Equity, Justice, and Inclusion

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: 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: 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: 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.

Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Program: Advanced Standing MSW program, Clinical, Children, Youth & Families

Why did you choose to study at BCSSW? My current supervisor is a graduate of BC, and I admire her social work skills, ethics, and commitment to the field, organization, and those working with her. I am also motivated by the diversity within the Latino community at BC.

Do you have a favorite class? One of my favorite classes was CBT with Jennifer Pugh. Professor Pugh was super helpful and willing to explain topics as much as needed, finding ways to ensure I truly comprehended the material. I took two classes with Professor Pugh, and in both, she was very practical and supportive of my learning at BC.

What do you hope to do after you complete the program? To further expand my clinical knowledge and skills, I am eager to continue working with the Latino community, especially those individuals with a history of trauma.

Hometown: Canton, MA

Program: BA/MSW program, Clinical, Mental Health

Do you have a favorite class? Scott Easton is my favorite professor (hard to choose just one). Scott is incredibly smart and he knows how to connect with people; you don't always get this wonderful combination with PhDs! Becoming close with a male social worker was also very impactful for me, as there are not many male social workers that I have met—it was for these reasons that Scott became a mentor for me.

What do you hope to do after you complete the program? My goal is to begin working at a PHP (or similar program) where I can focus on doing individual, family, and group therapy. The human-to-human connection is the most gratifying part of this work for me, which is why I have struggled as a case manager. Eventually, I will join a psychodynamic/analytic institute and move into private practice, where I will primarily use psychodynamic approaches.

What has been the most meaningful relationship you have developed while at BCSSW? It's hard to pick, honestly. Meeting my friend Ellie Mendola (another student here) has certainly been one of the most gratifying things I've experienced here—she has become a friend for life (and we've had half-playful, half-serious discussions about eventually opening a group practice together). Getting to know Scott Easton has been wonderful, and he has become a bit of a mentor to me. I became close with Teresa Schirmer, dean of students, as well, and it was always fun to swing by her office every few months or so to check in and say hello.