People on the Move

Springfield College School of Social Work Professor and Director of Field Education William Fisher is the lead author of a recently released report titled “Findings from the 2015 State of Field Education Survey: A Survey of Directors of Field Education on Administrative Models, Staffing, and Resources.” Guided by Fisher’s leadership, this national survey of social-work field directors sought information on a number of important issues related to how field education programs are organized. The research also analyzed who is leading the programs and how the programs respond to unique student needs. Additional in-depth reports based on the findings are planned for the future. The research was conducted with the support of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the accrediting body for social-work programs in the U.S., and the Council on Field Education, which is part of CSWE’s governance and policy-recommending structure. CWSE has designated field education as the ‘signature pedagogy’ of social-work education, meaning that it is through field experiences and practice in the real world, in conjunction with classroom and project-based learning, that students learn to be social-work professionals. Fisher has more than 25 years of experience in the social-work field, with emphasis in mental-health and substance-abuse counseling, community organizing, and community mental-health program development.

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Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that attorney Kevin Chrisanthopoulos has been appointed to the Hampden County Bar Assoc. board of directors. Founded in the same decade as Robinson Donovan more than 150 years ago, the Hampden County Bar Assoc. represents the interests of lawyers in Hampden County. This volunteer organization of attorneys serves lawyers, the justice system, and the public by providing support, education, and networking opportunities. Its purpose is to maintain the honor of the profession, promote the administration of justice, and encourage overall cooperation and goodwill among the members of the bar. “Kevin is not only an outstanding litigator, but a natural leader,” said attorney Jeffrey McCormick, a senior partner at the firm and past president of both the Hampden County Bar Assoc. and the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. “We’re very proud that he has taken on a leadership role at the Hampden County Bar Association. Kevin’s steadfast commitment to the preservation of justice will make him a valuable addition to the board of directors. He will be carrying on a decades-old tradition at Robinson Donovan of bar-association service.” Chrisanthopoulos exclusively practices litigation. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western New England University and his juris doctor at Roger Williams University School of Law. He is also very active in his community, serving as an advisor to the board of directors for the Amelia Park Arena and Memorial Garden, past president of the Westfield Youth Hockey Assoc., assistant coach for the St. Mary’s High School hockey team, and a Massachusetts Bar Assoc. mock-trial judge. He is also a member of the Board of Bar Overseers disciplinary hearing committee and has been listed as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer since 2014.

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Shauna Ziemba, business manager for McKenna Orthodontics, was recently appointed to the board of directors of New England Dental Office Managers, a study group comprised of dental administrative professionals who meet to learn, network, exchange experiences, share knowledge, discuss challenges, and provide support and encouragement. As a new board member, Ziemba represents the Pioneer Valley Chapter. She has been actively involved in dental-office administration for 17 years, and offers the group proven expertise in office administrative solutions. As business manager of McKenna Orthodontics, she is responsible for handling office procedures and systems of the three office locations in Longmeadow, Feeding Hills, and Chicopee.

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Northeast IT Systems Inc. welcomed Tony Shepard to the team as a Systems Administrator. Shepard found his initial passion with IT and electronics by building his own speaker cabinets. When the car audio craze came along, he designed and built high-end car systems. After that, he focused on computers. His favorite part of the job is the challenge. “There is always something different to do,” he said, “and you learn something new every day.” His certifications include A+ certification, MCP certification, a license to teach in the state of Massachusetts, and certificates in electronic technology. He also has experience as Dell field engineer, IT manager, networking instructor, and systems field engineer.