Alumna Perspective on Choosing a Graduate Program in Social Work by Britney Thornton, MSW'14

With each pick, I began to notice their differences.  Some had gold trimmings, some were yellow, some were brown, some were new, some were short, some were dull—each had a unique personality.

And as I placed them inside the machine, I noticed the many options but only one setting provided the perfect fit. Quickly, I switched each one out and watched them turn into something better--something desirable and ready for use. 

In a short amount of time, I began to develop my own technique. A slight side-to-side rotation provided the perfect finish.   Before I knew it, my task was done and I sat back in satisfaction pleased not only with the process but also my finished product. 

And it dawned on me, sometimes life is like sharpening pencils. 

I remember my senior year at Baylor University as a social work student.  Repeated advice telling me to go on and get my Masters ran through my head as I began my search for the best Social Work graduate program.  

As my eyes darted through the list, I read names like the University of Michigan, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University.  A direct challenge to U.S. News and World Report, I began to re-rank the schools according to my standards, which had a simple evaluation system:  weather, size of the city, and prestige of the university.   Quickly my list of potential contenders began to shorten and I was left with the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Washington University of St. Louis. 

As I began to research each of these institutions, a slight adjustment had to be made due to a missed deadline which caused me to evaluate the University of Pennsylvania.    

Coming from the inner city of Memphis, Tennessee where few can even recognize all of the Ivy League schools or know what a foot of snow looks like or even what accessible public transportation means, I quickly fell in love with the idea of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. 

I remember the moment right before my mother drove back to Memphis.   Based on my undergraduate experience, I knew that the next time she would be back in Philadelphia would be for my graduation.   Tears started to swell into my eyes as the reality that the one person who knows me best was soon to leave me in the largest city I have ever lived in and at the most prestigious school I had ever attended. 

Doubts over whether or not I would be able to find my way around the city, or if I was equipped to handle the demands of an Ivy League education flooded my mind.  She simply looked down at me and gently said, “Say it with me…If it is….” I knew it well.  I joined her in finishing a saying instilled in me by my kindergarten teacher, Ms. Morris.  “...to be, it is up to me.   I can fly, I can fly, I can fly.  I can be anything I want to be.  I can do anything I desire to do as long as I listen to people who care about me.  If you are weak, you are beat.  If you are wise, you will survive.  I prepare myself for the doors of opportunity, so I can just walk right in.  I can.  I will.  I believe.  It is done.” 

Two years later, at my graduation, my mother reminded me of that night.  She merely said, “I told you so.”  And as I introduced her proudly to my SP2 family and friends, I was most pleased not in my titles of being President of SP2 Student Government, Vice-President of the Black Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, Hill College House Graduate Associate, and SP2 Dean Selection Committee member, but rather in the relationships I had formed with so many passionate, talented, and conscious individuals.

Much like the process of sharpening pencils, choosing the right graduate school is a process.  The School of Social Policy and Practice for some will be the right setting.  And for you unique individuals, the process of being refined will be aided by your investment in your own growth.  

My experience within the School of Social Policy and Practice, the University of Pennsylvania, and the city of Philadelphia changed my life.    It is for this reason that I am convinced that you cannot find a better learning environment.  But, then again, I am biased. J

I wish you all the best in your decision-making process.  May you make your journey your own and have lots of success.

Britney Thornton, MSW’14

Proud SP2/Penn Alum

MSSP Program: Preparing Students for Social Policy and Advocacy by David Griffith MSSP 2014

I first came to SP2 as an MSW student focused on working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and communities. I saw Penn’s MSW program as a great opportunity for me to develop the techniques and skills to provide direct services to LGBTQ individuals and to effectively advocate for this population. While I found the MSW curriculum to be very useful in helping me to develop many social work skills, I also experienced a strong pull towards focusing on the larger systems and structures that have historically oppressed LGBTQ communities. While I still saw the potential impact that I could have as a social worker working with LGBTQ individuals, I decided to pursue a dual MSW/MSSP program because of the opportunity to investigate both the direct services that can benefit this community as well as the broader policies that can either marginalize these communities or encourage their progress.

I have been interested not only in how social policy and advocacy can be used to improve outcomes for LGBTQ communities, but also in how members of these communities can organize to push for important policy changes at the federal, state, and local level. While there has been incredible progress for LGBTQ populations in the past decade, there is still a great amount of work to be done, especially for the most marginalized sub-communities within this population. For the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ population, access to LGBTQ-sensitive resources is often scarce and adverse physical, social, emotional, and economic outcomes ensue. I was able to pull these issues into my MSSP coursework to gain a fuller understanding of these factors and outcomes.

After the conclusion of my MSSP coursework, my MSSP internship provided the perfect opportunity to learn more about how these forces interact and affect vulnerable members of LGBTQ communities. As an intern with the Philadelphia-based LGBT Elder Initiative (lgbtei.org), I have gained invaluable experience in both the provision of community-based services as well as in community organizing and political advocacy. The LGBT Elder Initiative formed out of a need to connect LGBTQ older adults with culturally sensitive services in the aging network. The organization seeks to improve the ways that agencies provide direct services to seniors as well as the policies that are enacted that impact LGBTQ older adults.

As the baby boomer generation matures, and as acceptance of LGBTQ identities continues to increase, the number of “out” LGBT older adults in the United States is expected to more than double in the next 15 years. Waiting to meet this rapidly growing population is a system of aging service organizations and policies that have never before given focus to this population of older adults. The Pennsylvania State Plan on Aging, for example, makes no mention of LGBTQ older adults, despite the unique needs of this population. LGBTQ older adults have already lived through decades of often heinous discrimination that has left lasting physical, emotional, social, and economic impacts. Still today, LGBTQ older adults in Pennsylvania are open to legal discrimination in the provision of social services and placement in nursing homes and assisted-care facilities. 

Through my internship with the MSSP program, I have been able to develop hands-on real-world experience that has complemented the skills and patterns of thought that I gained as a social policy student. I have utilized skills gained from my MSSP academic experience such as program evaluation, community organizing, statistical analysis, media outreach, and policy research. Since the conclusion of my internship, I have continued to work with the agency in a volunteer capacity, assisting in the development and implementation of our educational programming and helping to lead our new Policy & Advocacy Committee. I also have two guest lectures scheduled for the fall at Rutgers University focused on the intersections of social work, social policy, and public health as it pertains to LGBT older adults. I am grateful to the MSSP program for having opened up these opportunities and for having prepared me with the background necessary to succeed in this capacity.

(David Griffith completed his MSSP degree in August 2014 and is expected to receive his MSW in May 2015)

 

Making the Most out of a University of Pennsylvania SP2 Degree: a look back as I enter my second year

by Johnna Marcus MSW 15' Candidate

One of the most beneficial lessons that I have learned as an MSW student at SP2 is the importance of taking advantage of opportunities. At Penn, opportunity has come in many forms- from a Hospital at University of Pennsylvania (HUP) field placement my first year to my involvement in student government to obtaining a summer job working at Penn’s international orientation. In each of these examples, I have met exceptional people who have become important resources and support systems for me as I grow as a student and professional.

There is a unique energy that comes out of learning from the experienced, hard-working and talented students, professors and staff at Penn. There are tremendous opportunities to communicate and collaborate with students and faculty across disciplines and build connections that I never would have expected to build. One of my favorite learning experiences thus far was interning in the lung transplant unit at HUP. I was able to gain valuable skills while working with people who have life -threatening pulmonary conditions requiring them to consider lung transplant. This work has put many things into perspective for me as a professional and person. SP2 faculty members were a support and resource for me as I went through this learning experience and challenged myself in new ways through working with patients and staff at the hospital.

More recently, I worked at Penn’s international orientation week. It is through this experience that I have come to understand what it means to be an international student in the United States and the ways in which Penn attracts scholars from around the globe. It was an eye- opening experience that helped me to understand the importance of providing support and guidance for international communities, especially within the academic environment. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to meet one- on- one with so many students from across the globe.

As a first year student at Penn, you may feel that beginning “rush” and excitement of the first weeks fade as papers and projects begin to pile up. Don’t let those deadlines and to -do lists distract you from taking advantage of all Penn has to offer. This is your time to make the most the most out of Penn- the tools are there, reach out and grab them.

(Johnna Marcus is a second year MSW student and Vice Chair of Communications for SP2 Student Government)

Summer at Penn School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2)

It is an exciting summer of change at SP2!

July proved to be a month of welcomes. We were delighted to welcome Dr. John L.  Jackson, who began his tenure as Dean on July 1^st.  Although Dr. Jackson is new to SP2, he is not new to the University of Pennsylvania. Dean Jackson joined Penn in 2006 as the first University Professor of the Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) program. This program recruits preeminent faculty who have appointments in more than one Penn school and who utilize knowledge and expertise from different disciplines and professional viewpoints to address complex social problems.  As many of you know, SP2 is an interdisciplinary school; as such, we are honored to welcome such an eminent scholar, who has written and taught on issues that include—but are not limited to—theories of racism’s social impact, urban conflict and change in the digital age, visual culture and forms of scholarly filmmaking, the anthropology of urban religion, and critical approaches to ethnographic research methods.  The Admissions Office looks forward to continuing to work closely with Dean Jackson as the 2014-2015 school year unfolds.

We also welcomed our largest Advanced Standing Master of Social Work cohort in July, when 30 exceptional students formally joined the SP2 community. Our Advanced Standing students come from 10 states and from 23 Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs. After taking classes and beginning their field placements this summer, they will join the rest of SP2’s Advanced Year students in the fall and will graduate in May.

Five exchange students from Beijing Normal University also joined us in July. These students will be at SP2 until mid-August to attend one summer class and five special seminars given by SP2 faculty and staff and to make weekly field visits to local social service agencies. In addition to learning about social work and social policy in the United States, our Chinese exchange students have experienced local culture, visited neighboring cities and national sites, and made friends with the SP2 students. Their experiences, knowledge and thoughts about social policy and social work from the international perspective have also benefited SP2 students in and out of class.

As we prepare for the fall recruiting season, we are finalizing plans for our dynamic  website redesign, which will go live in late August.  Hopefully, you will find this vibrant new site informative and easy to navigate on your mobile devices.

On a different technological front, the SP2 Admissions team is currently hard at work implementing a new online application system. In keeping with the University’s interdisciplinary ethos, this new system will unite the applications for most of Penn’s graduate schools into one University-wide form, which will hopefully simplify the application process for our prospective students. We expect to open applications to all of SP2’s programs in mid-September; if you would like to receive more information in the meantime, you are more than welcome to keep an eye on our website, join our Prospective Student Listserv, or reach out to the Admissions team at apply@sp2.upenn.edu.

As this exciting and busy summer winds down, we look forward to our upcoming recruitment season.  It is our hope that we will have the opportunity to meet many of you at one of our onsite or online information sessions as well as while we are on the road. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the admissions process.

Mary Mazzola, MSW, EdD

Associate Dean for Enrollment Management and Global Outreach
mmazzola@sp2.upenn.edu

 

Adiza M. Ezell, MSW
Associate Director, Admissions and Recruitment
adiza@sp2.upenn.edu

 

Genevieve Liberatore
Admissions Specialist, Admissions and Recruitment
glib@sp2.upenn.edu

 

Laura Baldasarre
Recruitment Coordinator, Admissions and Recruitment
laurabal@sp2.upenn.edu

 

Yuyuan Liu
Global Initiatives Coordinator, International Recruitment and Global Initiatives
yuyuanl@sp2.upenn.edu

From Baltimore to Budapest: Representing SP2 Abroad

by Abby Rix Degge, MSW 2011

When I finished my MSW at Penn, I accepted a social work position at the University of Maryland Medical Center to work with older adults living with HIV/AIDS. This position allowed me to gain further social work experience in the Division of Transplantation, Infections Disease, and Neurosurgery. Two years later, my husband was offered a Fulbright grant to study music in Budapest, Hungary. While I wasn’t really sure what moving across the pond would mean for my career, I knew I had a solid degree and skill-set I could use worldwide.

Several months after arriving in Hungary, the Fulbright EducationUSA Advising Center invited me to participate in two of their International Education Week events by giving a formal presentation about my graduate experience at Penn for Hungarian students interested in pursuing graduate programs in the U.S. I was also asked to represent Penn at the EducationUSA Study Abroad Fair. I gave careful thought to what kind of message I wanted to communicate. In a time where so many students get degrees “just for the sake of it,” I wanted to challenge the students to think critically about pursuing a degree track that complemented both their academic interests and individual needs.

During my  first presentation I gave a 35-minute interactive PowerPoint presentation detailing my journey at Penn. I described how I had attended a BSW program at a college in rural Texas and wanted to see how social work functioned in an urban context, making Philadelphia an ideal place for urban social work internships, as well as post-graduate career opportunities. I also explained that Penn’s social work program was the best size for my learning style, and unlike many programs in large cities, the classes were interactive and close-knit, allowing students to build strong relationships with peers and faculty. I described the various specializations Penn offers within the social work degree track, like the Penn Aging Concentration (PAC). I concluded the presentation by emphasizing that my graduate degree program prepared me to enter the workforce with confidence and security because I chose a school that was the best fit for me, not just an impressive name on my diploma.

 Nearly 100 Hungarian students attended the Study Abroad Fair the next day, ranging from high school students interested in undergraduate education to university students considering Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the U.S. The relaxed setting allowed me to talk to individual students about their interest in attending Penn. While I had to put on the recruiting hat and answer several questions about Penn’s various programs, I also enjoyed the chance to engage students regarding common social concerns present both in Hungary and in the U.S.

My experience presenting at the Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission was an excellent opportunity to continue my professional development while serving as an ambassador for SP2. It was also a great chance to educate students on the types of available careers in social policy or practice. A common thread I’ve noticed both at home and abroad is that people generally do not know much about this line of work or what we do as social workers. I think it is important that we devote time and energy to represent our profession in order to educate and empower more people to choose careers that affect positive social change. Having lived abroad for six months, I have learned that no matter where you are in the world, there is always something to do as an advocate for social change. There are a lot of exciting opportunities for social workers in Hungary, and I hope there can be more collaboration and mutual exchange between the Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission and Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice in the future.

 (Abby Rix Degge is a charter member of the Penn Aging Concentration and obtained her MSW from Penn in 2011. She currently lives in Budapest, Hungary with her husband who is a Fulbright grantee for the 2013-14 academic year. Prior to her relocation to Budapest, Abby worked as a Licensed Graduate Social Worker for the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She currently volunteers for the Csányi Foundation for Children, an organization that provides education and talent development to economically disadvantaged children. She also works part-time as an online News Aggregator for Center Maryland.)