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George Goodman Brudney & Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award Previous Recipients

Diana Anzaldua, 2023 George Goodman & Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award winner

2023: Diana Anzaldua

Diana Anzaldua, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Trauma-Resilient Therapist in Austin, Texas. She is the founder of the award winning health and wellness centers; Austin Trauma Therapy Center & Contigo Wellness. Diana is a social change activist and influential leader in community organized mental health equity and reform in historically marginalized communities. Her vision of decolonized healing and anti-oppressive trauma-informed leadership create safe spaces for other survivors to grow, embrace their resilience, and heal; in-community with others. Diana and her clinical expertise have been featured in a number of magazines like: Allure, The BBC, and The Atlantic Journal. Diana serves on several local and national non-profit boards and has received numerous awards for her work in community healing, public service and leadership. Diana is a graduate of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas in Austin and is professionally licensed in North Carolina, Nevada, and Texas.

Stacey Freedenthal, 2022 George Goodman & Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award winner

2022: Stacey Freedenthal

MHA’s 2022 George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award goes to Stacey Freedenthal.

Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and consultant in private practice in Denver, CO, and an associate professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. She focuses her work on helping people who experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Her first book, Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals, was published in 2017. Her second book, Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do, is scheduled to be released by New Harbinger Publications in spring 2023.

Elliot Pinsly, 2021 Brudney Social Work Award winner

2021: Elliot Pinsly

MHA’s George Goodman Brudney and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award recognizes significant contributions made to the care and treatment of people living with mental illnesses by practicing professionals in the field of social work. The 2021 award was presented to Elliot Pinsly.

Elliot is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the President & CEO of the Behavioral Health Foundation, an independent, data-driven, nonprofit policy center in Tennessee. He is an energetic and passionate leader in mental health policy and strategic advocacy and is committed to improving access to high-quality care, reducing stigma, decriminalizing mental health, and driving systems change. He works hand-in-hand with fellow social workers, behavioral health providers, judges, advocacy organizations, state officials, and concerned citizens to create meaningful mental health policy changes. The relationships Elliot has developed with statewide police and sheriff associations have also proved critical in securing funding for criminal justice reform and mental health decriminalization initiatives.

Julius Boatwright, 202 Brudney Social Work Award Winner

2020: Julius Boatwright

Julius is a Licensed Master Social Worker who completed a Trauma-Informed Community Practice Workshop with Duquesne University through their Department of Psychology and Rita McGinley Clinic. He obtained his Master of Social Work degree with a Certificate in Human Services Management from the University of Pittsburgh. Julius also earned a bachelor's degree in Communication from Pitt. Lastly, Mr. Boatwright completed a 1-year professional development program for nonprofit executives with Leadership Pittsburgh and the California-based Rockwood Leadership Institute. Julius serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer with Steel Smiling. They bridge the gap between Black people and mental health support through education, advocacy, and awareness. Their Mental Health Workforce Development Program (Beams to Bridges) equips Black adults with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to serve as Community Mental Health Workers. While completing the programmatic experience, cohort members receive the following: weekly workforce stipends, emergency financial assistance, mental health training, behavioral health treatment, and social service support.

2019: Kelley Kitley

Kelley is a psychotherapist and owner of 2 wellness businesses - Serendipitous Psychotherapy, LLC and reNew studio, LLC. She's an Amazon Best Selling Author and Chicago Literary Legacy Honoree of 'MY self' An Autobiography of Survival. She's shared her experience, strength, and hope on national media platforms including TODAY, Dr. Oz, Access Live, and Dr. Drew. Kitley is a TEDx speaker "I show my scars so others know I can heal," and expert contributor in hundreds of national publications. Her mission is to break the silence and stigma of mental health and addiction and give others hope that they too can heal.

Marie Williams, 2018 Brudney Award Winner

2018: Marie Williams

MHA's 2018 George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award goes to Marie Williams, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). Commissioner Marie Williams started her social work career with Catholic Charities, HUD, teaching at the University of Tennessee, and working at a Memphis-based community mental health center.  From 2000-2004, she served as the Director of Housing Planning & Development for TDMHSAS before becoming TDMHSAS' Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health Services from 2004-2011.  She was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2011, and in 2016 she began leading TDMHSAS as Commissioner. She recently began chairing the Governor's Opioid Workgroup and co-chairing the Statewide Public-Private Emergency Department Boarding Workgroup. She is a current Member of the National Association of Mental Health Program Directors and a Member of the University of Tennessee Social Work Advisory Council.

2017: Kate Mahoney

MHA's 2017 George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award goes to Kate Mahoney, a licensed clinical social worker, currently serves as Executive Director of the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Kate's role involves delivering educational and skill-building sessions to youth and adults to promote mental wellness, providing support to individuals and families directly impacted by mental illness, and advocating to reduce stigma and discrimination against individuals grappling with mental health challenges.

2016: Karen Sowers, Ph.D.

MHA's 2016 George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award, which is given for significant contributions to the care and treatment of persons with mental illness, goes to Karen Sowers, Ph.D. Dr. Sowers is a Professor and Dean of the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Sowers is a trained clinical social worker in mental health, and is well known for her research in the areas of international practice, juvenile justice, child welfare, cultural diversity and culturally effective intervention strategies for social work practice, evidence-based social work practice and social work education. She is the author of numerous books and is the founding co-editor of Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal.