Meet the newest members of BCSSW’s Alumni Board

They shape policy and work with underserved populations. They value mentorship and community. And they come equipped with advice for students, quick to drop nuggets of wisdom on the next generation of practitioners. 

They are the seven newest members of the Boston College School of Social Work’s Alumni Board—and they are eager to give back, uplift those coming after them, and help expand what students believe is possible.

“I see opportunities for the Board to deepen its connection with students and strengthen alumni engagement,” said one new member, Giovanna Nelkin, MSW’24. “I hope that by bringing both my own experiences and the voices of other alumni into the conversation, I can help expand the Board’s presence and enrich the opportunities offered to students.”

Nelkin and her fellow newcomers will help support the Board’s primary goals: fostering connections between BCSSW and alumni, promoting professional growth, and advancing the social work profession—without focusing on fundraising. 

It will be their job to bring these goals to life through four annual initiatives that celebrate alumni achievements, expand professional networks, prepare students for the workforce, and create opportunities for seasoned social workers to share their expertise.

“Our goal is to build an Alumni Board that reflects the full spectrum of our graduates—their areas of study, career paths, life experiences, and aspirations—so together we can create programs that truly resonate with and support the entire BCSSW community,” said Cindy Snell, director of Career Services and Alumni Relations at BCSSW.

The new Board members serve a range of populations, from children to college students to older adults. Even when their jobs don’t involve clinical social work—Jeff Sierra, MSW’17, works as the assistant director of student life at Harvard Law School, while Sharikka Finley-Moise, MSW’13, serves as the assistant dean for GradSupport at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—they continue to draw on their MSW training to improve the lives of those they support.

Sierra, for his part, brings a fresh perspective to current students considering nontraditional paths.

Though he is a licensed clinical social worker, he does not practice in a clinical capacity. Instead, he’s built a lengthy career in higher education.

“My involvement on the Board offers a valuable perspective for students and alumni who wish to obtain an MSW and all the skills that come with it, but do not want to practice in a ‘traditional’ social work environment,” said Sierra.

Others, such as Lily Drescher, MSW,19, joined the Alumni Board to inspire students to follow in their footsteps and make an impact with specialized populations. 

Drescher works on the Mind and Memory Care team at Mass General Hospital, serving people aged 65 and up with dementia. 

“It is important to me that I share what I know about this population as well as the passion I have for the work in the hopes that it will inspire other students to continue working in this field long-term,” she said.

Many new Board members credit peers, professors, or advisors with shaping their confidence and professional direction. 

One of them, Niurka De Jesus, MSW’16, said that Rocío Calvo, professor and founding director of the Latinx Leadership Initiative at BCSSW, gave her the tools to thrive in the helping profession.

“One of the main key takeaways from my time at BCSSW thanks to Professor Rocio Calvo is that I need to embrace my strengths, and be relentless about the change I desire to see in myself, my community, and generations to come,” De Jesus said.

Finley-Moise still remembers the prescient advice she received from her field education advisor, Sarah Hood, during her time at BCSSW more than a decade ago. 

“She told me to never put myself in a box when it comes to finding a job,” recalled Finley-Moise. “Social work fits in all fields, and it is up to us to show the world how we do.”

Each new member brings practical insights to MSW students looking to apply what they’ve learned to real-world settings. 

Anju Lamichhane, MSW’19, urged students to give themselves the benefit of the doubt. 

“You’ll make mistakes, and that’s okay. What matters most is that you reflect, learn, and keep growing,” she said.

All in all, the new Board members bring fresh perspectives to a profession dating back to the late-1800s. They carry hard-won experience. And they stand ready to guide, mentor, and inspire future social workers.