UTSA Alumni Logo
UTSA Social Work Alumni Group

The UTSA Social Work Alumni Group (SWAG) is dedicated to enhancing the Social Work program by fostering a network of Alumni who actively support the growth and success of current and future students. Through raising scholarship funds, we aim to provide vital financial resources that enable talented individuals to pursue their education and further their careers in social work.

By connecting alumni to UTSA, we create opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and professional development through our annual SWAG Conference while strengthening the overall impact of the Social Work program on the community. Together, we can cultivate a legacy of excellence, empowering students to become compassionate leaders who address the most pressing social issues of our time.

For more information about the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs at UTSA, please visit the university's official website or contact the College for Health, Community, and Policy.

Meet the SWAG Leadership

Elizabeth Cruz

Elizabeth Cruz, LCSW '10
Conference Leadership

Elizabeth is currently working at San Antonio Affordable Housing as a Project Manager for Operation Rebuild. She is also working as a therapist helping bring healing to families, she is also a Registered Play Therapist, and adjunct at UTSA, training future social workers.

Seema Bhatia

Seema Bhatia, LCSW ‘20
Conference Leadership

Soon after graduating, Seema was contracted with UTSA's field office as an FEPS Coordinator for the Field Education Professional Simulation (FEPS) program. Seema is currently employed as the Lead Clinician for BCFS HHS. She previously worked as a Licensed Counselor with Communities In Schools in SAISD. Seema has close to six years of experience working with youth and adolescents. She is passionate about youth literacy and mental health.
Bethany Gutierrez

Bethany Gutierrez, MSW '14, '20
Conference Leadership

Bethany is a two-time graduate from UTSA, earning her BA in Psychology in 2014 followed by her MSW in 2020. She is an alum from the UT Systems Graduate Archer Fellowship program and the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Bethany has past experience working with youth groups, our houseless residents, and elderly in a skilled nursing facility. Bethany currently works under the Texas House of Representatives as Representative Diego Bernal's District Director. As District Director she advocates for San Antonio community members and Texas constituents in crisis, assisting them in navigating complex bureaucratic systems. Bethany is passionate about advancing advocacy initiatives from micro to macro levels of social work to shape state policies impacting daily lives.

She is skilled at client advocacy and government relations, policy development, bipartisan coalition building, and grassroots organizing for a more equitable society. Bethany is an experienced mentor to BSW and MSW students, preparing them for impactful careers in macro-level social work through guidance and hands-on experience in public policy and social justice initiatives.

Samantha Roman

Samantha Roman, LMSW ’20
Conference Leadership

Samantha Roman is a graduate of the UTSA Social Work Program. Samantha earned her license December 2020 and began working in the behavioral health service line. She works with an array of staff: doctors, nurses, therapists, and many others to meet the needs of the patients. She also works with community members to assist with appointments and applicable resources for patients when discharged from hospital services. She is now working on her clinical license and continues to seek out education via those she works with, patients, conferences, and events.

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
- Maya Angelou

Morgan Zachmeyer

Morgan Zachmeyer, LMSW '22
Conference Leadership

Morgan earned her BSW at Southern University and A&M College in 2020, and her MSW from UTSA in 2022. Since earning her LMSW that same year, Morgan has worked in two nontraditional roles while still using her social work skills to empower and enrich the lives of the citizens of our community. First supporting caregivers of older adults with dementia and chronic illness as a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Morgan now serves as a Certified Advisor for Northwest Vista College, walking with students in their journeys to eliminate poverty in workforce development and education. Let's Go 210!

Upcoming Events

Annual SWAG Conference | Friday, March 6, 2026

More info coming soon!

 

A special thanks to our 2024 and 2025 UTSA Social Work Annual Conference Presenting Sponsor, Full Force WholeBodyMind Healing Center, for making this event possible. 

 

Full Force WholeBodyMind Healing Center Logo

MSW Scholarship

Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipient, Cristal Martinez '18, '26!

The SWAG Conference helps fund the SWAG Scholarship for MSW students. Interested in making a gift? Click here for more info.

Stay Connected

Click here to update your information to ensure you stay updated on upcoming events and news.