It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of our friend, and Ackerman faculty member, Sippio Small.
Sippio was a man of passion and conviction, and he believed deeply in creating change for social workers of color and for society at large. Sippio began his affiliation with the Ackerman Institute in 1989, and was a pillar of the social work community.
Sippio was a visionary teacher and thinker. In 1992, he co-founded Ackerman’s Social Work and Diversity Program, which led to powerful new approaches in the therapy room. Through his work with this groundbreaking program, Sippio mentored students of color and endeavored to increase racial equity and justice in the field of social work. In 2019, Sippio and the Social Work and Diversity Program were recognized with the Ackerman Legacy Honor.
Sippio was a supervisor in Ackerman’s Live Clinical and Externship Programs, and was a member of several Ackerman clinical research projects including the AIDS/HIV Project, Making Families Safe for Children, and Substance Abuse and Community Training. His gifted work with these projects touched the lives of many, and has become a cornerstone for future generations of researchers and thinkers at Ackerman.
Sippio was a graduate of the Hunter College School of Social Work, and was a licensed clinical social worker with over three decades of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly across countless communities. He was a champion of social justice and a powerful force in the lives of many.
Sippio’s leadership will be missed. We believe that his legacy will live on through the trainees he empowered and the communities he touched.
A celebration of Sippio’s life will be held on March 6th, 2020. Time and location to be announced.