An author, Possibility Lab researcher, Underground Scholar, and advocate, recent BASW graduate and current MSW student Hakim Owen (MSW '2027) shares his path to Berkeley and his work toward disrupting cycles of violence.
Shortly before her graduation, Berkeley Social Welfare sat down with Monica De La Cruz—now a PhD graduate and recipient of the prestigious James and Khadija Midgley Dissertation Award—to talk about her unconventional path to social work, her community-engaged research, and her hopes for the future.
Could you share a little with us about your path to Berkeley and your interest in public health and social welfare?
It’s been a winding pathway, informed by my lived experience. I...
Berkeley Social Welfare is pleased to announce that Karina Davis and Alishba Sardar, both second-year MSW students, have been selected for the Council on Social Work Education’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) for the 2025–26 academic year. Their selection is...
As the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close, join us in celebrating our dedicated students, including these outstanding leaders! Thanks to our Student Leaders
This May, leaders of Berkeley Social Welfare student groups celebrated a year of building community and advocating for change.
Berkeley Social Welfare is excited to honor students who strive for excellence, build community, and exemplify social work values. Congratulations to our Fall 2024 student award recipients! Meet the Bridge Builder Award Winners
The Bridge Builder Award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional ability in fostering connections, collaboration, and understanding across diverse communities and groups. We celebrate these students’ commitments to bridging divides and promoting inclusive and equitable social environments....
Sabrina Valadez-Rios is a community educator, violence prevention advocate, lifelong learner—and now an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley Social Welfare. Read about her path to Berkeley Social Welfare.
A family focus on education
My first connection to Berkeley was my dad. My parents had me when they were young, so my dad couldn’t attend UC...
Stephanie Fagundes is a second-year student in the AWELL (Advancing Health and Well-being across the Adult Lifespan) concentration; her current field placement is with Napa State Hospital. This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What were you doing before you came to Berkeley Social Welfare?
"One thing I've learned is that you really have to come at obstacles from every angle and not give up. You have to pull from everything that you can to try and meet your clients. I will definitely take that kind of relentless outreach skill and bring it to my next internship and to my social work career."
-Sarah Pierluissi (MSW '22) and others share their stories on the one-year anniversary of UC Berkeley's move to remote instruction.
Last month UC Berkeley Social Welfare alum Ali Fitch (MSW ’25) authored “
PhD candidate Reiley Reed has been awarded a $7,000 Reproductive Health Workforce Doctoral Fellowship from the 
Sabrina Valadez-Rios is a community educator, violence prevention advocate, lifelong learner—and now an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley Social Welfare. Read about her path to Berkeley Social Welfare.
What were you doing before you came to Berkeley Social Welfare? 