Future in Good Hands

Alexandria Forte has been named UNC School of Social Work’s 2022-23 Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year. The annual award recognizes doctoral students who demonstrate exemplary scholarship, teaching, service, leadership and collegial support of fellow students.

Forte, who was nominated for the award by her Ph.D. colleagues and peers, was recognized during a reception for graduating doctoral students on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the School’s Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building.

Since enrolling in the School’s doctoral program in 2019, Forte has centered her research in the areas of nutrition and social justice for Black families, with a particular emphasis on improving the detection of food insecurity among children and adolescents. As a scholar and the William R. Kenan Jr. Fellow within UNC’s Royster Society of Fellows, she has produced eight peer-reviewed publications, one book chapter, three reports, and 15 presentations in these areas during her tenure in the Ph.D. program.

“Alex represents the future of social work,” praised Associate Professor Rainier Masa, who has worked closely with Forte. “As a social work doctoral student, she is filling the workforce gap in terms of researchers of color who are interested in culturally relevant and community-engaged food and nutrition intervention research with racial and ethnic minority groups. She is motivated and passionate about her research and keen on learning and applying theories and methods to understand better and improve human conditions.”

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