The College of Public Programs alumni relations efforts include supporting the four alumni chapters and College-wide programs such as Homecoming, an Alumni Directory project, the Alumni Hall of Fame, College Convocation, and Alumni Chapter Scholarships. There are 9,000 alumni across the College, many with dual degrees, so there are numerous opportunities for the chapters to work together when events and projects are of interest to a broader alumni audience. For a list of alumni services available through the College click here. Also see the online calendar providing important details on upcoming events for alumni and students.

ALUMNI PROFILES

DIANE, PhD
Social Work degree: Ph.D., August 2003
Current Position: Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Tulane University and Director, Continuing Education program for foster parents in three parishes in Louisiana.
Job Responsibilities: As Assistant Professor: Teaching MSW level courses, advising/liaising with students regarding field internships, participation on School of Social Work committees, research and community service. As Director, Continuing Education program for foster parents:    

Ascertaining the learning needs of foster parents, setting up training sessions with appropriate trainers, evaluation of sessions and accountability to the Office of Community Services.
Favorite aspect of current position: I enjoy teaching methods and theories classes, incorporating my direct practice experiences into the learning process and active dialogue with students. I also enjoy being able to utilize my areas of interest and experience to pursue research and collaborations. For example, because of my experience as a school social worker and administrator as well as my experience as a writer, I have just co-written a book chapter with a public school administrator on writing for accountability in school social services.
Past Experience: Foster care worker, school social worker and supervisor, child protection intake worker, investigator, supervisor and administrator; foster/adoptive home recruiter and previously in private practice.
Why chose social work as a profession: I came from a working class family and was the first in my family (but not the last!) to attend university. I had exceptional parents. They were extremely nurturing. I wanted to help children whose situations were not so good.
Advice to current and future social work students: If you are considering pursuing a Ph.D., I strongly suggest that you have at least a few years post MSW social work experience in an area you would like to pursue at the Ph.D. level. This makes it easier for you to identify a Ph.D. research area. With a combination of the Ph.D. and post MSW working experiences, universities will seek you out.

CINDY, PhD, LCSW
Social Work degree: MSW and PhD, 2004
Current Position: Lecturer, Social Work Department, ASU West
Job Responsibilities: As a lecturer, I teach 3 courses each semester as well as to lead a cluster and maintain field liaison responsibilities for several MSW students.
Favorite aspect of current position: I enjoy having the opportunity to mentor/teach future social workers about the mission of our field as well as the specific skills that they
   
need in order to be successful as a social worker. I also enjoy the ability to stay on top of the current literature as I prepare for classes, while also being able to stay current in the field as I hear from students about the work they are doing and visit agencies through field placement assignments.
Past Experience: Prior to my MSW, I worked at a child welfare agency providing ongoing case management services to children after being removed from their home due to child maltreatment. After my MSW, I worked at an outpatient counseling center as a youth and family counselor providing individual, family and group therapy to teens and their families. In 1994, I moved to Arizona and worked in a variety of positions at Little Canyon Center, which is a residential treatment center for boys facing severe emotional and/or behavioral problems. I worked as an individual therapist to the boys in treatment as well as to provide family therapy to help prepare for family reunification. More recently, I worked as the clinical coordinator of this program providing individual and group supervision to the interns and therapists working in the program. In this capacity, I also helped to conduct outcome studies regarding program effectiveness as well as to help redesign the clinical program in order to become a strengths based program. I left this position in 2004, to begin my current position on faculty at ASU at west campus.
Why chose social work as a profession: As many people, I was interested in working with people and helping them to strengthen their lives. As a result, I explored a variety of helping professions to find a good fit in regards to theories and perspectives on helping. After taking courses in other departments, I was really struck in my first social work course that this field was a good fit for me. Specifically, the person in environment perspective and the value on self determination and empowerment fit very well with my own ideas about how to best work with people in need. As I continued past that class and into a masters program, understanding the social work mission helped to clarify further my commitment to this profession.
Advice to current and future social work students: First, develop a clear sense of the social work mission and values. These ideas set the tone and direction of our work. All that we do should flow through this perspective. Second, develop good boundaries. Work hard. Care about your clients. Be passionate. But also know when to go home, know when to let go and when to care for yourself and the people closest to you. Finally, have fun. This field is very heavy. You will hear a lot of very sad stories and will see things that are very hard to see. However, you will also see some amazing things happen and all of this occurs in the context of working relationships with other people. This is hard, but very rewarding work. So, enjoy it!

LIZ, MSW
Social Work degree: Masters, 1998
Current Position: I am a Substance Abuse Counselor with Maricopa County Adult Probation Department. I have been in this position since December of 1997.
Job Responsibilities: At the moment I facilitate Cognitive Intervention groups, help to write curriculum, help to write procedures, and assist with some training.
Favorite aspect of current position: I enjoy working with this population but particularly enjoy watching a client finally realize that committing crimes and using drugs is not in their best interest, how they have damaged themselves and their families, and learning while they cannot change the past they control what happens to them in the future.
Past Experience: I came to the field late in life and worked many years in the clerical support field in order to raise my family. I worked in a domestic violence shelter in the East Valley while I was working on my Masters Degree. I became employed in my present position while still an intern.
Why chose social work as a profession: While working for the Welfare Dept. in Santa Clara County in California I watched as social workers assisted people in getting their lives back together. Also my mother and my church were a big influence since beginning as a child we would go out and work with migrant workers.
Advice to current and future social work students: Remember to always take care of yourself. If you don't you won't be able to assist others. Find a field you enjoy working in and when you tell others this they know you are being honest. If you can't do this, then it is time to think about changing to another field or working with a different population.

JENNIFER, MSW
Social Work degree: MSW, 2004
Current Position: Court Conciliator II
Job Responsibilities: Facilitate mediations, parenting conferences, conduct child interviews, facilitate brief marriage counseling, make recommendations to the court and general case management.
Favorite aspect of your current position: Working with families, working for the Court, and educating parents on conflict resolution regarding custody disputes.
Past Experience: MSW internship at Child Protective Services and at my current employer. Briefly work for a psychologist as a medical biller (wonderful job to learn about insurance and private practice). Several years as an undergraduate psychology research assistant.
Why chose social work as a profession: I wanted to help people and I found that a Master's Degree in Social Work is more marketable than a Master's in Psychology or Counseling.
Advice to current and future social work students: Take care of yourself. Self care is very important in our profession. If you do not take care of yourself, then you will not be able to help clients.