Meet our next cohort of graduates committed to keeping New Jersey's families healthy, safe, and connected.

The Baccalaurate Child Welfare Education Program (BCWEP) is pleased to recognize the 51 graduates of the 2026 cohort.

Tiranke Kenema

One of my most memorable moments was helping a few families access resources (I heard about during my courses at NJCU). Seeing the relief and hope it brought them was humbling. This reinforced my belief in the power of empathy and resource-sharing in social work. Through BCWEP, I became more proactive, learned the value of collaboration, and recognized the importance of caring for myself to better serve others.

Breyanna Williams

I truly enjoyed my experience as a BCWEP student. I feel that I have learned such valuable information that I plan to carry with me into my employment and future endeavors as a developing social worker. I appreciate the support that I received from my cohort and the staff. The connections that I have made during my time as a student has grounded me, as I really appreciate the connection. Looking ahead, I hope to engage and connect with children and families. BCWEP has helped me set a sound foundation for my future work and I am so thankful!

Lynda Okosieme

My takeaway from this program is that it showed me the importance of radical empathy and professional boundaries. I learned that for me to be a sustainable advocate for others, I must maintain my own resilience. I lesson i will take into my job when i start working with DCP&P.  I hope to bring a trauma-informed approach to every interaction and also recognizing my own biases by making sure that my advocacy respects the diverse cultural backgrounds and dedication necessary to provide the consistent support the children and families' support.

Racine Boxer

At the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the BCWEP program, but it opened my eyes in ways I didn’t anticipate. It showed me the real impact we have as students stepping into this field. These children and families need us, and it made clear just how essential compassionate, dedicated social workers are.

Erick Morey

I will forever be thankful to the BCWEP program for allowing me to complete my studies and to work in such a fulfilling job. I know all our BCWEP graduates will all go on to do amazing things for our families in need.

Zahira Laanaoui

My biggest takeaway is the importance of empathy, patience, and clear communication. BCWEP prepared me by combining classroom learning with real-life practice, which gave me confidence in my role. As I move forward, I hope to bring compassion, cultural awareness, and strong advocacy skills to support families and make a positive impact in my community.