York Professor and Alum Receive BRES Fellowships in Support of PhD Studies

Congratulations to York College Master of Social Work (MSW) alumnus Weldon Lam on being awarded a CUNY Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies (BRES) Fellowship in support of his PhD studies at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Lam, a member of York College’s Class of 2023, joins a cohort of 17 doctoral students selected for the prestigious fellowship. He is joined by Acanthus Fairley, a CUNY PhD Graduate Fellow assigned to York College and adjunct faculty member in York College’s Social Work Program, who was also named a BRES Fellow.

“I proudly tell professors and fellow Ph.D. students that my roots are grounded in the MSW Program at CUNY York College,” said Lam. “The program, the faculty, and the diverse student body helped shape my identity as a social worker. The teachings and experiences provided me with the essential ‘DNA’ of my approach to social work, where antiracism, inclusivity, and sensitivity are not just principles I practice—they are deeply embedded in my professional and academic work.”

The City University of New York (CUNY) selected faculty and students from ten campuses for the BRES Fellowship program, which supports research exploring issues of race, ethnicity, and social justice. According to a CUNY press release:

“The fellows will be affiliated with the BRES Collaboration Hub, an intellectual home for convening faculty and students interested in multidisciplinary research.”

In total, 38 members of the CUNY community were recognized this year. BRES Faculty Fellows receive either a $5,000 award or a course release, while student fellows in their second year of the program receive $4,000 in research support and participate in monthly interdisciplinary seminars.

Lam emphasized how York’s MSW program prepared him for the rigors of doctoral study:

“My time in the MSW program at CUNY York College provided me with more than just academic knowledge. It helped shape my identity as a social worker, grounded in values of social justice, inclusivity, and critical thinking. The program’s emphasis on antiracism and community-oriented practice has profoundly shaped how I approach social work, and I am grateful to carry that forward.”

Dr. Selena T. Rodgers, one of Lam’s mentors, former research professor, and founding director of the York MSW program, praised his achievements:

“Scholar Weldon is trailblazing the way for social work scholars at the CUNY Graduate Center,” she said. “As a BRESI (Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies Initiative) Doctoral Fellow, he has access to significant scholarly resources to advance his research agenda. I am thrilled about the impact his scholarship will have in shaping the profession.”