Contact a Current SSW Student

This page is under construction as we add more Ambassadors! Thank you for your patience.

Once you've read through their bios, scroll down to choose which student you want to connect with!

Note: Based on volume, some student ambassadors may not be available. Available ambassadors are able to be chosen on the form.

Molly Bogin
Class of 2027
Pronouns: she/her
Most recently from: Los Angeles, CA
Internship placement location(s): Los Angeles, CA

Hi! I’m a 29-year-old cis, Jewish woman from a low-income background in Western Massachusetts, though I've spent the last five years between Los Angeles and Brooklyn. Outside of this program, I’m a musician, visual artist, writer, and academic tutor.

My professional interests include counseling for artists and people with chronic illnesses, as well as relationship counseling (both partnerships and families), and public health advocacy work. At Smith, I'm involved in our chapter of P4P (Payment for Placements).

Prior to this program, I studied neuroscience and creative writing, and worked in tv casting, college admissions, and product design. I've driven across the country four times and love to cook, spend time in nature, make music, write, do yoga, and be silly with friends. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Skylar Broadway-Burnett
Class of 2027
Pronouns: they/them
Most recently from: Amherst, MA
Internship placement location(s): Amherst, MA

Hi there! I'm a 25 year old first year student who identifies as biracial, nonbinary, neurodivergent, and queer. I have moved around a lot since I was a kid but consider myself from Los Angeles, CA. I have an adorable cat named Orion and I love reading.

I am really interested in a working with youth (4-25) who identify as queer, trans, disabled, neurodivergent, etc. I specifically want to focus on Black youth in hospital/medical settings. That being said, I love how diverse social work is and would love to explore other areas as well. I hope to support and uplift those who are ignored by the larger society.

I am really excited to be an ambassador! When I was in the application stage I was able to meet with one, who helped me immensely.

Lilly Hacsi
Class of 2027
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Most recently from: Somerville, MA
Internship placement location(s): Boston, MA

Hey! I'm Lilly, a white, cisgender woman from the Boston area. I come to SSW from a clinical neuroscience research background. I've lived in southern California, Washington state, upstate New York, and Boston.

While I didn't come to Smith with a psychodynamic practice at the forefront of my mind, I am now looking forward to developing a relational therapeutic practice. I'm particularly providing therapy to adults with trauma backgrounds (individuals, couples, and families). For my first year practicum, I'm at a residential home for adults with co-occurring substance use disorder and severe mental illness.

In my free time, I love cuddling with my cat, exploring Boston, drawing, reading, and doing yoga. I've had a fantastic time at Smith so far, including meeting amazing future social workers and getting a comprehensive social work education. I hope that I can be helpful to you in your decision making process! Don't hesitate to reach out :)

Naomi Karmel
Class of 2027
Pronouns: she/her
Most recently from: Cambridge, MA
Internship placement location(s): Eastern MA

I am a 25 year old white, cisgender woman. I am originally from a small town in northeastern Maryland and still consider this home. I came to the Boston Area for college and never left! I majored in community health and clinical psychology as an undergraduate, so I have been set on pursuing a career in mental health for a number of years. However, I struggled to determine which degree was right for me given my peers' pull towards PhDs and PsyDs. For me, determining that an MSW was the right choice was a long and intentional process. After college, I took some time in the field to work as a liaison between MA's child welfare system and the public education system.

My current practicum is at a private therapeutic day school 30 minutes outside of Boston. I am primarily interest in school-based social work with children and adolescents. I also find myself curious about creative modalities that may be particularly useful for children, such as art and play therapy, but have yet to have the opportunity to explore them.

When I am not working, I enjoy knitting, baking, running, or hanging out with my dog and cat. I found my first summer at Smith refreshing and would love to chat about it! When I was applying, I found that the most valuable information I could gain was by hearing from current students' experiences. I would love to share any insight that might be helpful, especially as it may relate to decreasing the mystique around Smith summers!

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Matthew Luken
Class of 2027
Pronouns: he/him
Most recently from: San Francisco, CA
Internship placement location(s): San Francisco, CA

I'm a 23 year old gay man.

My areas of professional interest include grief and addiction and in particular with queer communities. I previously worked in residential treatment with people who experienced mental health and substance use disorders along with homelessness.

In my spare time I like to queer country dance, read, hangout with friends, and listen to music.

Maxim Melnichuk-Litvak
Class of 2027
Pronouns: he/they
Most recently from: Somerville, MA
Internship placement location(s): Bedford, MA (Greater Boston region); Cambridge, MA

Hey! My name is Maxim, and I'm currently in my second-year practicum for Smith's M.S.W. program. I am a white, cisgender, queer man from a low-income, first-gen Jewish Ukrainian-American background. After studying and practicing in neuroscience, medicine, and the arts, I settled more into the field of mental health.

Passionate about clinical social work and psychotherapy, I'm interested in trauma-informed and integrative approaches to mental healthcare. I believe that connecting to and being our authentic selves lies at the core of human well-being. I'm driven to create warm, safe, creative, and playful environments where people can explore themselves in vulnerable, relational, and genuine ways. I'm interested in working with children, adolescents, and adults in individual, group, and nature-based contexts. I hope to also work with immigrant communities and displaced families.

I love wandering in nature/cities, cooking, photography, reading, working out, swimming, and doodling in cafes. Please reach out if you have any questions or just want to chat!

Kate Packer-Dawley
Class of 2027
Pronouns: she/her
Most recently from: Oakland, CA
Internship placement location(s): Oakland, CA

I identify as a white, queer, cisgender woman.

I am interested in working alongside immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community, and youth on micro, mezzo, and macro levels. I hope to practice bilingually (in both Spanish and English).

I grew up in Oakland, CA, but went to undergrad on the East Coast. I lived in Andalucía, Spain for a year as an English Teaching Assistant. I love all things crafty (crocheting, coloring etc.), live music, and hanging out at cafes. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Stephanie Tian
Class of 2027
Pronouns: she/her
Most recently from: Amherst, MA
Internship placement location(s): Boston, MA

Hi! I'm a 22 year old first year, and my current practicum is at a therapeutic day school in Weston, a suburb outside of Boston. I recently graduated from UMass Amherst with majors in Psychology and Legal Studies. I love music, long walks, arts and crafts, and dancing.

As an Asian American and child of immigrants, I am passionate about maintaining open-minded approaches to the theories we discuss, with cultural differences in mind. My clinical experience has been in Early Intervention and leadership opportunities around diversity, equity, and inclusion. I'm still exploring what populations I would like to work with long-term, so I am excited by the opportunity to work with different ages and backgrounds through my practicums to gain more experience!

Throughout undergrad, I knew I wanted to be a therapist but wasn't sure what type of graduate program would be best for me, so I spoke with every clinician I could to hear about their professional journeys. I would love to share why I chose an MSW, especially coming right out of undergrad!

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We ask that you only request ONE ambassador. Additional form submissions will be denied.

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Contact a Current SSW Student

Once you've read through their bios, scroll down to choose which student you want to connect with!

Already know who you want to chat with? Jump to the form!