VCU School of Social Work

Most rewarding aspect to international service

“International service work gives students of social work an opportunity to work collaboratively with community members in a developing country in meaningful service toward addressing issues of hunger, homelessness, and access to education for children. By engaging in this work, students broaden their understanding of social and economic justice on a global scale while working in a partnership to address important social needs. The service project in Ghana has become more than a two week service trip every year as we have worked with a local non-governmental organization to build the capacity of a community to provide health care and education to its members. In the process students learn valuable lessons in cultural understanding, empowerment and social change that they can apply to many areas of social work practice.”

Education

• M.S.W. – Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Research interests

• Field education of B.S.W. and M.S.W. students
• Professional development of field instructors
• International Study Abroad
• International Field Internship

Courses taught

• SLWK770: International Social Work in the Dominican Republic
• SLWK230: Communication in the Helping Profession

Professional affiliations

• Council of Social Work Education