Hometown: Arvada, CO

Program: MSW

Which professor most impacted your experience? Westy Egmont. He created a policy class where we could work at City Hall and get hands on experience on how policy is created and implemented. We kept in touch and now I am running for office and he supports my campaign by introducing me to his network and advising. From a professor to a friend. Truly a caring leader.

Why does BCSSW work for you? I went to Boston College specifically because it has a strong Macro Social Work program that helped prepare me to work in the policy arena and run for office. We need more social workers at the policy making table and Boston College School of Social Work prepares students for that career.

Describe the community at BCSSW: I met other veterans in the program that became great friends, so much that they will be joining my wedding this year!

Hometown:Silver Spring, MD

Program: MSW, Macro CYF

Which professor most impacted your experience? I have had several outstanding professors during my time at BCSSW, yet one of my favorites is one with whom is not only a well-respected scholar but also an insightful mentor. As a professor, Cal Halvorsen is enthusiastic, genuine, and dedicated to promoting the efficacy and well-being of his students. Cal does not only teach; he inspires. He has been inspiring a new generation of researchers, advocates, and clinicians to utilize the skills we develop as social workers to catalyze change where it is needed most.

Describe the community at BCSSW: The most meaningful relationship I have formed gently reminded me of the importance of utilizing my privilege as an educated man to enact desired change. For one of my assignments for my Community Organizing class with Prof. Sam Teixeira, I had the pleasure to conduct a 1:1 relational interview with activist and community organizer Lew Finfer. While working with him on a bill introduced to the Joint Committee of Education, this 1:1 interview provided me with a unique opportunity to see "what makes him tick"? And the answer was straightforward: people. To be an effective leader, one must build a strong relationship with those affected by the desired change. The importance of listening, acknowledging, and interpreting the stories people share about their pain and experiences is to, based on democratic (or religious) traditions, take action together to improve the circumstances that are causing those stories and experiences in the first place.

Hometown: Providence, RI

Program: MSW, Clinical, Children, Youth & Families

Field placement: Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School in Hyde Park, MA; Ascentria Care Alliance in Waltham, MA

Dream job: Having my own practice serving underserved populations especially Spanish-speaking folks.

Favorite BCSSW class or professor: Professor Rocio Calvo because of her enthusiasm, her ability to be direct and take you out of your comfort zone, and her abundant experience.

Why BCSSW: I decided on BCSSW because of their Latino Leadership Initiative (LLI) program and the tools it offered to students in order to work with Latinxs.

Hometown: South Windsor, CT

Program: MSW, Clinical, Children, Youth & Families

Field placement: My first year field placement was with Higher Ground Boston at the David A. Ellis Elementary school in Roxbury, MA. For my second year, I am interning for the Massachusetts Mental Health Center PREP Program in Dorchester, MA.

Favorite BCSSW class or professor: My favorite class was Diversity & Cross Cultural Skills with Roci­o Calvo. This class was the very first class taken that was part of the Latino Leadership Initiative (LLI), therefore the class was taken in Spanish and highlighted specific problems related to Latino populations. Additionally, Rocio provided a perfect environment to create a strong community with other memebers in the LLI program. I believe this community has provided me with an incredible amount of support and perhaps friendships that may last a lifetime.

Dream job: My dream job is to create my own non-profit organization that focuses on promoting, advocating and teaching Social Emotional Learning to districts and schools nationwide.

Why BCSSW: I chose Boston College School of Social Work because of its nationally renowned social work program. Also, the various opportunities such as the LLI program, affinity groups and in residential life certainly contributed to my decision. The campus is not to shabby as well.

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Program: MSW, Clinical Track

What has been your favorite class? My favorite class was Neuroscience and Adult Relationships, with Jessica Black. I have always been intrigued by the mind/body/spirit connection, and the class helped me better understand neurobiological processes and how our wiring informs the ways in which we show up in relationships. I learned so much! I was sad when the class ended. It was one of the most eye opening classes I've ever taken.

What has been the most meaningful relationship you've developed at BCSSW? No doubt, I cherished the relationships that I developed with other students in the LLI program and with some truly inspiring incredible faculty members.

Hometown: Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland

Program: Macro & Global Practice

Which professor most impacted your experience? I have three that come to mind:

1. Psychology of Trauma was a course I took at the Lynch School of Education with Dr. Usha Tummala-Narra. It was an excellent, engaging course and I really liked meeting peers from a different, but connected field.
2. I was lucky enough to go to Santiago, Chile with Dr. Stephanie Berzin for the course Community Development for Innovation: The Chilean Context. I had loved the introductory innovation course and this was a really great way to put some of those tools into action. Again, I really enjoyed collaborating with peers, this time Chilean social work students.
3. Global Policy Issues and Implications with Dr. Maryanne Loughrey was a really practical course. I've definitely put the tools to practice and Maryanne is a great professor.
   

Why did BCSSW work for you? I knew I wanted to work in an international context, but with a social work framework. Global practice allowed me to explore that possibility and offered me a stepping-stone into work I'm really passionate about with a social justice mindset.

Describe the community at BCSSW: Probably the most meaningful relationships were those I developed with my peers across the program, I'm lucky enough to still have a close-knit group of friends I made during my two years at the SSW. Of course, I grew close to my global practice cohort, but I also formed close bonds with people in different fields of study, as well as within the clinical side of social work.

Hometown: Belmont, MA

Program: MSW Three-Year Program

Which professor most impacted your experience? It's difficult for me to choose a favorite professor at BCSSW because I have had so many incredible role models throughout my degree thus far. I still think often about my classes with Richard Pinderhughes and Rebecca Jackson, one of which was Diversity & Cross Cultural Issues, and other of which was Basic Skills in Macro Practice. Professor Pinderhughes approached each class with humor, criticism, and curiosity, and he pushed every student to think critically about our own biases and socialization that may impact our intended work with future clients. He changed my entire outlook on the world around me and the role I play as a white woman in the continuation of prejudice and oppression. I would not be the person I am today with the commitment I have to social justice in both my personal and professional life if I had not met Professor Pinderhughes. Professor Jackson played another integral role in my development as a social worker, as she helped me to realize my own interest in macro-level social work to inspire necessary social and political change. The internship I will be completing this upcoming year is a blend of macro and clinical social work, and I never would have thought about this opportunity if Rebecca had not planted that seed for me. Plus, she made Zoom class bearable!

Why does BCSSW work for you? I was first drawn to BCSSW in 2019 when I discovered I could work towards completing my MSW degree while still working full-time as a middle school teacher. Upon meeting with one of the admissions directors, I fell in love with the program and applied on a whim. I was able to continue teaching for two years while completing BC classes in the evenings, which gave me such valuable experience as I applied my clinical coursework to my work with students in my classroom. The flexibility that BCSSW has provided to me and the genuine compassion that the administrators and faculty have for their students has allowed me to be successful in this program. I would give a list of shoutouts to all of the people who have made this such an incredible experience thus far, but the list might be too long!

Describe the community at BCSSW: I certainly have Sue Coleman to thank for her empathy and support through challenges I have encountered while at BC and in my personal life. She deserves all of the credit in the world for her commitment to this school and its students. This may be cliché, but I actually feel that the most meaningful relationship I have developed while at BCSSW has been with myself. I have had to sit with discomfort and seek to understand myself more than ever before, and I have found passions and interests that I never knew existed. The coursework and field experiences that are part of the MSW degree have allowed me to explore who I am, and I have truly grown to love the person (and social worker) I am becoming. 

Hometown: Weymouth, MA

Program: MSW

Which course most impacted your experience? Human Behavior and the Social Environment with Professor Beth Craft was one of my favorite classes. HBSE equipped me with foundational skills that laid the groundwork for other classes and informed how I understand client functioning in my field placement. Also, Professor Craft's emphasis on racial and cultural humility was invaluable.

Describe the community at BCSSW: Because I started my MSW program in the midst of the pandemic, I thought building relationships with faculty and students would be challenging but that hasn't been the case. My most meaningful relationships have been getting to know Dr. Parchment, Dr. Bradley, and the students in the Anti-Racist + Anti-Oppressive Learning Community. Though virtual, they curated a space that encouraged genuine engagement and felt like an actual community.

Hometown: Newport, Rhode Island

Program: MSW, Macro

Which professor most impacted your experience? Dr. Samuel Bradley's course "Creating the Inclusive Workplace" changed the way I think about our country's workforce and our work environments. Humans are diverse beings and everyone benefits when that diversity is valued. And Sam is just such an incredible professor and colleague. He created a space over the semester where students could bring their full selves and engage in meaningful relationships. And, he did it all virtually!

Why does BCSSW work for you? BCSSW has an incredible reputation in New England and across the country. The macro program in particular has some really incredible faculty members and courses that drew me to the program and gave me research opportunities in and out of the classroom. All of these components ultimately helped me to land a dream job working for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services!

Describe the community at BCSSW: I worked as a Research Assistant under Dr. Cal Halvorsen for the 2020-2021 school year. He was an incredible mentor to me, allowing me to explore varied interests in graphic design/data visualization, data analysis, and academic writing/publication. But, we also really got along on a personal level: we found that we had some family similarities, and that he was married down the street from where I grew up! Cal also really encouraged me to apply to the Presidential Management Fellowship, which I was ultimately selected for, so I will always be thankful to him. Cal and I still remain in touch via email and look forward to getting together when we're in the same city!

Hometown: Medellin, Colombia

Program: MSW, Macro Social Work, Latinx Leadership Initiative

What has been your favorite class? My favorite class was Basic Skills in Macro Practice with Olivia Amadon. This class was exciting as it taught me to understand the theories of social change. This class equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote effective responses to social problems and conditions by developing positive answers that reflect social, economic, environmental justice, and social equality. Also, the way we had to do the work was very different from how I have done my essays in other classes. This class finally helped me further my curiosity about writing differently in fun way, like writing my Op-Ed.

Why does BCSSW work for you? Being a Latina and an immigrant, I know very well the disadvantages of coming to a country with systems designed to discriminate and oppress minorities. Getting to the Boston College faculty of social work was one of the best decisions I have ever made. As Latinos become a more significant proportion of the U.S. population, there is a greater need for social workers to provide culturally sensitive training to Health Care Professionals, especially professionals in Mental Health. The Discrepancy between the importance of providing services to Latinx, given their growing numbers, and the preparedness of social workers or health care providers for serving this population is alarming. Boston College School of Social Work has given me the tools that I needed to offer hope for the unheard, use evidence-based interventions to eliminate bias in SW practice, and improve effectiveness in serving multicultural clients.

Describe the community at BCSSW: The LLI cohort is a space where a community comprises people who have lived similar experiences and want and are working to achieve in our communities. Also, being part of this cohort, I feel that I am recognized and validated as a person. My experiences are listened to and validated. I think that my Latino professors have done a great job promoting, advocating for, and recognizing Latino work in research, leadership, and academia. I am super proud to be part of this program in Boston College and belong to the Latino Leadership Initiative. LLI has become the pillar of my future and has given me the voice that I needed to advocate for my community.

Hometown: Cambridge, MA

Program: MSW, Macro Track

What has been your favorite class? My favorite class was Immigrant and Refugee Issues with Alejandro Olayo-Mendez. Alejandro is so humble, but he also has such a wealth of knowledge in this area, and his classes were the perfect blend of lecture and engaging discussion. He really supported our learning through the assignments, allowing us flexibility in choosing at topic that would be interesting to us, and providing a lot of guidance and resources to make sure we were successful. I learned so much in his class and truly enjoyed every minute of it!

What has been the most meaningful relationship you've developed at BCSSW? My relationships with the Global '20 cohort were the most unexpected but by far the most meaningful relationships I formed at the SSW. I had no idea how much I would learn from the diverse experiences, opinions, and professional backgrounds of my fellow students. I was so grateful for their support, humor, and calls/pictures/messages while we were abroad in different corners of the world, and as we had to make difficult decisions to return home prematurely due to the pandemic.

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Program: MSW, Clinical, Mental Health

Field placements: Boston Trauma Response Team, Jamaica Plain, and Fenway Health Center, Fenway

Favorite BCSSW class or professor: Adult Trauma with LeAnn Egeto

Why BCSSW: BC was one of my top choices and I was thrilled to be accepted and to receive a generous financial aid package. I also believe that our current trend in the social work profession is developing respect for treatment modalities that differ or have developed significantly from psychotherapy. I think while BC has a lot of growing to do in many areas, the respect and research for different therapeutic modalities is excellent and was a great selling point for me.

Hometown: Derry, New Hampshire

Program: MSW, Macro Social Work, Global Practice

Favorite class or professor: My favorite class was Global Perspectives on Gender Inequalities, taught by Dr. Betty Blythe. This class really opened my eyes to the awful human rights violations happening around the world and inspired me to want to work towards creating a fair and equal world for everyone. I remember wishing that this class was a requirement because it is so important for everyone to be aware of these violations. If more people learned what I learned, I believe that more people would make a difference. I was always excited to attend this class as it was always interesting and engaging.

What was the most meaningful relationship you developed at BCSSW? My most meaningful relationships developed were with my academic advisor Lyndsey McMahan and with my second year field placement advisor Katie Mullins from Jesuit Refugee Service. They went above and beyond to make sure I was meeting my goals and getting the best possible experience out of my education. I still keep in touch with both of them and they offer me guidance and advice as I continue on my social work path.

Hometown: Hamilton, Massachusetts

Program: MSW, Community Organizing, Public Policy, and Administration

Which professor most impacted your experience? Professor Kathleen McInnis-Dittrich was my favorite professor. Her energy and passion were infectious! I just really enjoyed her courses and learned so much.

How would you describe the community at BCSSW? I met one of my closest friends at BC School of Social Work -- Sara (Woods) Noone. While she was on the clinical track, and I was on the macro, we were immediately drawn to each other. She is the best listener and so compassionate and committed. She is now a social worker in a school, and I know the students are so lucky to know her!

Why did BCSSW work for you? Having an MSW has been so beneficial to me throughout my career. While I have always been passionate about both politics and social justice, I have also long recognized that policy change must be centered around the people most impacted by that change. I was drawn to the profession because it is one driven by values. The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. At Boston College School of Social Work, I learned critical skills that have served me throughout my career: self-knowledge, awareness of your environment, communication skills and critical thinking. Having an MSW has always set me apart in my career, as it is a clear statement of my values and has offered me an important set of skills to create lasting policy change.

Hometown: Manila, Philippines, and Jakarta, Indonesia

Program: MSW, Clinical, Children, Youth & Families

What is one phrase you would use to describe your experience at BCSSW? Speak now. I am a big Taylor Swift fan and a typical question that I get asked is, "What Taylor Swift era are you in?" I often say that I am in my "Speak Now" era, because grad school, and in particular choosing the MSW and studying to become a social worker, has been such an empowering experience by helping me to find my voice and teaching me how to use it..

Why did you choose to study at BCSSW? I chose to study at BCSSW because of the MSW/MA dual degree program in social work and theology and ministry. I first learned about social work through service-immersion experiences that I had in undergrad that taught me about the connection between faith and social justice. I started to look into the field more seriously because of a call that I felt to serve and care for others and the common good, which was then affirmed by the intersections that I found between Catholic Social Teaching and the NASW Code of Ethics. e.

Describe your experience at BCSSW: Through this program, I have had numerous opportunities. The first being the gift of scholarships that made it possible for me to attend the program. I am also grateful to have been able to participate in a wide variety of field placements (hospital, university, and therapeutic school) as well graduate assistantships (both at the CSTM in the Admissions office and at the SSW in Career Services/Alumni Relations), which have felt like affirmations of my potential as both a future social worker and minister and have helped me to grow both professionally and personally.