Silver School to Recognize Alumni Day Awards Honorees

The NYU Silver School of Social Work will celebrate its accomplished alumni during NYU Alumni Day 2012. The NYU Silver Alumni Awards -- the Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Recent Alumnae, and the Making a Difference Awards -- will be handed out during the Dean's Luncheon. 

This year's Distinguished Alumni Award this year will be given to Dr. Jayne M. Silberman, PhD '85. She is member of the Silver School's first doctoral class and is a social work scholar, practitioner, and champion. Silberman served for many years as co-vice chair of the Lois and Samuel J. Silberman Fund, Community Funds Inc. She is currently chair of the Faculty Awards Advisory Committee for the Fund. The Fund offers a faculty grant program whose mission is to support the systematic investigation of innovations in social work practice, policy, and education. Silberman enjoys being an active member of many nonprofit boards and committees and presently sits on the Manhattan board of Jewish Home Lifecare. She has just released her first book, In the Herd: A Photographic Journey with the Chincoteague Ponies and Assateague Horses.

The Silver School will recognize two Outstanding Recent Alumnae.

Clare Morris, MSW '09, is the founder of iGotITtoo, a nonprofit organization that strives to ensure that those who reside in undeserved communities are equipped with the tools, training, and access to support 21st century skill development. The program administers services in 14 locations in the New York area, with over 175 volunteers who have logged over 20,000 total volunteer hours in helping communities traverse the digital divide. 

Sarah Tarshis, MSW '09, is the co-founder of RISE, a grassroots collective of social workers, students, and activists that organizes community-based social justice conferences, events, and trainings. Currently, she is the senior economic empowerment specialist at Sanctuary for Families, a nonprofit dedicated to serving domestic violence victims, sex trafficking victims, and their children.

Continuing the tradition started last year, the Silver School will honor three Making a Difference awardees.

Howard J. Aibel and his late wife, Katherine Aibel, MSW '72, have supported a range of initiatives at the School, including the Poverty Reduction Initiative and the endowed Katherine W. and Howard Aibel Visiting Professorship. Aibel retired recently as a provider of independent arbitration and mediation services in resolving large complex corporate commercial disputes. He was chairman of the board of the American Arbitration Association, having previously served as chairman of the AAA's Executive Committee. He continues as a member of the Board and the Executive Committee. Aibel was a vice president of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and a member of its Executive Committee. He is a life member of the American Law Institute.

Elinor Seevak, MSW '85, has served on the NYU Silver School of Social Work Dean's Advisory Council since its first meeting on December 11, 1996. She has given tirelessly as a volunteer and philanthropist ensuring the future of social work education at New York University. Additionally, she is a board member of The Acting Company, a founding member of The Youth Foundation, and a trustee of Facing History and Ourselves. She has also been involved with the New York Women's Foundation, the Women's Campaign Forum, and supports numerous other charities. Her work and dedication speak to helping students learn and live a meaningful life. 

Nancy Wender, MSW '96, is a member of the Silver School of Social Work Dean's Council and created the 291 Foundation Scholarship, which has supported 21 NYU Silver students since 2009. She is a New York City-based psychotherapist practicing in Tribeca, who brings an eclectic approach to her work and draws upon different theoretical models to inform her treatment hypotheses and style.

Other Silver School-related Alumni Day activities include a morning talk by Professor Mary McKay on social work response to poverty. The School will also host a reception, Visually Speaking: Disabilities and the Artist, which will include a presentation by Dr. Constance Silver, BS '78, MSW '79. Learn more about all Alumni Day activities.