by Talia Wujtewicz
To close out National Professional Social Work Month, the Department of Social Work at CHHS hosted a Career Pathways Alumni Panel to give graduating social work students the opportunity to learn more about the field and life after graduation.
“This was an excellent opportunity for our students to hear about the different career paths one can take with a degree in Social Work,” said Emily Ihara, associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Social Work. “Connecting with alumni and industry leaders has such an important impact on students, and gives them the opportunity to network with their future colleagues.”
The panel was held on Thursday, March 28th, and consisted of four panelists:
- Cordelia Cranshaw, LGSW (BSW ‘14, Miss District of Columbia USA 2019, Founder and CEO, Acts of Random Kindness)
- Yoshie Davison (MSW ‘09, Chief of Staff, American Psychiatric Association)
- Maria Eugenia del Villar, LCSW (VA licensing board)
- Diana B. Rodrigues, LCSW, CAADC (INOVA Kellar)
The panelists gave overviews of their own professional career paths and offered advice and insights into what goes into being a social worker. Given the diverse backgrounds and career paths of the panelists, they were able to give a wide array of expertise on topics ranging from licensing requirements, interview tips, and the versatility of a degree in Social Work.
Maria Eugenia del Villar, who immigrated from Bolivia twenty-nine years ago, was previously an economist before switching to the social work field. Throughout her career as a social worker, she worked for Arlington County and Arlington Public Schools, providing support for teenage mothers to ensure they finished high school. She described her career as a combination of administration, case management, and clinical work. “It’s important to get your license,” she said, emphasizing how a license can open the door to better job opportunities, especially now at a time where the entire health care sector is facing a shortage of qualified professionals. Now retired from Arlington Public Schools, del Villar manages her own private practice, and continues to provide clinical supervision for social work interns and students.
Diana B. Rodrigues, Clinical Programs Manager at INOVA Kellar Center, said her career in social work was inspired by growing up in New York neighborhoods with income disparity, and emphasized the importance of experiencing the different focuses in the social work field to maintain a holistic view. “If you want to be more clinical, you can do that, if you want to [work] more at the advocacy or policy level, you can move up. But it’s important to know both of them. You need to know the system of your family, your client, your patient, and you need to be able to advocate for them.”
Yoshie Davison described her career path in social work as “untraditional”, saying how her introduction to the social work field came from a job she had applied for on a whim, working on projects related to APA’S Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). From there, she worked various jobs in the social work field, and decided to attend George Mason University for her MSW. She advised students to stay connected with those they meet as they pursue their degrees and careers. “You never know when the door is going to be open.”
Cordelia Cranshaw, who received her BSW from Mason prior to receiving her MSW from the University of Maryland Baltimore, said that her lived experiences, particularly growing up in the foster care system, is what sparked her passion for social work. She strongly encouraged students to get an accelerated advanced degree in social work if they have the option to. “It gives you that leap and that stepping stone into your career.” In addition to being a social worker and counselor at the Child and Family Services Agency in Washington, DC, Cranshaw is also the founder and CEO of Acts of Random Kindness, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and programs for at-risk youth.
During the Q&A portion of the panel, students asked questions about specific licensing requirements, supervision requirements, and how to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue in an emotionally demanding environment. Rodrigues advised establishing a routine to help switch gears and start mental transition away from work at the end of the day, and setting clear boundaries such as only checking work emails while at work.
Maria Eugenia del Villar echoed the importance of setting boundaries and taking time to practice self-care, saying, “Disconnect [from your work] with a very different type of activity. It helps.”
Dr. Emily Ihara, interim chair of the Social Work department, asked the panelists to close with a piece of advice they would give their younger selves.
“Practice self-compassion,” Rodrigues said. “You’re not always going to get it right, and that’s okay.”
“Practice mindfulness, and don’t worry,” del Villar said.
“Don’t be afraid to take risks, and try something new,” Davison said, saying adopting this mindset helped open doors for herself and her career.
“Continue to make connections with your peers when you’re in school,” advised Cranshaw. She encouraged students to take advantage of their alumni network after they graduate, as it becomes a vast support network.