SSW Alumni Features

U N I V E R SI T Y AT A L B A N Y SC H O O L O F SO C I A L W E L FA R E

ALUMNI FEATURES SP R I N G 2 0 2 2

A L U M N I F E AT U R E S

M any students enter the School of Social Welfare because they wish to pursue a meaningful career on the front lines of social change with individuals, in human services and government agencies, and with nonprofit community groups. We are always working to enhance our curriculum to best meet current societal needs so our graduates can be change agents and make a difference at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

We asked a few of our graduates this question -"W hat did you learn during your M SW (and/or PhD ) program that you continue to rely on today?".

T hese are just a few examples of the great work that our graduates are doing in the field. As alumni, you are part of a community that is working individually and collectively to fight for justice and equity while delivering quality, anti-oppressive social work services.

D r. Crystal Rogers BSW '91, M SW '98, PhD '08 Associate D ean for Academic Programs

M aria Antell, M SW '12, L CSW

Community-based geriatric mental health social worker

"T here is a growing need for social workers to specialize in working with older adults as this population continues to boom. After almost ten years in the field, I have noticed that clinicians who work with older adults are rare. If we are not supporting our older adults, we are not supporting our society and we are missing grand opportunities to learn. As social workers, we must take the necessary steps to shift how our communities view aging and place value on a population that has been historically marginalized."

A L U M N I F E AT U R E S

Ashley C. W hiteside, BSW '18, M SW '19, L M SW

M ultihyphenate, Social Worker, D oula, H ealing Practitioner, Business Owner

?T here were several things that I learned from our program that I have taken into my work. H owever, the point that stuck with me and has most impacted my professional as well as personal outlook: We are all the experts in our own journey, and while we (or clients) may seek professional support, we each have all the resources inside of us to walk on our journey of healing.

Professionally this was a gut check. T he practitioner does not have a magical, mystical power to help others heal; it's about co-creating a container for the individual to acknowledge, utilize, and build on their strengths. Personally, this has helped me along my healing journey, knowing that I, too, have what I need internally to become the person I desire to be. I wish my colleagues always to remember this and that we both heal and are healed by this work.?

A L U M N I F E AT U R E S

People are experts in their own lives, and it is our role as social workers to help them seek the change in society needed so they can have an opportunity to live the life they choose to live. W hether we are evaluating services, creating new programs, or trying to find a solution to someone's problem, we must always include the views of those that will be impacted.

H lin Saethorsdottir, M SW '14, current D octoral Candidate

M ember of Social Care Quality Commission in Iceland and completing dissertation study on human trafficking

"It's especially important for us as social workers to help marginalized people have their voices heard and advocate on their behalf. We can do that by listening to people and asking them what they think could help their situation.

I think it is quite oppressive to create a program or policy intended to target a social problem without including potential users in the decision-making process. In my line of work, I always try to give people the opportunity to tell their stories and ask them how a resource is impacting their lives."

A L U M N I F E AT U R E S

"D uring my time as a graduate student, Evelyn W illiams inspired me to go for what I wanted even if others did not agree with it. Furthermore, through Professor W illiams' class I learned the art of grant writing and through Professor Claiborne's class I learned about the power of the Force Field Analysis management tool - which I still use today!

Together, these 2 M ACRO professors along with the content and passion for the work they exuded, I became more confident in my dreams to be a social impact entrepreneur. M y confidence was so high that I graduated into the world of being a CEO in my mid 20s.

it happen but you do need alternative business training 7) the social work degree positions you to be an excellent business leader with high emotional intelligence if you've done the work to learn how to be compassionate, empathetic and understanding of the trauma responses you and others bring into the workplace BU T do not go around diagnosing everyone."

So to any social worker thinking of starting their own org, a couple pieces of advice: 1) pay close attention while sitting in the M anaging Systems in H uman Service Organizations class 2) take the grant writing elective 3) write all your papers on your business idea 4) start your program/business idea in an established org if you can find one and grow from there 5) do the research to make sure you are not duplicating quality services 6) know you can do it even when the naysayers tell you you can't; you do not need a business degree to make

Coach Carmen (Carmen D uncan) M SW '12

Chief Coach and Founder of M ission Accomplished Transition Services Connect via L inkedIn