Alumni, faculty, staff and community partners gathered at the University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work on March 20 for the annual Alumni Lunch: Building Impact Through Engagement, a time-honored event centered on connection, reflection and shared learning.
Held in the School of Social Work and Smart Hospital Building commons area, the event brought together graduates from across cohorts and practice areas to reconnect with the school and one another while reflecting on their professional journeys and continued impact in the field.
Alumnus Michael Guinn (MSW ‘01) emceed the program, guiding attendees through an afternoon that highlighted the diverse paths social work graduates take. A published poet, award-winning actor, international spoken word champion and housing coach at the Transition Resource Action Center, Guinn set the tone for a program rooted in storytelling and lived experience.
Distinguished alumni speakers shared insights from their careers, offering perspectives on how social work principles translate across various practice settingsthrough a panel led by Dr. Jessica Sanchez, assistant professor or practice at the UTA School of Social Work. Their reflections underscored the school’s broader mission of cultivating individuals and communities to foster well-being for a just society.
These speakers included Toby Owen, CEO of Presbyterian Night Shelter, Afsaneh “Afsi” Rezaeizadeh, adjunct clinical faculty member at Saint Louis University, Ashley Finley,founder of JJ Carson Press and a neurodiversity-affirming educator and Kendra Tevis, case manager and counselor at Parkland Hospital.
Panelists, Afsaneh “Afsi” Rezaeizadeh (Far left), Kendra Tevis (Middle Left), Ashley Finley (Middle Right), and Toby Owen (Far Right) greet at audience during the UTA School of Social Work Alumni Lunch: Building Impact Through Engagement. (Photo by Jaelon Jackson)
The event also featured a “state of the school” address delivered by Dean Kirk A. Foster, who highlighted continued growth in enrollment, research and community partnerships. Foster emphasized that the school’s impact extends far beyond campus, with alumni serving as advocates, practitioners and change agents in communities across Texas and beyond.
“The impact of the School of Social Work extends far beyond our classrooms,” Foster said. “Each of you represents a community served, a life changed and a career dedicated to making the world better.”
Attendees were also introduced to ongoing initiatives shaping the school’s future, including expanded research labs, the Center for Lifelong Learning and the anticipated launch of an online Doctor of Social Work program designed to support leadership development among working professionals.
Throughout the afternoon, the event reinforced a central theme: Impact is built through relationships. By reconnecting alumni with faculty, staff and community partners, the School of Social Work continues to strengthen a network that supports collaboration, mentorship and long-term engagement.
As conversations continued beyond the program, the gathering served as both a homecoming and a forward-looking moment, highlighting the collective role alumni play in advancing the mission and future of social work.
Dr. Kirk Foster, dean of the UTA School of Social Work, delivers a "State of the School" address during the 2026 Alumni Lunch: Building Impact Through Engagement. (Photo by Jaelon Jackson)