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home/academics/school of social work/Alumni Profiles | |
Alumni Profiles |
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Bob Santy, M.S.W. class of 2006
In addition to being a husband and father, Robert (Bob) Santy is also a 2006 graduate of the MSW weekday program. During his two years at Springfield College, Bob took advantage of his internships to explore the various possibilities offered in obtaining the MSW degree. He received first hand knowledge of medical social work as a first year intern at Home and Community Health Services (VNA) in Enfield, CT. In addition, he had the opportunity to lead a support group for Stroke survivors. In his second year, Bob interned as a children’s therapist at North Central Counseling Services, also in Enfield. In this position, he worked with children ages 3 – 12 in both individual and group settings. Upon graduation, Bob was offered a position at North Central Counseling in this same role.
Bob was actively involved in the MSW program while serving as Vice-President of the Student Organization, and as a member of both the School of Social Work Advisory Board and the Educational Appeals Committee. As Vice-President, he worked with his fellow officers to create a new Student Organization position (Cultural Affairs), revise the Student Organization Constitution, and establish a chapter (Nu Tau) of the Phi Alpha Honor Society for the MSW program. Outside the classroom, Bob advocated for a full-time first grade teacher position at his daughter’s school by being a primary speaker before the Enfield, Connecticut Board of Education. Bob later made a proposal to the various Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) Presidents of Enfield with regard to coordinating the several PTO’s of the town, and having them work together as a single unit when bringing issues forth to the Board. Over his two years in the MSW program, Bob maintained a 4.0 grade point average, and in 2006 received the Distinguished Graduate Student Award. In addition, Bob was named a founding member and 2006 inductee of the Nu Tau chapter of the Phi Alpha Honor Society, and received awards for Scholarship, Service, and Leadership at the Graduate Awards Ceremony. Bob continues to enjoy his work as a child therapist, and hopes to remain active with both the Springfield College MSW program, and his community. Kim Lange, M.S.W. class of 2005
Kim Lange was named Distinguished Graduate Social Work Student in 2005 in the weekday MSW program. She maintained a 4.0 grade point average as she pursued her interests in older adults through internships at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital and Hospice of Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Her exemplary research projects focused on the grief rituals of Hospice Families and Alzheimers caregivers. She demonstrated strong leadership in the classroom and as co-moderator of a panel presentation on the profession of social work. She is currently employed as a clinical social worker at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke, MA.
Stephanie Wallace, M.S.W. class of 2005
Stephanie Wallace, a 2005 graduate of the MSW weekend program, was acknowledged for Scholarship at the School of Social Work Graduate Awards Ceremony.
Stephanie Wallace is married and the mother of two children ages 5 and 7. Stephanie has been working in the field of Social Work for the past 11 years primarily in the areas of Foster Care and Adoption. She is employed as a Social Work Supervisor at the Department of Children and Families in Hartford CT. Although eager to return to school for her Master's degree, it was a struggle to balance home, ork, and school. Stephanie's greatest reward besides a personal sense of accomplishment, is the example she has set for her children of the importance of education. Stephanie plans to integrate her kills obtained in the MSW program into her work as an Associate Minister at the First Cathedral in Hartford, CT. Stephanie is committed to serving children and families through the building and strengthening of the family unit. Kathleen O'Malley, M.S.W./J.D. class of 2004
As a graduate of the Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work joint degree program between Springfield College School of Social Work and Western New England College School of Law, Kathleen is able to understand clients/litigants’ concerns from both a legal and social perspective. The combination of these two perspectives has strengthened her advocacy skills and has enabled her to serve as an effective liaison between opposing parties within the judicial system.
A recently admitted member of the Massachusetts Bar, Attorney O’Malley served a term as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Probate and Family Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. Within this position, she worked with the Justices of Probate and Family Court, aiding in their resolution of a variety of family law issues such as the issuance of protection and restraining orders, judgments of divorce, and all issues relative to the care and custody of children, including adoption. Additionally, she assisted in handling probate matters such as estate administration and guardianships. Her work at the Department of Social Services during her program practicum also allowed her to effectively utilize the combination of these two degrees. Her duties within the Department ranged from conducting assessments and preparing termination plans to drafting findings for the court. Attorney O’Malley credits her skill in handling such tough issues within the legal system to the advanced generalist training of the M.S.W. program. She believes that her social work training has intensified her observation, interview, and advocacy skills; essential elements of good lawyering. Her background in social work has also prepared her to serve as an effective Guardian Ad Litem for the court. Additionally, she feels that her M.S.W. degree has prompted her to look beyond the adversarial approach to litigation and work to apply more effective measures of mediation when families are involved. Attorney O’Malley hopes to continue her career in the legal field, focusing on probate, family and juvenile law. “In the future I would like my legal work to extend beyond the courtroom, addressing the needs of children and families within the legislature. The extensive policy coursework offered by the School of Social Work has prepared me for that and more.” Melissa Loiodice, M.S.W./J.D. class of 2004
Attorney Melissa M. Loiodice graduated from the Master of Social Work/Juris Doctor (M.S.W./J.D.) combined degree program hosted by Springfield College School of Social Work and Western New England College School of Law in May of 2004. Melissa entered the M.S.W./J.D. program to affect social change within the legal system.
As a practicing attorney, Melissa finds that social work skills are applicable and necessary to the practice of law. Currently, Melissa is a practicing Real Estate Attorney in Springfield, MA. In her current position, Melissa finds that she can apply her social work skills, especially, in the area of Landlord/Tenant Law. Melissa remains active in the School of Social Work community. She serves on the Springfield School of Social Work Advisory Board, and enjoys advising current and incoming students via panel discussions and orientations. As a single parent and member of the second graduating M.S.W./J.D. class at Springfield College, Melissa M. Loiodice hopes to serve as an example to students and aspiring students, demonstrating that it can be done, despite perceived adversity and an untrodden path. Lorna Little, M.S.W. class of 2004
Despite the demands of a full time job and of her family, Lorna Little maintained a Grade Point Average of 3.98 when she was a student in the Master of Social Work Weekend Program. Throughout the program, Lorna demonstrated leadership qualities, outstanding research, and service contributions that were acknowledged by both her peers and the faculty. It was no surprise when Lorna was awarded the Goodkind Scholarship and named the Distinguished Graduate Social Work Student in 2004.
Lorna is highly committed to her chosen profession of social work. She conceived and hosted a community television show aimed at empowering minority adolescents. Her talent as a videographer at the Hartford Community Television enabled her to combine entertainment with community events and social issues. Her attitude is that, “So many young people look to entertainers and celebrities for guidance. I put that drawing power to a positive use and had many 'stars' provide information and enlightment about education, voting, violence, domestic violence, etc. The positive and touching feedback I received from parents and young people during that time was tremendous. It has compelled me to think about other types of community programs that I could create that target minority youth.” Lorna hopes that she can make a positive change as a school social worker to bring new and untraditional ideas to help children in her community. According to Lorna, “the MSW degree from Springfield College will give me all the skills needed to help me move towards my overall goal of being able to make an impact towards enriching and enhancing individual and group development, and alleviating adverse social and economic conditions. Mixing my organizational psychology, media experience, EAP experience, mediation work, with all the new and in-depth work covered in social work will surely help me achieve my overall goal.” Charlotte Zeller, M.S.W., class of 2001
"The School of Social Work provides an excellent learning environment where students can learn and grow... each student is treated in a respectful manner where the primary educational philosophy is focused on the personal success of each student."
Steve Bogatz G, M.S.W., class of 1996
When Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire falls in love, he says to his newfound soul mate, "You complete me." Steve Bogatz uses that line to describe his love for his job as a social worker at the Central Connecticut Dialysis Center. "It completes me," he says. "I love the fact that I'm helping people and making a positive difference in their lives." Click here to download the full PDF profile. (Profile provided courtesy of Triangle.)
Richard Goodkind, M.S.W., class of 1995
As the school year opened in September 1993, students at Springfield's School of Social Work were joined by a first-year student with an unusual background. Richard Goodkind, MSW '95, had come to the shool from a successful career on Wall Street, where he ran his own firm. After retiring early and moving from New York to the Berkshires, Goodkind says, "I started thinking about a lot of things in my life. I guess I was looking for a way to give something back." Ultimately, his search led not only to a new career, but to contributions to the School of Social Work that will leverage his impulse to help far into the future. Click here to download the full PDF profile. (Profile provided courtesy of Triangle.)
Sally VanWright, M.S.W., class of 1994
Sally credits the School of Social Work's advanced generalist practice approach with cultivating skills that enable her to professionally address the social issue she is most passionate about and loves doing most: working within the prison system to help women inmates. The prison-based program that she developed with Kate DeCou, M.S.W., adjunct professor of social work at Springfield College, is a phase-oriented treatment model that addresses those issues pervasive to female incarceration: parenting skills, addictions, and abusive relationships. Ironically, according to Sally, confinement within prison walls can be the first time many of her clients feel "free," by finding themselves in a safe, respectful, and stable environment. Applying her skills within this unique model, Sally says, "I find myself using critical skills one moment, serving as an advocate the next moment, and then I'm engaging in policy issues. Every day, I dance in and out of the practice areas I learned as a graduate student. This is the only way I can be effective in helping my clients."
Updated: 04/14/2008 |
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