Alicia White

2019 Marjorie E. Kettell Distinguished Alumna Award

Named in memory and honor of Dr. Marjorie E. Kettell, Class of 1947, this award is presented annually to bestow institutional recognition on one Harriet E. Richards Cooperative House alumna who has distinguished herself in her personal or professional life, in her intellectual pursuits, or in her dedication to service of community, country or society.

After abandoning her career goal to follow in the footsteps of Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks, Alicia White embarked on a career where she did not capture the images of those in need but could immerse herself in the photo by working towards the greater good with at-risk populations. 

Alicia earned her MSW from New York University and continued post-graduate studies at Hunter School of Social Work where she received additional clinical training. She obtained additional training at Ackerman Institute, Training Institute of Mental Health and Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies.  She is a licensed clinical social worker who has dedicated two decades in the field. Alicia’s work experience includes child welfare, education and forensic social work. In her final years with the Legal Aid Society, Alicia pioneered her role as the first mitigation specialist within New York’s public defender system to provide therapeutic intervention to human trafficking survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.  She has established herself as a human trafficking expert and has presented at numerous national conferences and trainings in this area. She is currently the program director of the criminal defense practice social work team at Brooklyn Defender Services. In addition, Alicia is an adjunct lecturer at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and is on the Board of Director of the National Association of Social Workers.

In 2015 Alicia was the recipient of the Mid-Career Exemplary Social Work Leader Award presented by the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and co-recipient of the NASW Social Work Image Award in 2016.