Address:
Reynolds Hall
650 Reynolds Alley
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: 610-436-2664
Address:
701 Market Street, Concourse Level
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 267-436-2664
I come from a very human services-oriented family. My parents had a professional commitment to service and social justice. Their professional values carried over into our home, which had open doors for anyone in need. From friends in transition, to family members down on their luck, to long-lost cousins in town for college, there were always people living with us. Because of the spirit of acceptance and support I was accustomed to at home, a career in social work was a natural fit for me.
My commitment to my education and the profession was challenged when my brother was tragically killed during my senior year of college. If it had not been for the amazing and supportive group of professors around me, I would not have made it through. With the support of the staff and faculty at my undergraduate institution, I was able to complete school and apply to an MSW program. If it were not for the people who rallied around me, it’s likely that I would not be here today.
Because of my experiences, it’s my charge to make my personal and professional time relevant and significant. West Chester is a good place for that because the school's values align well with my teaching philosophy. WCU genuinely cares, and it comes through in every facet of student interaction. I truly believe that you never know what you’re capable of until you’re in it, and my life experiences are just one example of that. As a faculty member in the MSW Program, I'm honored to teach and support WCU students as they go through their own personal journeys.
I am committed to improving the welfare of children in metropolitan areas. My clinical practice experience has been primarily with children and families, and my doctoral dissertation focused on ethics in child welfare social work.
One of social work's core values and primary ethical principles is social justice. Social media create low-cost opportunities to disseminate massive amounts of information and organize large audiences. I developed an elective course, Social Media and Social Movements, to highlight how social media can impact social change.