In the Words of Our Graduates
A PhD in Social Work from Adelphi University is a direct pathway to a successful career in academia and educational or administrative leadership. Recent graduates explain how our program quickly helped them on their way to reaching their goals.
“Throughout my PhD program, I received tremendous support from faculty members. They gave me many opportunities to work on research projects and publications, helped me and other students with funding that allowed us to present at conferences, and were incredibly supportive throughout the preparation and interviewing I did for my current role as a faculty member.”
— SeungJu Lee, PhD ’25, Assistant Professor, California State University, Chico
“Adelphi’s social work faculty mentored and supported me academically and professionally while embracing the personal and professional changes in my life. They made me feel like I was never alone. Their support helped me balance multiple roles and reminded me to lean into every stage of the process.”
— Julissa Adames-Torres, LCSW, PhD ’24, Doctoral Lecturer, Lehman College Department of Social Work
“Entering Adelphi, I was already serving in an executive leadership role, but the knowledge, mentorship and research opportunities I received gave me the confidence and expertise to effectively use research and data to strengthen and grow my department.”
— Alicia Wilson, PhD ’24, New York Regional Director of Social Work, Uncommon Schools; Adjunct Faculty at York College and Adelphi University
“The PhD program in Social Work at Adelphi University has been invaluable in my development as an assistant professor. It strengthened my confidence as a researcher and fully prepared me to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I remain grateful for the faculty’s support and their genuine commitment to every student’s success.”
— Joseph Quinones, PhD ’23, Assistant Professor, Lehman College Department of Social Work
“I lead in a new, specialized program supporting students with emotional and behavioral disabilities who’ve experienced trauma. The knowledge I gained at Adelphi has been instrumental in my work of developing, assessing and modifying the new program.”
— Jennifer Dull, PhD ’22, Director of the Path Program, New York City Public Schools
“At Adelphi University, I had the privilege of learning from exceptional faculty who were not only recognized experts in their respective fields but were also genuinely invested in their students’ success. They had mastered both the science and the art of teaching, consistently making themselves accessible as mentors, guides and advocates throughout my doctoral journey.
— Ohiro Oni-Eseleh, MSW ’93, PhD ’21, Chair and Professor, Department of Social Work, Delaware State University