Îçҹ̽»¨

Mary Florence Sullivan, LMSW is a licensed social worker (New York) and doctoral candidate at the GSSWSR. She was awarded the 2025 Rivitz Award and the 2022 McPherson Award for Academic Excellence and Community Service.Mary Florence brings over a decade of experience in social work practice, policy, and education. She currently serves as a staff member at the GSSWSR, where she supports the Dean’s Office and Student and Career Services through student wellness initiatives and strategic institutional projects, as well as programming focused on social sector leadership and exploring creative, interdisciplinary approaches to social work practice and education.

After receiving her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University in 2016, Mary Florence joined the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence and directed an innovative program to support survivors of intimate partner violence throughout the city. Prior to this role, Mary Florence supported unaccompanied immigrant youth in New York City on an interdisciplinary team of social workers and immigration lawyers and worked abroad throughout Latin America.

At the GSSWSR, Mary Florence has taught and supported MSS students as an instructor for courses on ethics and social policy, as the student services coordinator, a writing coach, and a facilitator for the CONNECT program.

Mary Florence holds a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Greek, Latin, and Classical Languages from Îçҹ̽»¨.

Research and Scholarly Interests

Immigration and Youth; Gender-Based Violence; Spirituality and Social Work; Morality, Ethics, and Social Work Practice; Historical and Community-Based Trauma; Social Work and the Arts