College of Social Work 2022 Ph.D graduates Brittany Davis and Betty Wilson are 2023 recipients of the Society for Social Work and Research doctoral dissertation awards.  

Davis received SSWR’s top honor for her dissertation titled “Place Identity and Gentrification-Induced Social and Cultural Displacement Among Longstanding Black American Residents: Theory, Case, and Innovating Methodology”. She is the recipient of the SSWR Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award. 
 
Bell was awarded an Honorable Mention for her dissertation “Black and Blue: An Exploratory Investigation of Black College Students’ Experiences of Exposure to Police Killings”.  
 
Associate Dean for Curriculum said the awards are an exceptional achievement for both the graduates and USC.  
“It’s an incredible honor to have not one but two of the best social work dissertations in the nation,” said Wolfer. “This reflects the growth and rigor of our doctoral program and awards such as these demonstrate the competitiveness of our graduates. We’re justifiably proud!” 

Both recipients will receive the award in person at SSWR’s 2023 conference on January 14.