Dean Judy L. Postmus, PhD, ACSW, told graduates that social workers are needed now more than ever amid political division, economic uncertainty, and challenges facing communities nationwide.
Photo: Student speaker Denise Haney drew applause throughout her address at the School of Social Work Convocation. (Photo by Kellie Finch)
The University of Maryland School of Social Work’s (UMSSW) Class of 2026 entered SECU Arena on Friday, May 15, carrying stories of career changes, personal struggles, and advocacy and left with diplomas in hand with a desire to be change makers in a world they say increasingly needs compassion and courage.
The School of Social Work celebrated 322 Master of Social Work graduates and five PhD graduates during its convocation ceremony at Towson University, honoring December 2025 and Spring and Summer 2026 graduates. The ceremony also marked the first graduating class of the fully online MSW program.
“What does it mean to truly show up for someone?” student speaker Denise Haney said during remarks that drew applause throughout the speech. “Not just in theory, not just in policy, but in the real difficult moments of someone’s life.”
Haney, a first-generation graduate and single mother who completed her internship with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, reflected on her own experiences navigating systems that at times felt “distant, overwhelmed, or absent.”
“Presence matters,” Haney told graduates. “Sometimes the difference between someone feeling invisible and someone feeling valued is simply whether someone shows up.”
The message resonated with many graduates whose journeys to social work began in entirely different careers and life paths.