change

Wednesday, JAN 14, 2026  | 11 AM – 8 PM
Armour J. Blackburn University Center | Howard University, Washington DC 

SPEAKERS

11:45 –12:25 PM | ScOAR Signature Panel | LOCATION: Gallery Lounge
What Works—and What Doesn’t—in Advancing Social Work Innovation

Gautam Yadama TOP LEFT

Michael Lindsay TOP RIGHT

Deborah Gorman-Smith BOTTOM LEFT

Michael (Mike) Spencer BOTTOM RIGHT

12:30 –1:10 PM | AASWSW Signature Panel | LOCATION: Gallery Lounge
Re-imagining the Foundations of Social Work Science

Laura Abrams  TOP LEFT

Trina Shanks TOP RIGHT

Leopoldo (Leo) Cabassa BOTTOM LEFT

Richard (Rick) Barth BOTTOM RIGHT

1:30–2:30 PM  | CONCURRENT SESSION 1
1. Advancing Equity in Uncertain Times |LOCATION: Gallery Lounge

Eddie Uehara TOP LEFT

Anthony Estreet TOP MIDDLE

Renata Hedrington-Jones  TOP RIGHT

Halaevalu (Valu) Vakalahi BOTTOM LEFT

Elizabeth Gillette BOTTOM MIDDLE

Charles E. Lewis PANELIST BOTTOM RIGHT

1:30–2:30 PM  | CONCURRENT SESSION 1 | 2. Human Stories Spotlight: Voices from across GCSW Research, Practice, & Education |LOCATION: Digital Auditorium

Shanondora Billiot TOP LEFT

Kristen Ravi TOP MIDDLE

Amy Krings TOP RIGHT

Sandra Crew BOTTOM LEFT

Taylor Reed-Jones BOTTOM MIDDLE

Durrell Washington BOTTOM RIGHT

1:30–2:30 PM  | CONCURRENT SESSION 1 |3. Building Common Ground Through Social Work Science |LOCATION: Blackburn Forum

Martell Teasley TOP LEFT

Jonathan Singer TOP RIGHT

Tanya Sharpe MIDDLE LEFT

Ben Henwood MIDDLE RIGHT

Sara Bachman BOTTOM LEFT

Teri Browne BOTTOM RIGHT

2:45–3:45 PM  | MAIN STAGE EVENT | LOCATION: Digital Auditorium
Lilly Ledbetter – A Film and Conversation on Storytelling, Equity, and Change

Carrie Pettus TOP LEFT

Kerianne Flynn TOP RIGHT

Jon Goldfarb BOTTOM LEFT

Mary Ann Ponti BOTTOM RIGHT

4:00–5:00 PM  | CONCURRENT SESSION 2 | 1. The Grand Challenges Futures: Anticipating the Next Decade of Social Work |LOCATION: Digital Auditorium

Laura Nissen TOP LEFT

Kevin Durant TOP RIGHT

Amml Hussein BOTTOM LEFT

Edwina (Eddie) Uehara BOTTOM RIGHT

Nancy Smyth BOTTOM MIDDLE

4:00–5:00 PM  | CONCURRENT SESSION 2 |2. Community Engagement in the Grand Challenges: Confronting Institutional Barriers & Reimagining Partnership | LOCATION: Blackburn Forum

Cal Halvorsen TOP LEFT

Ray Boshara TOP MIDDLE

Katie Calhoun TOP RIGHT

Julie Birkenmaier MIDDLE LEFT

Christina (Tina) Matz MIDDLE RIGHT

Rocío Calvo BOTTOM LEFT

Carly Roszkowski BOTTOM RIGHT

4:00–5:00 PM  | CONCURRENT SESSION 2 |3. Integrating Across the Grand Challenges: Strategies, Barriers, & New Commitments | LOCATION: Gallery Lounge

Lauri Goldkind TOP LEFT

Alison Wetmur  TOP MIDDLE

Dr. Andrea Fiero  TOP RIGHT

Lisa de Saxe Zerden MIDDLE LEFT

Michael Dentato MIDDLE CENTER

Kelly Bareche  MIDDLE RIGHT

ASL INTERPRETER: Zibora Gilder, MSW BOTTOM LEFT

5:15–6:15 PM  | Networking Reception: Voices of Next Generation Scholars and Practitioners | LOCATION: Hilltop Lounge – Sponsored by the University of Washington

Michael (Mike) Spencer TOP LEFT

Hannah Scheuer TOP RIGHT

Pixie Popplewell BOTTOM LEFT

Bonnie Scranton BOTTOM RIGHT

6:30–8:00 PM  | GCSW 10 Year Anniversary Dinner | LOCATION: Gallery Lounge