The USF School of Social Work participated in the 2025 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 71st Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, held Oct. 23鈥�26. The conference brought together social work educators, administrators, practitioners, and students from across the country.
This year鈥檚 conference offered an invaluable opportunity for the school to showcase its programs, engage in meaningful conversations about social work education, and connect with prospective students, colleagues, and community partners.
Valentina Zambrano-Bastidas and Valentina (V) Arcilla served as the school鈥檚 primary representatives at the exhibit. Their knowledge, expertise, and enthusiastic engagement with attendees helped strengthen the school鈥檚 profile and visibility at this national event. Throughout the conference, they connected with dozens of prospective graduate students interested in the school鈥檚 Master of Social Work (MSW) and doctoral programs, distributed promotional materials illustrating the school鈥檚 commitment to the profession, and networked with peer institutions and vendors to explore potential collaborations and partnerships.
"Our participation at CSWE allows us to connect directly with peers, prospective students, and partners who share our commitment to the profession," said Chris Simmons, PhD, LCSW, director of the School of Social Work. "I鈥檓 proud of Valentina, V, and all the faculty who represented USF in Denver. Their efforts reflect the collaborative spirit and excellence that define our school."
Left to right: Vicki Lynn, Khalilah Caines, Chris Simmons, Jennifer Roth, and Jamie Clem.
Several faculty members also supported the school鈥檚 presence at the conference, including Jerome Galea, PhD, LCSW, associate professor; Vickie Lynn, PhD, MSW, MPH, assistant professor of instruction; Dasha Rhodes, PhD, LMSW, assistant professor; Khalilah Caines, PhD, LCSW, assistant professor of instruction; Jennifer Roth, MSW, LCSW, assistant professor; and Jamie Clem, PhD, MSW, RYT, assistant professor of instruction. Each contributed their expertise and energy to ensure a strong and welcoming USF presence among more than 2,500 social work education professionals in attendance.
Lynn and Simmons also presented their research, "Virtual Simulation-Based Learning for MSW Students: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Exploration," that shared findings from their study on the use of virtual simulation to enhance learning outcomes and practice readiness among MSW students.
The presentation was part of a larger collaborative research project with colleagues Manisha Joshi, PhD, MPH, MSW, associate professor, and Lisa Macri, PhD, MSW, assistant professor of instruction, focused on advancing technology-enhanced experiential learning in social work education.
The session was well attended and included strong support from Caines, Roth, and Clem. Attendees engaged in thoughtful discussion about the role of simulation-based learning in preparing students for the complexities of professional social work practice.