October 31, 2025
University of Washington Ph.D. students Vania Buck and Jon Torres were recognized this past weekend at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Conference as recipients of the 2025 Minority Fellowship Program (MFP).
Administered by CSWE, the MFP supports the mission of reducing the effects of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities by increasing the number of professionals trained to work with underserved persons with or at risk for mental health or substance abuse disorders.
The MFP supports doctoral students in social work who hold a master’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program and aspire to become leaders in research, teaching, practice or policy. Through their work, fellows contribute to advancing equitable access to care, reducing health disparities and improving behavioral health outcomes in both public and nonprofit sectors.
Current UW Ph.D. students Joanna La Torre and Juliann Li Verdugo were also selected as MFP fellows in 2023 and 2024, respectively.