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She went on to acting school after graduation but, as a former foster child, she was always drawn to helping kids. In 2016, she combined her passions by creating , a nonprofit with chapters in New York and Atlanta, Georgia, that helps children heal from trauma through performance-based practice, turning their experiences into plays, films and photography.

Centeno isn鈥檛 alone in using her Adelphi social work experience to create an organization outside the clinic, and the Master of Social Work (MSW) program is a key ingredient in their process. One of the nation鈥檚 highest-ranked social work programs, the Adelphi MSW infuses human rights, racial justice and anti-oppressive practices throughout its curriculum, which includes classes focused on using law and legislation to promote policy change. A social action initiative each spring works with area nonprofits in antiracist and criminal justice advocacy work鈥攑erhaps serving as an inspiration to alumni who end up creating their own paths.

Healing Trauma Through The Arts

The Playbill for Somewhere Between, a Foster Care Unplugged stage production exploring the journey of foster youth, performed at the Mark O’Donnell Theater in Brooklyn on March 27 and 29, 2026.

Centeno cites Adelphi’s program as a formative part of her career. When taking acting classes, she realized that performance wasn鈥檛 all that different from group therapy. 鈥淎cting is responding to something that is not real, so you have to tap into your emotions to get there,鈥� she said. At the same time, foster children are often deeply skeptical of traditional therapy, worried their words will be used against them or their family. The performance-based practice, Centeno said, can help them overcome mistrust by recognizing that others feel the same way they do, and working together to produce a creative project.

鈥淚 remember one girl who wouldn鈥檛 speak to anyone when she first came in, but by the end of the program, she would not be quiet,鈥� said Centeno. The proof is in the numbers: Foster Care Unplugged has a 93 percent retention rate鈥攁 level virtually unheard of in foster care programs鈥攁nd surveys have found a rise in self-esteem of 23 percent after the 12-week program. In leading the program, Centeno draws upon the hands-on training she got at Adelphi. 鈥淪o many classes weren鈥檛 just 鈥榬ead this text, write this paper,鈥欌�� she said; rather, they put students in the shoes of clients through journaling and other experiential activities to develop empathy. 鈥淭hey taught me to actually live out the journey of the clients I was about to serve.鈥�

Cynthia Jean celebrates the Spring Forward Hope for Pink Event, held at Kendra Scott SoHo in New York City.

Expanding Breast Cancer Education

Cynthia Jean, MSW 鈥�12, also draws upon personal passion at her nonprofit, . In 2014, Jean was diagnosed with breast cancer, yet struggled to find accurate information about her options for treatment and recovery, especially as a young woman of color. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 find a lot of information provided for women who look like me or who are in my age group,鈥� said Jean, who is Haitian American. 鈥淵ou had to dig for it.鈥� After her cancer went into remission, Jean founded to offer information and guidance to other women through health fairs and other events and organizations, empowering women to advocate for themselves. Too often, for example, doctors immediately propose mastectomy when less invasive treatments are available or don鈥檛 adequately inform patients about genetic testing or the importance of monitoring after treatment.

Founding Hope for Pink in 2024 has further expanded Jean鈥檚 mission to advocate for policy changes on a higher level to expand treatment for underserved populations. At Adelphi, she took courses in political social work, and attended a certificate program at

Participants gather at the Spring Forward Sweat Fete, a pink awareness health and fitness event celebrating breast cancer awareness and community wellness.

the University of Connecticut鈥檚 that focused on influencing government policy. She has since drawn upon that background as part of the , which advocates for more equitable access to cancer screening tools, and , which facilitates free or low-cost screening for uninsured women. 鈥淚 was always interested in having a broad impact, knowing that policy is important, because that鈥檚 where change happens,鈥� she said.

Music in Dementia Care

Dan Cohen, MSW 鈥�78, similarly focused on the political aspects of social work during his time at Adelphi. 鈥淢y goal was not to be a counselor or do clinical social work, but more about what systems I might be able to help change,鈥� he said. After earning his degree, his life took a detour into the technology field for four decades, but he always remained interested in social justice. When he heard about a new device called the iPod in 2006, he began volunteering in nursing homes, setting up elderly residents with music from their youth. He was amazed at the results. 鈥淵ou could have residents who were out of it for weeks or months, and then all of a sudden they spring to life,鈥� he said.

At the same time, he struggled with red tape, eventually creating a nonprofit, , to cut through it, training teams in some 5,000 hospitals and assisted living facilities to integrate music as part of residents鈥� treatments. As he dug into the science, he found that exposing elderly patients to music is associated with a 48 percent decrease in depression. 鈥淚f you had a pill that did that, every doctor would want to prescribe it,鈥� he said. In addition, music results in dramatic decreases in falls and choking by dementia patients who show improved attention, as well as decreased burden on caretakers.

A woman responds joyfully to personalized music as part of the Right to Music program, which uses individualized playlists to spark connection and engagement in older adults.

As wonderful as music can be as a treatment, Cohen said, it struggles for recognition amid the deep-pocketed advertising budgets of pharmaceutical companies. He has since started a new organization, , to advocate on an international level, raising awareness and seeking to change policies to facilitate the introduction of music in gerontological settings. Among other endeavors, he鈥檚 been involved in work through the to expand access to music in care settings around the world, as well as efforts to free up money from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to devote to music and dementia efforts in the United States. 鈥淎t Adelphi, I found some smart, passionate people who helped me focus my own skill set and understand a bit more about the paths to systems change,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y social work degree certainly laid the foundation for me to move confidently as I now try to make change.鈥�

The Adelphi MSW program is available in three locations鈥�Garden City, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie鈥攁nd, this fall, will also be part of the University鈥檚 new Manhattan Center.