Undergraduate Social Welfare Alliance

Ashlyanna Berge, President
(she/her/hers)

Hi everyone! My name is Ashlyanna, and I am so excited to be this year’s USWA President!

I am from Middle Island, New York, and I am a senior in the BSW program here at Stony Brook. This year, my internship placement is at Family Service League in CAIR, where I will have the opportunity to work with and support people at many different stages of their lives.

I currently work as a preschool teacher, which is something I absolutely love. Working with children and families has shown me how important it is to support people individually, but I also know that I want to work toward changing the systems that impact people’s lives every single day.

I have been passionate about social justice and advocacy since high school, and that passion has continued to grow throughout my time at Stony Brook. My involvement has led me to become an ambassador for the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, and now, I am so excited to bring that passion for advocacy, social work, and creating change into my role as USWA President.

I’m looking forward to working with all of you this year, building community, creating meaningful opportunities for students, and continuing to make USWA a space where everyone feels heard, supported, and empowered to make a difference.

Sarah Ofori, Vice President
(she/her/hers)

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah, and I am a senior in the social work program! I am a transfer student from Suffolk County Community College (SCCC), where I earned my associate’s degree in psychology. 

My passion for social work continued to grow through my student leadership roles and experiences supporting college students who are from underserved communities. For my internship this year, I am working with Community Housing Innovations (CHI), where I provide case management and connect families with housing resources. 

As a future social worker, I hope to focus on community development and economic justice, particularly serving BIPOC and low-income populations. I am passionate about supporting communities that have historically faced injustices across many different areas. I am extremely excited to work with everyone and can’t wait to have a great year! 

Doreen Davidson, Secretary
(she/her/hers)

Hi everyone! My name is Doreen “Dee,” and I am a senior in Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare and secretary of the Undergraduate Social Welfare Alliance. 

During my time at Stony Brook, I have become involved in the social work community as a peer mentor and as the BSW board representative for NASW-NY. I have also been honored to receive the Excellence in Interprofessional Collaboration Award through Stony Brook Medicine’s Center for Interprofessional Innovation and the Upstander Award through Stony Brook’s CPO, and I was recently selected as one of Stony Brook University’s Top 10 Homecoming Court candidates.

This year, I am completing my senior internship at the Stony Brook Veterans Home, where I have developed an even greater passion for working with the veteran population. After earning my BSW, I hope to continue at Stony Brook in the Advanced Standing MSW program, with the ultimate goal of working within the VA system. My interests include trauma-informed care, PTSD, mental health, substance use, and advocacy for veterans and their families.

Outside of school, I am a mom, longtime community volunteer, and someone who is always looking for a way to get involved and give back. Over the years, my advocacy has included lupus advocacy, autism awareness, domestic violence, human trafficking, and suicide prevention efforts at both the community and state levels. I have also been involved with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, coached cheerleading, served as a PTA President, and volunteered at a local soup kitchen. In my free time, I love music and dance, which have always been a big part of my life.

I came to social work a little later in life, and I believe my life experiences are a big part of what led me here and have shaped the way I connect with others and strengthened my passion for advocacy, inclusion, and making sure people feel seen, heard, and supported. I am excited to spend my senior year helping USWA create a welcoming community where students can connect, get involved, and feel like they belong throughout their social work journey!

Scarlett Gress Gonzalez, Treasurer 
(she/her/ella)

Hello everyone! My name is Scarlett Gress Gonzalez, and I am a senior in the social work program at Stony Brook University.

My journey to social work began with striving to become a high school math teacher. I intended to be the Latina representation that I was unable to see within my community. Through this journey, I discovered my passion for leadership, social justice, and human rights advocacy after witnessing the various inequities that the low-income and/or Hispanic community was facing.

I began my college career at Stony Brook University as a Pre-Social Work major. My first year focused on gender studies and human rights injustices in Latin America. This first year finalized my decision to pursue social work at Stony Brook.

This year, I will be interning in emergency housing at Community Housing Innovations. As I further my social work career, I aspire to work and advocate for undocumented individuals and hispanic/low-income populations at all levels of practice. I also hope to research the pipeline for low-income and/or Hispanic individuals entering the military.

As USWA treasurer, I am excited to oversee the financial logistics of initiatives from our student body!  

Juliana Price, Social Media Manager/Public Relations
(she/her/hers)

Hi everyone! My name is Juliana, and I am a senior Social Welfare student at Stony Brook University. Throughout the program, I have developed a strong interest in clinical social work and the importance of building meaningful relationships with the individuals and families we serve. I am especially passionate about working with children and families and creating spaces where people feel supported, understood, and empowered.

This year, I am completing my field placement at GiGi’s Playhouse Long Island while also serving as a LEND Fellow and Student Ambassador for the School of Social Welfare. These experiences continue to shape the thoughtful and compassionate clinician I hope to become.

Looking ahead, I hope to continue my education through an MSW and build a career as a clinician working with children, couples, and families. As USWA’s Social Media Manager, I am excited to use my role to strengthen connections among our students, highlight the experiences that make our program special, and contribute to a community where students feel welcomed, supported, and involved.

Keily Bardales, Senior Class Representative
(she/her/hers)

Hey everyone! My name is Keily, and I'm a senior at Stony Brook University in the School of Social Welfare. I transferred from Nassau Community College (NCC). 

At NCC, I got my associate's in human services and was valedictorian of the program. While at NCC, I interned at the ASPIRES Program, where I worked with students with autism spectrum disorder to navigate the campus and help them build a sense of community at NCC. 

I am currently a social work intern at Hempstead High School, where I will be assisting students throughout the school year with academic, social, emotional, and behavioral concerns. My goal is to work with individuals as they transition into community life after leaving prison or military service. As this year's senior rep, I am so excited for all of the events that USWA will do this year, and I look forward to working alongside all of the seniors.

Stephanie Pagliari, Senator
(she/her/hers)

Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie, and I am a senior at Stony Brook School of Social Welfare. My passion for helping others and my deep understanding of social welfare systems have ultimately led me to pursue a career in social work. 

My internship this year involves working with youth with intellectual and neurological disabilities in residential treatment, as well as working with youth in the foster care system. I hope to work with children and families in the future, advocate for their needs, and connect them with the support and resources they need. I am looking forward to an amazing year!