Mandel Council 2022 Welcome

Welcome

As the 2022 Spring semester comes to a close, we wanted to formally introduce the new Mandel Council. Friends, thank you so much for a great year and for electing us! While it's been a tough year with lots of unpredictabilities and changes, we are excited to transition into our roles and look forward to next year. We are all excited to serve you and work with you this coming school year, and can't wait to hear what fun things you will be able to do over the summer. 

Executive Director: Jess Murgel

Hello! My name is Jess (she/her) and I am thrilled to serve as your Executive Director. I am a full-time, on-campus student concentrating in Mental Health with Adults pursuing the Trauma-Informed Certificate with a significant interest in Community Practice for Social Change. In my short time at the Mandel School, I've become invested in our community and I look forward to taking on a leadership role to leverage students' collective power to make meaningful differences in our student experience and for those to come.  A fun fact about me is that I'm a CODA (and I am especially excited that so many more people know what that means now!). 

Director of Communications: Audrey VanderVelde

Hi Friends! My name is Audrey VanderVelde (she/her). I am so excited to be your Director of Communications this year. I am a full-time, on-campus Master of Social work student, with a concentration in Community Practice for Social Change and a certificate in Nonprofit Management. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with my Mandel classmates, community members, and the council, in order to keep you all in the loop and informed this coming school year. My goal is to strengthen our voice and awareness of the happenings within the Mandel School and opportunities within the Case Western and Greater Cleveland community. My fun fact is I have TEN grandparents!

Director of Finance: Hannah Gill

Hi my name is Hannah (she/her) and I will be the Director of Finance for the 2022-2023 year. My concentration is Mental Health with Adults and I am pursuing the trauma-informed practice certificate. I am excited to be on council because I would love to have the opportunity to create even small change in the school and lead my peers in whatever way I can. A fun fact about me is that I have raced triathlons for undergrad (and hoping to do one again soon). 

Director of Programming: Ophira Berenholz

Hello! My name is Ophira (she/her), and I will be your Director of Programming! I am an on campus incoming second year student concentrating in Mental Health with Adults and pursuing the trauma-informed practice certificate. I'm excited to be on council because I want to help make meaningful changes that students want to see and to provide students with fun, engaging, and intellectually interesting PD hours and social events. A fun fact about me is that I'm bilingual :)

Social Media Ambassador: Brooke-Marie Noscal

My name is Brooke-Marie (she/her)! I am the Social Media Ambassador for this term on Mandel Council! I am an on-campus, incoming second-year student concentrating in Children, Youth and Families, and the Trauma-Informed Practice Certificate! I am very excited to help spread the word of events with fun flyers, and updating our social media presence to reach more people effectively! 

Advanced Standing Student Representative: Jaylin Crumb

I am Jaylin Crumb (she/her), hailing from the “Magic City” of Birmingham, AL. I humbly serve as your Graduate Student Representative for the 2022-2023 Academic School Year. I graduated from Tennessee State University with my Bachelor of Science in Social Work Degree in three years Magna Cum Laude on 11-20-2021. I also graduated from The Clinton Global Initiative University “CGIU” from Howard University on 12-10-2021. I proudly served as an undergraduate intern with Children’s Aid Society of Alabama (Independent Living Program) August 2021-November 2021. I am a current student at Case Western Reserve University Advanced Standing Program with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families to obtain my MSW Degree. I’m glad to serve in this position, because I will dedicate myself to listen to fellow students' thoughts, problems, and insights. I will attend student forums where issues are identified to better serve my peers and make sure their voices are heard. A fun fact about me is that I love swimming (10 years on 2 Swim Teams).

Online Student Representative: Sam Sauter

Hi! My name is Sam Sauter (she/they) and I am the new online student representative on the Mandel Council! I am wrapping up my 4th semester at the Mandel School and my concentration is in Community Practice for Social Change. I am based in Sacramento, CA, and come to the social work field after getting a degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Maryland, spending 2 years as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and finally working at a nonprofit focused on career development for people of color as an executive assistant. I’m so excited to participate in student leadership with the Mandel Council as a remote and online student. I look forward to contributing to programming that is inclusive of all of the Mandel student body and bridging the gap between the different formats. I’m hoping to build community and identity across the school that transcends being social work students. I am so grateful for this opportunity! 

Graduate Student Representative: Ellen Baker

Hello! My name is Ellen (she/her). My concentration is Community Practice for Social Change and I will be one of the Graduate Student Representatives for this coming year. I’m excited to be on council as a way to connect with more individuals and communities across campus, and hope to connect the Mandel School more closely with the rest of the graduate school communities. A fun fact about me is I enjoy powerlifting. :)

Graduate Student Representative: Karen Ekeh

Hi, My name is Karen Nkechinyere Ekeh (she/her), and I am one of your graduate student representatives. I am an on-campus soon-to-be 2nd year graduate student in the MSW program, with a concentration in mental health with children and adolsecents. I'm excited to create opportunities for Mandel students to relax and unwind throughout the academic year. I hope that every student finds opportunities in the 2022-23 academic year to connect and refresh while completing their coursework.

Graduate Student Representative: Anna Giubileo

Hi y'all! My name is Anna (she/her) and I am a Graduate Student and Interprofessional Representative for the Mandel Council. I'm an on-campus traditional student on the child/adolescent mental health track with a trauma focus. My big goal for what to contribute next year is to increase communication between professions to continue the relationships we've begun to build. I also want to work with the Collaborative Practice faculty to improve the experience for the incoming students. A fun fact about me is my full [first] name is Anna Marie, and I didn't know this until my second semester of my freshman year of college! I'll also be here all summer so if anyone wants to meet my cat, reach out!

Graduate Student Representative: Margo Swann

Hey everyone! My name is Margo (she/her) and I will be one of your Graduate Student Representatives on the Graduate Student Council! I'm currently pursuing my MSW and trauma-informed practice certificate with a specialization in Mental Health with Adults! My field placements include the CWRU LGBT Center and the Centers for Families and Children. I hope to be a liaison for the Mandel School and larger CWRU community, and advocate for anything you may want to see on campus! My fun fact is that I was lead singer and keyboardist in a rock band that toured the US, and now own my own music company!

Graduate Student Representative: Alise Vannatter

Hi all! I’m Alise Vannatter (she/they), and I am one of your graduate student representatives! My concentration is Mental Health with Children and Adolescents and I am also pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Trauma-Informed Practice. While I’m on council, I hope to plan some social opportunities for MSASS students to connect with each other. A fun fact about me is that I am always trying to pick up a new hobby!