Current Student Congress Co-Leads

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Linanuel Agbai

My name is Linanuel Agbai. I'm one of the co leads of student congress. I am a specialist year student at the Lincoln Center Campus. My social work interests are quite broad and they keep evolving as I learn more about the field.

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One of my major interests is women and girls. I'm particularly interested in influencing change, policy, and advocating for women affected by domestic violence and abuse.

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Stephanie Porto

My name is Stephanie Porto and I live in Glen Spey, NY. I am an online generalist student and my areas of interest in social work are clinical practice with adolescents and families and program building for youth from low income or other disempowered backgrounds.

 

As a person coming back to school after a long time away to switch fields completely, I have had a steep learning curve during my time at Fordham. I have found that Student Congress has been a lifeline for me as I start this new phase. I have found a much needed community of guidance and support, as well as a way to practice my social work skills as we advocate and build initiatives.

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Gillian Sobocinski

Gillian Sobocinski is a Specialist Year student at the Lincoln Center campus. In her social work career she would like to work with teens and young adults in school settings. Her specialist year field placement will be at the Molloy College Student Counseling Center on Long Island.

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Gillian had the opportunity to be the leader of the Student Congress Student Engagement Committee last year and really enjoyed that experience, including getting to know more GSS students and planning events and initiatives to help build a supportive GSS community across all campuses. She hopes to continue these goals as a Student Congress Co-Leader this year.

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Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Anti-Racism (IDEA) Committee

The IDEA committee's mission focuses on anti-Black racism and asks that we move from awareness to action. We focus on personal deep reflection and collective action within our communities and institution. Please consider joining us to get involved and support our movements! We prioritize BIPOC members as well as allies who have established anti-racist practices and knowledge.

The IDEA committee believes that true allies lean into conversations and take action to educate others through an anti-racist lens, holding accountability across the spectrum from microagressions to overt racism.

Current Co-Leads: Ilona A. Silva Alvarez & Sandy Castillo

Ilona A. Silva Alvarez 

My name is Ilona A. Silva Alvarez and I live in Charlotte, NC. I am an online advanced placement student and my areas of interest in social work are clinical practice, policy, activism and domestic violence with girls, women and immigrants. It took me 12 years to go back to school and finish my BSW so being able to complete my masters after 8 years on the field is a dream come true!

 

I love being part of Student Congress because it lets me practice social work for important student issues. I have found a great community of like minded future social workers here, as well as been able to work side by side with some faculty in advocacy and educational initiatives. 

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Sandy Castillo

My name is Sandy Castillo and I was born and raised in Ossining, NY. I'm a full-time advanced standing student at the Westchester Campus. I am passionate about working directly with immigrants, adolescents, and individuals experiencing homelessness. I'm also interested in research and policy practice in the area of immigration. I'm currently interning at Children's Village! 

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I became involved with the Student Congress IDEA committee because I want to participate in initiatives that promote an anti-racist/anti-oppressive approach to social work education.

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Communications Committee

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The Communications Committee is responsible for keeping the GSS community informed about Student Congress and for social networking through the Instagram page, Facebook page, Email Newsletter, and website. The committee collaboratively organizes events centered around connecting the GSS, Fordham and NYC communities.

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Current Co-Leads: Timothy Manning & Yelena Melnichenko

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Timothy Manning

My name is Tim Manning and I work on the newsletter. I am in my specialist year and my field placement is at the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. I’m from New Jersey and currently live there. I am interested in policy, but I am also thinking about school social work.

 

Getting involved with Student Congress has been one of the highlights of my experience at GSS.

 

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Yelena Melnichenko

My name is Yelena (aka Elena/Eley) and I work on the website. As part of the online MSW Program, I'm slated to graduate in May '22. I currently work at The Door, a youth services organization. I'm looking forward to gaining experience with a variety of populations through my education at Fordham and my internship. In time, I hope to travel the world and apply my skills abroad.

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After graduating in May, I aim to go from an LMSW to an LCSW and then, finally, obtain my PhD. I’m interested in researching human behavior, thought processes, and evidence based practice. In my free time I enjoy learning languages on Duolingo, writing cards to seniors, and designing/making projects with my Cricut!

 

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Student Engagement Committee

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The goal of the Student Engagement Committee is to build relationships and foster community between GSS students at the Lincoln Center, Westchester, Rose Hill and online campuses, and between GSS and the larger NYC community.

 

Current Co-Leads: Theresa Amoruso, Celia Goble, & Daniel Stern

 

Theresa Amoruso

My name is Theresa. I joined student Congress in January '21 because I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect with other students while taking classes online. Despite these fears, Student Congress introduced me to an amazing community. 

 

I wanted to become a co-lead this year to continue fostering a sense of community among GSS students. My social work interests include criminal justice reform and working with the aging population.

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Celia Goble

My name is Celia Goble, and I live in Sunnyside, NY. I am a dual degree student in my final year of the J.D./M.S.W. program, and should receive both my law and social work degrees in the spring. I am very interested in policy work, especially in the areas of education and juvenile justice. I became involved in Student Congress in 2020 and it was an amazing way to meet people and feel connected to campus even while remote. As someone coming back to school after years of work, I have really appreciated being able to join such a supportive community of students from a variety of backgrounds. I decided to get involved as a co-lead to help other students meet each other and stay connected.

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Daniel Stern

My name is Daniel Stern and I am in the two year MSW program at Lincoln Center. During a cross country road trip in the summer of 2020, I spent about a month on a ranch in Crestone, Co helping with grooming and training therapy horses. I met the host through a social worker that I met at a yoga studio where I was taught. My social worker/yoga friend asked me if I was interested in doing a service trip using yoga to help asylum seekers who were living in makeshift camps. I volunteered there for two weeks in February not long before the pandemic hit. A few months later I was sitting in a trailer at the horse ranch applying to MSW programs. I joined student congress to be more engaged and work with other students to improve the experience. As a co-lead for student engagement I hope to create spaces for wellness and connection.

 

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Academic Development Committee

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The Academic Development Committee is in charge of planning academic discussion panels and learned lunches and also supports the development of curricular and field proposals.

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Current Co-Leads: Shelley Marie

 

Shelley Marie

My name is Shelley Marie and I'm co-leading the Academic Development committee. I've worked with adults in incarceration and adolescents with developmental disabilities, and these are two populations I remain passionate about.

 

I have many interests in the social work field, most relating to policy and advocacy, but individual work will always have a special place in my heart. The policy and advocacy side of me was compelled to join Student Congress to continue honing these skills and help other students in the process.

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