The Graduate Student Government (GSG) is a University recognized organization open to all students, faculty and staff. The objective of the GSG is to meet the unique needs of the students, to foster intrapersonal understanding, to build upon cooperation in practicum education, and to facilitate problem-solving between the School of Social Welfare administration, faculty, and students. This organization functions as the propelling force of the SSW by advocating for students, advancing interests, and fostering activities. It stresses the importance of the values of the profession of social work and is a collaboration of faculty and students to achieve these goals. Feel free to attend a meeting and check the SSW Update for upcoming events!
E-mail us:
ssw_gsg@stonybrook.edu
Meet your Government Board Representatives for 2024-2025!
Rosanna Cuttone, President
Hello! My name is Rosanna Cuttone and I use She/They pronouns. I am excited to be your GSG President for 2024-2025. I am in my final year of the full-time program specializing in Community, Policy & Political Action (CPPSA). I received my Associate of Science from York College of Pennsylvania and my Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology and Minor in Social Work from SUNY Old Westbury.
I work at SBU as an Assistant Coordinator of Leadership for Campus Residences and a Graduate Coordinator for the LGBTQ+ Center. Additionally, I will be the Advocacy / DEI Chair for the Marsh P. Johnson Legacy Affinity Group in our School of Social Welfare. My first internship was at Suffolk County Court in Integrated Domestic Violence Court and I will be interning for Gender Equality of New York (GENY) for 2024-2025. My biggest accomplishment as a student was receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence when I was a student at SUNY Old Westbury. My passion is in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and I am always here to support and offer solutions to any students who have concerns throughout their time as a student in the School of Social Welfare.
My mission as President is to advocate for the academic, professional, and personal well-being of our graduate students. I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment and creating effective change in the School of Social Welfare. I aim to achieve this through advocacy work, community building, resource accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, and transparent communication.
If you have any issues, questions, suggestions, or anything you'd like to discuss, feel free to email me at ssw_gsg@stonybrook.edu, or if you'd like to keep it confidential you are welcome to reach out to my email rosanna.cuttone@stonybrook.edu. I look forward to making meaningful connections with our graduate students!!
GiAnna Biondi, Vice President
Hello everyone! My name is GiAnna Biondi and I use she/her pronouns. I am happy to be the GSG Vice President for 2024-2025. This is my first year within the full-time Master’s of Social Work program, and I aim to specialize in the Families, Youth, and Transition to Adulthood (FYT). I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Stony Brook University, so it feels great to be back!
I am currently placed at the University’s Student-Athlete Development Center, where we work closely with student-athletes to help them balance their sports, academics, and outside lives. Getting students acclimated within their community and guiding them towards the resources around them is imperative. My goal as of right now is to become a School Social Worker within a secondary school. Students are the backbone for what is to come, and I would love to take part in building that foundation for all to shape their future. My biggest accomplishment as a student was honestly getting accepted into Stony Brook’s Social Work program. My support system was small beforehand, and ultimately many did not think I was going to get in. This acceptance has made me realize that one could achieve whatever they want to achieve, despite what others may believe. It may be a hard journey, and I have the goal of making individuals feel that they are the most important person within their lives. An individual could take their life anywhere, however they’d like.
My mission as Vice President is to stress the importance of making every single voice heard and valid, as our graduate students are our future. As such, I want to ensure these voices are valued, & strive to advocate for our School of Social Welfare. I wish for nothing but the best for its students, faculty, staff, and others who are involved within the program itself. I promise to shed light and represent the School of Social Welfare, bringing opportunity, experience, inclusion and validation for every single individual involved.
Madison Moskowitz, Secretary
Hi, I'm Madison Moskowitz (she/her/hers), and I am the Secretary for the SSW GSG for the 2024-2025 academic year. I am a first year full-time MSW student. I graduated from Stony Brook University in 2024 with my Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology and Sociology.
As Secretary, I hope to bridge the gap between students and organizations that specialize in assisting with academic help, resource finding, and so forth. By being a student advocating for other students, I hope that I can bring about a community that feels confident in expressing their needs regarding issues with academics or internships. Feel free to email my personal email at madison.moskowitz@stonybrook.
Jonathan Oca, Treasurer
Hi, my name is Jonathan Oca and I use He/Him pronouns. I am happy to be your GSG treasure for 2024-2025. I am currently in my final year of the full-time MSW program specializing in Integrated Health (IH). I graduated from St. Joseph’s University with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Minor in Mindfulness and Contemplative Living. I'm excited to step into the role of Treasurer of GSG. I look forward to bringing my ideas and energy to the table, aiming to enhance our collective graduate experience in realistic and achievable ways. I understand not every situation or issue has a magic fix, but I'm committed to hearing out student voices and integrating further ways to improve our experience in the SSW. Ultimately, I aim to foster a more vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students. Teaming up with a group of passionate and motivated peers, I'm excited about the chance to help drive positive change and create a legacy that future students will benefit from. Uncle Iroh said it best, “"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations, will help you to become whole." Here's to a journey filled with potential,growth, and the opportunity to make a tangible impact together! If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to chat, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at ssw_gsg@stonybrook.edu. If you'd rather chat in private, feel free to email me at jonathan.oca@stonybrook.edu.
Rebecca Sewdyal, Graduate Student Organization, Senator Representative
Hi Everyone! My name is Rebecca Sewdyal (she/her). I am excited to be your Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Senator for the School of Social Welfare (SSW) this academic year 2024-2025. I am an Advanced Standing MSW student specializing in Integrated Health (IH). I completed my undergraduate degree at Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare and am eager to continue my graduate social work education in this exemplary program! Throughout my undergraduate career and currently in my graduate career at SBU, I have assumed many roles. Currently, I am a Graduate Resident Assistant (RA) for Campus Residences, intern at Stony Brook University Long Island States Veterans Home, a Medium-Term Trainee in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorder (LEND) program, RA Council Representative and Auxiliary Student Associate (ASA) employee. Yes, I am a busy person, but enjoy and perform proficiently in every role I take on! During my undergraduate career, I was an Undergraduate RA, Ombudsman intern, and President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars National Honor Society. I am eager to leverage the skills I have developed across these roles and further my professional growth as your SSW GSO Senator and future social worker.
My biggest accomplishment was being the first person in my family to attend and graduate college and earn a bachelor's degree. My passion lies in serving the underserved, specifically disabilities. Before attending social work school, I worked with children and adolescents who were diagnosed with IDD and mental illnesses. I witness the need for social workers to advocate for these populations to provide them the voice that is not being heard and recognized. I witnessed the pride and joy of seeing a child progress and reaching a goal, knowing that I was a part of the helping and learning process for this accomplishment. I focus on disabilities in my social work career as this is the population I want to work with in the future. My role as a MTT for LEND allows me to comprehensively learn all neurodevelopmental disabilities from an interdisciplinary perspective. I also enjoy engaging and conducting research studies that are focused on learning more about people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and studying new educational, behavioral, and therapeutic techniques that will enable progress and allow them to thrive despite their physical and/or cognitive disabilities.
My mission as GSO Senator for SSW is to bring your voice to the upper hand when it comes to decision making and funding allocation for graduate students. Oftentime, the SSW is not being acknowledged for its existence at SBU and what we can provide for the campus community as well as the broader society. I want to bring that recognition and voice to the GSO table on behalf of my fellow graduate social work students. I am dedicated to advocating for what is right and realistic. I want to hear your concerns and find solutions to mitigate the issue. I am utilizing the social work skills of advocacy, critical thinking, and conflict resolution I have been taught as your GSO Senator! Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at my email rebecca.sewdyal@stonybrook.edu
Taína Galarza, Manhattan Representative
Greetings! My name is Ta'ína Galarza, my pronouns are she/hers. I'm in my last part-time year, specializing in Integrated Health. I'm excited to wrap up this latest venture at Stony Brook after a 17 year hiatus in higher education. I received my bachelor's at CUNY Hunter, majoring in sociology (psychology minor). It's only fitting I would return to study social work.
I have a gratifying career in Emergency Management, spanning 15 years; currently serving as the executive director for The Department of Social Services, Emergency Management Division. I am responsible for both maintaining a rigorous planning & exercises program that seeks to improve internal/interagency contingency as well as evolve interagency humanitarian service operations with an all-hazards approach. My most meaningful operation at DSS so far was launching an independent COVID inoculation site to service DHS homeless clients and HRA/DHS staff. My most notable operation has been the launch & management of five (5) Disaster Assistance Service Centers opened post-Hurricane Ida, later integrating into FEMA's system. At the moment, I am using the curriculum of HWC 556 to help write citywide emergency feeding and emergency case management Request for Proposals in order to enact contracts with qualified vendors to serve the public post-disaster.
As Manhattan Representative, I strive to continue advocating for my New York City peers. Since starting at Stony Brook, I have always tried to make sure people feel supported and voices heard. This has included asking the hard questions. I am grateful that I have been able to collaborate with faculty to see how I may volunteer support to the program's mission, while also bringing your concerns to the forefront of the conversation. I have already witnessed much change since I started here, so I know with your help, we can add to the positive change (email: taina.galarza@stonybrook.edu for those needing discretion). I look forward to representing our vibrant bunch!
