Doctoral Students

Current Students

• Saira Afzal
• Caleb Baukman
• Christina Belknap
• Quinn Cao
• Ivy Rose Cardillo
• Sandy Castillo Guiracocha
• Jeanne Chang
• Deborah Fitzgerald Correll
• Christine Marie Egizi
• Kara Mia Vigilia Escobar
• Mariana Folco
• Stephanie Franklin
• James Matthew Grilli
• Marie Anntoinette Hall
• Katie King
• Lindsey Norton
• Andrea October
• Ann Perepezko
• Kal Skye
• Dawn Marie Watson

Saira Afzal

Saira Rabia Afzal is a PhD Candidate at the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research of Bryn Mawr College. Her research centers on developing and implementing youth suicide prevention and intervention strategies, with particular focus on marginalized populations. She is committed to improving access to mental health care services for youth and ensuring that these services are delivered in effective and culturally responsive ways. She is interested in utilizing mixed methods to investigate the complex nature of youth suicide and its impact on youth, families, and communities. Read Saira Afzal's Biography

Christina Belknap

Christina Belknap is a licensed clinical social worker and doctoral student. She received an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017, where she was selected for a competitive PEARLS Fellowship, a Program in Mental Health Education Assessment, Recovery and Leadership for Social Workers. Belknap is a practicing clinician working primarily with adults, couples, and families in areas of mental health, trauma, and substance use. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and certified in faith-based spiritual counseling. Belknap is currently a facilitator for the GSSWSR CONNECT Wellness program and a teaching assistant at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Read Christina Belknap's Biography

 Ivy Rose Cardillo

Ivy Rose Cardillo (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Oregon) who has spent the entirety of her career focused on supporting parents. After receiving her Master of Social Work degree from Smith College School for Social Work, Ivy Rose worked within a reproductive health clinic offering therapy and case management to birthing parents. Read Ivy Rose Cardillo's Biography. 

 Kara Mia Vigilia Escobar

Kara Mia is a licensed social worker in New Jersey. She holds a BA from New York University, with magna cum laude honors, and MSW from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. Her most recent work as a certified screener, serving persons in crisis, will ground her research with clinical experience and experiential knowledge. She is currently in her second year of doctoral studies at Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Read Kara Mia Vigilia Escobar's Biography.

Mariana Folco

A native Spanish-speaker from Argentina, Mariana Folco holds an MSW with clinical concentration from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS from Boston University. She has spent a decade working in nonprofit organizations, bilingual social service agencies, and youth development programs. A lifelong athlete and longtime coach, Folco has worked as a facilitator and adjunct instructor to integrate trauma-informed practices into youth programs, particularly those that use sport as a tool for development and community building. She currently also serves as a field instructor for the Sport Social Work Certificate program through the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports. Read Mariana's Biography

 Marie Anntoinette Hall

Marie is a licensed social worker in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D., and Pennsylvania. She holds a BA from Virginia State University, with magna cum laude honors, and MSW from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. She is currently in her second year of doctoral studies at Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Marie’s research interests focus on school social workers engagement with ethical decision making, making do, social emotional learning, and adolescent identity development. Read Marie Anntoinette Hall's Biography. 

Katie King

Katie is a licensed clinical social worker who has over a decade of experience providing clinical support to various populations and has intensive training in providing trauma-informed and trauma-focused services to children and families, in particular.  Katie received her Master of Social Work (clinical concentration) and Master of Public Health (global health concentration) from Temple University. Read Katie King's Biography

Lindsey Norton

Lindsey Norton received her Masters of Social Service and Masters of Law and Social Policy from Bryn Mawr’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She has spent more than five years performing clinical research at the University of Pennsylvania and the Penn Center for Community Health Workers. Read Lindsey Norton's Biography

Andrea October

Andrea October is the Trauma Resilience Training Coordinator for Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, providing trauma trainings and consultation. Her research areas include trauma intervention with communities of color and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) education. Read Andrea October's Biography

Ann Perepezko

Ann Perepezko is a licensed social worker and School Intervention Coach at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Violence Prevention. In this role, Perepezko partners with schools throughout Philadelphia to implement school-based interventions that improve children's social and emotional skills and promote positive peer relationships. Read Ann Perepezko's Biography

Kal Skye

Kal Skye received their master’s degree in social work with a clinical concentration from the University of Kansas and has worked in various social work settings, including child welfare, refugee resettlement, and hospice care. Read Kal Skye's Biography

Dawn Marie Watson

Dawn Marie Watson is a licensed social worker with an interest in macro social work practice. She holds a BA in Political Science from Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, and MSW from Millersville University. Her prior professional roles include children and youth services, public welfare, and human services administration. Read Dawn Watson's Biography