2026 Hall of Fame
Award recipients will be recognized at our annual luncheon on Friday, Oct. 2 from Noon to 1 p.m. at the Fawcett Center.
2027 Alumni Hall of Fame Nominations
Anyone may nominate an Ohio State College of Social Work graduate deserving of recognition. Self-nominations are welcome as well.
Nominations will open in Spring 2027.
Alumni Award
The Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of our alumni and the impact that they have had on our society in the human and public services, in higher education, and most importantly, in the alleviation of the conditions that threaten the human condition.
2026 Alumni Award Recipient
Siema Eljack
Siema Eljack, MSW ’22, is a healthcare leader, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, educator and entrepreneur whose work bridges behavioral health, healthcare, public policy and community impact. She earned her Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management from The Ohio State University, following an earlier career as a dentist and oral pathologist.
Through her work at the intersection of trauma-informed care, health equity and organizational well-being, Eljack has developed innovative behavioral health programs serving veterans, immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities. She is the founder of Balsam Counseling and Siema Eljack Leadership & Consulting, where she provides clinical care, leadership development, and behavioral health education.
Her commitment to expanding access to mental health support has included creating community wellness initiatives, mentoring clinicians, delivering educational workshops, and leading humanitarian efforts supporting displaced communities. She is passionate about building systems that allow individuals and organizations to thrive with greater resilience, compassion, and purpose.
- 2025
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Brittany Ward
MSW ‘17, educator, nonprofit founder, and social work leader
- 2023
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Madison Eagle
MSW ’18, Belonging and Student Support in the Student Life Center for Belonging and Social Change (CBSC) and Wild Hope Therapy.
- 2022
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Erin Harris
BSSW ’12, MSW ’13, The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Aspirations Program and LEND, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities,
- 2021
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Erin Harris
BSSW ’12, MSW ’13, The Ohio State University Nisonger Center Aspirations Program and LEND, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
- 2020
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Elon Simms
BSSW ’09, MSW ’10, Vice President of Community Impact at Crane Group.
- 2019
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Dr. Patrice Palmer
MSW ’10, BSSW ’09, Reentry Support Specialist at Franklin County Office of Homeland Security & Justice Programs.
- 2018
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Dorothy Martindale
BSSW ’13, Membership Associate for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Ohio Chapter.
- 2017
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Dr. Solomon Hill
MSW ’08, Tenured Faculty Member at Central State University (CSU).
- 2016
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Jimmy Portner
MSW ’07, Intensive Treatment Division Director at the Columbus Ohio Veterans Administration.
- 2015
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Danielle Smith
MSW ’10 BSSW ’08, Executive Director of the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
- 2014
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Kelly Knight
MSW ’07, BSSW ’03, Associate Director at Franklin County Children Services (FCCS).
- 2013
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Lori Scott
BSSW ’04, Director of the NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics & Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, OH.
- 2012
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Angela K. Stoller-Zervas
MSW ’05, Supportive Services Manager for Community Properties of Ohio.
- 2011
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Sue Villilo
MSW ’05, Executive Director of Faith Mission.
- 2010
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Shannon Easter
MSW ’00, Director of Clinical and Supportive Services for Faith Mission/Faith Housing, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio.
- 2009
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Dr. Holly Dabelko-Schoeny
PhD ’02, Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Social Work.
- 2008
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Nancy L. Sidell
PhD ’98, Professor and Chair of Department of Social Work, Anthropology and Sociology, at Mansfield University.
- 2007
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Keith Alford
PhD ’97, Associate Professor at Syracuse University College of Human Services.
- 2006
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Kenneth R. Yeager
PhD ’99, Assistant Clinical Professor at The Ohio State University’s College of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry.
Distinguished Career Awards
Awarded to College of Social Work alumni who showcase and utilize social work skills such as service, integrity and competence. Alumni with exceptional professional achievements, initiatives and/or leadership are also eligible to receive this award. Alumni are selected for this award based on their personification of social work values, therefore there are no job setting requirements/limitations.
2026 Distinguished Career Award Recipients
Dr. Joseph Walsh
Joseph Walsh earned three degrees from Ohio State, including an MSW (’79) and PhD (’92). He enjoyed a 42-year career in social work, both as a direct practitioner and academic. He worked in community mental health and was a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University for 27 years. He also served on the Virginia Board of Social Work for eight years.
His work always focused on practice theory and intervention with persons who have severe mental illnesses and their families. Through 11 books, scores of journal articles, professional presentations and his teaching, he developed a national reputation in the profession. His work has been recognized with awards from the National Mental Health Association, Virginia Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Council of Community Mental Health Centers, and the Virginia Clinical Social Work Society. In his free time Joe played in a rock and roll band and was a theatre actor.
Dr. Brad Yoder
Dr. Brad Yoder, PhD ’79, was attracted to social work because of its comprehensive concern for the whole person – body, mind and spirit – within its whole environment. He is Professor Emeritus of Social Work, Sociology and Criminal Justice at Manchester (IN) University.
His 52-year career focused on mental health and criminal justice. Yoder helped to create Midtown Community Mental Health Center in Indianapolis in 1969, the first CMHC in Indiana.
He also helped to develop the Elkhart County work-release program, Indiana’s first, focusing on restorative justice.
Racial and gender justice have been central commitments throughout Yoder’s adult life. During his 39-year teaching career at Manchester University he helped to develop anti-racism and urban ethnicity workshops. International travel and study led Yoder to 47 countries. He regularly led groups of students to study internationally in Jamaica.
NASW inducted Yoder as an NASW Social Work Pioneer in 2026. During his retirement, Yoder continues to advocate at the Indiana legislature on issues of gun violence/safety, LGBTQIA+, voting and immigration rights.
- 2025
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Molly Rampe Thomas
MSW ’06, Founder of JustChoice
Angela Sausser
MSW ’99, Clintonville’s District 4 Area Commissioner
- 2004
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Dr. DaVonti’ DeAngelo Haynes
MSW ’18, Associate Professor, Wayne State University
Karen Fabiano
BSSW ’81, MSW ’83, Appalachian Regional Commission
Melissa Murray
MSW ’04, Director of the UVM Women & Gender Equity Center, University of Vermont
- 2023
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Brandy Jemczura
MSW ’11, Founder and Executive Director of Seeds of Caring, a leading youth service organization based in Columbus
Dr. Jamie Mitchell, PhD
PhD ’10, Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan School of Social Work
Dr. Nasser Aloud, PhD
PhD ’04, Associate Professor in Clinical Social Work, Department of Sociology and Social Work at Al-Imam University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rachel Ramirez
MSW ’07, Director of Health and Disability Programs and the Founder of The Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury at The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN)
- 2022
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Lisa Durham
BSSW ’88, MSW ’97, Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement for The Ohio State University College of Social Work
John Gregory
MSW ’06, Senior Vice President of Operations at LifeCare Alliance
Linda Powers Kunze
MSW ’90, MetroHealth Burn Foundation and Cleveland Clinic
Sharon Urquhart Richardson
MSW ’76, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (retired)
- 2021
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Dr. Ramona Denby-Brinson
PhD ’95, Dean of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work
Ritika Sharma Kurup
MSW ’03, Senior Director of Learning and Activation at StriveTogether
Traci Lewis
BSSW ’85, Director of The Ohio State University ACCESS Collaborative (A Comprehensive College Experience for Single-Parent Students) Program
Dr. Patricia Lyons
MSW ’88, Director of the Social Determinants of Health Innovation Center at Molina Healthcare
- 2020
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Dr. Edward R. Canda
MSW ’82, PhD ’86, Professor Emeritus at the University of Kansas (KU) School of Social Welfare.
Dr. Gretchen Clark Hammond
MSW ’00, PhD ’11, CEO of Mighty Crow.
Luann Cooperrider
BSSW ’78, Probate-Juvenile judge in Perry County, OH.
Stephen Marson
MSW ’76, Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP).
Dr. Cleora “Cleo” Smith Roberts
MSW ’64, Professor Emerita at the University of South Florida School (USF) of Social Work (posthumous).
- 2019
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Joe Borgo
MSW ’72, Founder and Executive Director of J.B. Borgo & Associates.
Lori Criss
MSW ’92, BSSW ’91, Director of the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (MHAS) for the State of Ohio.
Kenneth “Ken” Murray
BSSW ’73, Faculty Associate at Arizona State University School of Social Work.
James B. O’Hora
MSW ’64, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Broome and Chenango Counties of New York (retired).
Dr. Cleora “Cleo” Smith Roberts
MSW ’64, Professor Emerita at the University of South Florida (USF) School of Social Work (retired).
- 2018
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Duane Casares
MSW ’90, CEO of Directions for Youth & Families (DFYF).
Adrienne Gavula
MSW ’09, Development Director for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a community lecturer for the College of Social Work (posthumous).
Terry Russell
BSSW ’72, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio (NAMI).
Druann Whitaker
BSSW ’77, Chief Strategy Officer at the National Youth Advocate Program.
Dr. Kenneth Yeager
BSSW ’92, MSW ’93, PhD ’99, Director of the Stress, Trauma and Resiliency (STAR) program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
- 2017
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Dr. José Ashford
MSW ’76, Professor at Arizona State University (ASU) School of Social Work.
Captain John William Biedenkapp
MSW ’63, Former Executive Director of Community Action Lexington Fayette County Inc.
Rejeana Haynes
MSW ’89, Vice President of Clinical Operations at St. Vincent Family Center in Columbus.
Tuesday Ryan-Hart
MSW ’98, President and Founder of Tuesday Ryan-Hart LLC.
- 2016
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David R. Grove
MSW ’83, Family Therapist and Supervisor at David Grove, LISW.
Dr. Annette Jefferson
PhD ’96, Board Chair of the Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone.
Ami Peacock
MSW, LISW-S ’93, Manager for the Mount Carmel West Healthy Living Center.
James (Jim) Stahler
MSW ’76, Director of Public Policy and Campaign Director at United Way of the Greater Dayton Area (retired).
Patricia Kay Werk
MSW ’70, Developer and Manager of the Netcare Access Community Crisis Response Team and Critical Incident Stress Management (retired).
- 2015
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Dr. Robert Applebaum
MSW ’77, Associate Dean College of Arts and Science and Professor of Gerontology at Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Bill Owens
MSW ’84, Executive Director of the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center (CRC).
Dr. Rhonda Reagh
PhD ’90 MSW ’80, Founder and CEO of Reagh and Associates.
- 2014
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Judy Sillince Braun
BSSW ’71, MSW ’76, Founder and President/CEO of COVA (Center of Vocational Alternatives for Mental Health, Inc.) (retired).
Dr. Gregory Clapp
PhD ’95, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at The Ohio State University College of Social Work.
Alan Gill
MSW ’77, CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).
John Hamilton
MSW ’79, AmeriCorps VISTA member.
- 2013
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Dr. Kathryn S. Icenhower
BSSW ’77, is the CEO and Co-Founder of SHIELDS for Families in Los Angeles.
Dr. Alfred L. Joseph, Jr (posthumous)
PhD ’95, MSW ’89, Associate Professor of Social Work at Miami University of Ohio.
Dr. Jacquelyn Meshelemiah
PhD ’95, MSW ’91, BSSW ’90, Associate Professor at the Ohio State University, College of Social Work.
Robyn C. Morris
MSW ’01, Clinical Director for Group Living with the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP).
Richard Schira
MSW ’72, Director of the Referral Department at Franklin County Children Services (retired).
- 2012
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Dr. Denise A. Goodman
PhD ’93, Child Welfare Professional for more than 35 years.
James N. Miller
MSW ’55, Administrator of The Beej Business.
Dr. Joseph R. Palmer
BSSW ’56, PhD ’70, (in memoriam) Owner of Mediation Services of Ohio.
Dr. Glenn E. Rohrer
BSSW ’66, MSW ’73, Tenured Professor and Director of the School of Justice Studies and Social Work at the University of West Florida.
- 2011
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James Clark
MSW ’81, President and Chief Executive Officer of Daniel Memorial.
William Ellsworth
MSW ’81, School Social Worker for Lexington Local Schools and a Community Lecturer, Field Instructor, and Education Coordinator for The Ohio State University Mansfield Campus.
Steven Geib
BSSW ’81, Executive Director and Founder of Agape for Youth, Inc.
Ruth Schildhouse
BS, Social Admin ’49, Executive Director of the Columbus International Program for 29 years.
- 2010
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Jack Rothman
MSW ’51, Professor Emeritus of social work from UCLA.
Monit Cheung
MSW ’82, PhD ‘86, Professor and Associate Director of the Child and Family Center for Innovative Research at the Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston.
Patrick Leung
BSSW ’81, MSW, ’81, PhD ’86, Professor of Social Work, Director of the Office of International Social Work Education, Coordinator of the Social Work Research Center, and Evaluator for the Child and Family Center for Innovative Research at the Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston.
- 2009
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Gregory Behling
BSSA ’54, MSW ’57
Sandra Stephenson
BSSW ’74, MSW ’75, Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health, appointed by Governor Ted Strickland in 2007.
Wayne Moore
MSW ’75, Professor of Social Work and Sociology at North Carolina A&T State University.
Eileen Saffran
BSSW ’74, MSW ’76, Founder and Executive Director of The Gathering Place.
- 2008
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Alvin Hadley
MSW ’59, Executive Director of the Columbus Metropolitan Area Church Council (retired).
James H. Ward, Sr.
PhD ’74, Retired Dean and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of School of Social Work, Portland State University (PSU).
LeVerne McCummings
PhD ’75, Past President of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
Sandra F. Cannon
MSW ’78, Manager and Chief of the Office of Forensic Services, Ohio Department of Mental Health.
- 2007
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H. Stanley Eichenauer
MSW ’70, Retired Senior Advisor Administrator, Mental System Transformation, US Department of Health and Human Services.
Samira Beckwith
MSW ’77, President and CEO of Hope Hospice and Community Services in Ft. Myers, Florida.
Claudia Coulton
MSW ’72, Professor, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University.
Beverly Watkins
PhD ’88 Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Savannah State University.
- 2006
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Valarie Omega Justiss Vance
PhD ’49, Post-Doc Lecturer
John Michael Seelig
MSW ’76, Dean of Caudill College of Humanities at Morehead State University (MSU Moorhead).
Marguerite Turnbull
MSW ’68, Past Director of Girls Work at Pillsbury Settlement House.
Gregory “Jack” Marshall Ford
BSSW ’69, First African American Mayor of Toledo.
