Petersheim Travel Award Recipient Alyson O’Neill Presents Research at National Social Work Conference

During the annual Petersheim Academic Exposition in 2025, which celebrated and promoted student and faculty research, Seton Hall University honored Alyson O’Neill with a Student Travel Award. These awards support students in presenting their research at national conferences, providing invaluable opportunities to share findings with experts and peers, foster professional connections and contribute to advancing the field. Conferences like these play a critical role in the dissemination of knowledge, collaboration and career development.

Alyson O’Neill, a social work Seton Hall graduate now pursuing her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Rutgers University, was recognized for her academic excellence and dedication to advancing critical conversations in social work. With the support of the Petersheim Travel Award, Alyson traveled to New Orleans to present at the 2026 annual conference hosted by the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors.

Founded in 1975, the Association represents nearly 800 members, including program directors, faculty, field coordinators, practitioners and students, all committed to promoting excellence in undergraduate social work education and practice. The 2026 conference, themed “Rising Together: Shaping the Future of Social Work in a Time of Accelerated Change,” brought together emerging scholars and leaders from across the country to share innovative research and engage in meaningful dialogue about the profession’s future.

Alyson presented her Seton Hall senior capstone project, "Safe Consumption Sites (SCS): An Effective Harm Reduction Strategy," under the mentorship of Dawn Apgar, Ph.D. Her research examined safe consumption sites as supervised environments that reduce overdose deaths, prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C and connect individuals to services such as housing, mental health care and substance use treatment. She highlighted the urgency of the crisis, noting rising global substance use and over 73,000 fentanyl-related deaths in the United States in 2022.

Her work also emphasized community and ethical impacts. Safe consumption sites can reduce public drug use, improve neighborhood safety and lower reliance on emergency services. Grounded in social work values, Alyson highlighted the role of social workers in providing support, connecting resources and advocating for equitable, evidence-based harm reduction policies.

In addition to presenting her research, Alyson’s participation in the conference positioned her for continued leadership within the social work community. Building on the strength and impact of her work, she is stepping into a leadership role connected to her conference involvement, an opportunity that reflects both her dedication to the field and her potential to influence future social work practice and policy.

Reflecting the spirit of the Petersheim Travel Award, Alyson’s experience highlights the importance of supporting student research and professional development. Opportunities like these empower students to engage with broader academic and professional communities, refine their scholarship and contribute to meaningful social change.

Students interested in similar opportunities are encouraged to participate in the Petersheim Academic Exposition and explore faculty-mentored research projects. Experiences like Alyson’s demonstrate how undergraduate research can serve as a powerful foundation for graduate study, leadership and impactful careers.

Categories: Alumni, Nation and World, Research