Education and Social Policy News & Events

See news and events in Merrimack College’s Winston School of Education and Social Policy. 

News

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By: Kara Haase
The inaugural cohort of Merrimack's Master of Social Work graduates returned to campus for a special alumnae panel.
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By: wynnem@merrimack.edu
WBUR talks with Dean Deb Margolis and highlights Merrimack's partnership with Haverhill Public Schools to offer district paraeducators entrance into a free, two-year special education master's degree program.
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By: Amanda Alcox
EducationWeek spotlights Merrimack College's MINTS, a supportive community that offers free professional development workshops and networking opportunities for new and established teachers.
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By: Joseph O'Connell
The Student Government Association’s Academic Affairs Committee (SGA) worked with faculty and the Office of the Provost to include American Sign Language (ASL) as part of the College’s foreign language requirement starting in spring 2024.
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By: Michael Cronin
The College and Ed Week Research Center’s national survey tracked the mindset of more than 1,000 public K-12 teachers.
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By: Michael Cronin
Merrimack College’s online graduate education program placed No. 97 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 rankings for “Best Online Master’s in Education,” jumping nearly 100 spots from No. 182 on the 2022 rankings.
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By: Joseph O'Connell
Keely McCaskie M'23, a public school administrator in Denver, Colo., is pursuing her master's degree in community engagement online in the Winston School of Education and Social Policy.
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By: Office of Communications
Youth Voice is one of Merrimack's most recent civic and community engagement programs, forming a collaborative network of Merrimack faculty, students and community partnerships to support local youth.
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By: Office of Communications
Rosana Urbaez and Lisbeth Valdez, director and assistant director of Merrimack's neighborhood resource center Hands to Help, were chosen from a nationally nominated group of community engagement professionals to participate in the 2021-2022 Campus Compact Engaged Scholars Initiative (ESI).

Events

Graduate Info Session & Tour

Explore the Merrimack College community, gain tips on what makes a strong application, hear about our fellowship opportunities, take a tour and more!

Arcidi Welcome Center

Graduate Student Celebration

Graduate Student Celebration is an exciting event where prospective and accepted students can get a glimpse into becoming a warrior through information sessions, campus tours, and opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and peers!

Arcidi Welcome Center

Notable & Quotable

Jonathan P. Kessler, LICSW, who is completing his first year as an assistant professor of practice in the department of social work, presented a lecture at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) in Riga, Latvia in March titled “The Triple Threat: Brain Development-Attachment, Trauma, and Addiction“. Kessler’s presentation was attended by about 45 current RSU social work students, the dean of the Rīga Stradiņš University School of Social Work as well as administration and faculty members.

Dr. Tunde Szivak, associate professor of health sciences, and Dr. Alyssa Yetter, assistant professor of criminology, in collaboration with former Exercise and Sport Science graduate student Timary Malley, recently published a paper titled “Physical Training Considerations for Police Academy Recruits“.

Kathryn Welby, Ed.D., associate professor of practice in the Winston School of Education and Social Policy, was a featured educator in EducationWeek in January. She offered three things she would tell herself as a first-year teacher.

Dr. Lisa O’Brien, assistant professor of education, recently published an article with her former undergraduate student Mary C. Seltzer titled “Fostering Racial Literacy in Early Childhood Contexts,” which examines the importance of and practical ways for early childhood teachers to nurture racial literacy among themselves and their students. This article was published in the Early Childhood Education Journal.

Researchers Dr. Ruth E. McKenzie, assistant professor of human development and human services and Dr. Katelyn Kurkul, associate professor of human development and human services, are advancing their research project titled “STEM Centered Intergenerational Literacy and Learning Program (SCILL),” which focuses on developing an intergenerational intervention between those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in children under five years old and older adults.

Christine Shaw, Ph.D., professor of practice in graduate education, assisted the Linwood Ambulance in North Woodstock, NH, to obtain a SAMSA grant that will allow for more training and professional development opportunities for first responders. This project will create 20 new EMTs and educate an additional 230 EMTs on topics including mental health, opioid addiction, and substance abuse. This will also provide education to recertify all EMTs that take the education.

Kathryn Welby, Ed.D., associate professor of practice in the Winston School of Education and Social Policy. On June 15, Dr. Welby published Teaching Neurodiverse Students in Inside Higher Ed. The article provides detailed suggestions for how to provide accommodations while continuing to maintain high standards.

Assistant Professor of Practice Kathryn Welby ’01 was featured in a MoneyGeek article about how to teach children about money.

Dr. Susan Marine, v​ice provost and professor in graduate education,​ published a new edited book Critical Praxis in Student Affairs: Social Justice in Action.

Assistant Professor of Practice Kathryn A. Welby ’01 in the Winston School of Education and Social Policy was featured in Education Week’s “Inclusive Teachers Must Be ‘Asset-Based Believers.’”