MSW Student Association

Master of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA) 

 

The  MSWSA is a student-run organization  dedicated to promoting academic, professional and personal growth of M.S.W.  students throughout their time at the university. The MSWSA participates in community outreach and service projects, and  organizes social events for students to communicate with cohorts. The MSWSA  aims to bring all members of the M.S.W. Program together in order to build a  stronger, more unified program. This association is responsive and flexible to  students’ interests and concerns.

 

MSW Summer Picnic

2012-2013 Officers

 

President: Brittany Funke

 

 

Brittany Funke is a second year foundation student in the Masters of Social Work program. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Child, Adult, and Family Services from Iowa State University in 2011. While attending ISU, Brittany was a Cyclone Aide where she would orient incoming and transfer students to the ISU campus. From there she became a Cyclone Aide Advisor where she was able to assist, plan and conduct the orientation process and supervise 32 Cyclone Aides. Brittany was also very involved in the residence halls where she served many leadership roles (including being a Community Advisor) and was in charge of supervising 72 residents.

 

During the summer before Brittany’s final year at ISU, she accepted an internship at San Jose State University in San Jose, California. While interning at SJSU, she served as a liaison between prospective students and families at SJSU’s higher education department, and was given the opportunity to research other colleges and universities in California to assess their returning resident process. She analyzed approaches that were effective and implemented these changes to SJSU’s returning resident process.

 

Brittany is currently the Graduate Assistant for Student Community and Professional Development. She also co-collaborates with two other graduate assistants on The Graffito, Graduate College events, Graduate Student Research Symposium, and the Graduate Student Social Network (GSSN).  A goal for Brittany during her term as MSWSA President is to create a more collaborative environment between faculty and students.  She would also like to see an increase in student events open to all MSW students, aimed at highlighting who each of us are as individuals. 

 

Vice President: Lauren Schuur 

  

 

Lauren Schuur is currently in the MSW Advanced Administrative program, and loving it!  She is originally from Sioux City, Iowa and transferred to UNI as a sophomore.  She transferred from Luther College as a Vocal Performance and Social Work major.  Lauren knew her heart was in social work so she decided to move to a bigger and better city/school.  She graduated from UNI in 2012 with a Bachelor Degree in Social Work, a minor in Communication Studies, and a certificate in Conflict Resolution.  After graduate school, she hopes to become a LMSW and soon after a LISW, working one on one with families in the mental health field, with at-risk teens, or for the VA office.  And one day she would like to open up her own non-profit organization, as Lauren believes there are so many options in social work!  Her goal for this year as the MSWSA Vice President is to get as many people involved with the association as possible and, like many social workers strive for, to make an impact in our community whether it be on campus or in the Cedar Valley area!

 

Secretary: Kathleen Delagardelle

 

Katy Delagardelle is a Masters of Social Work student who received her undergraduate degree in social work at UNI, with a minor in Spanish.  Her undergraduate field placement was at House of Hope, and she is now interning at Boys and Girls Club as a behavioral youth counselor.  Katy began her undergraduate career at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, where she majored in sociology and played tennis.  She later transferred to UNI in the middle of her junior year where she became a social work major and continued to play tennis on the UNI team.  Her main volunteer experiences include facilitating a neighborhood "Game Nite" and mentoring with TeamMates.  Katy would like to work in many different areas of social work, but she is particularly interested in counseling families and youth.  Katy's motivation to receive her MSW comes from her five-year-old son, Kanaan!

 

Treasurer: Sara McDowell

 

Sara grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and entered active duty Air Force after graduating high school.  She was stationed in Rapid City, SD and Italy, working as a survival/flight equipment technician and Combat Search and Rescue instructor within fighter squadrons.  During her five years of active duty, she deployed twice and went on numerous training exercises around the world.  Sara discovered her passion for working with youth while volunteering weekly on active duty and decided to pursue this passion as a full time career.  She worked and lived with 8 teenagers as a “house parent” for almost two years at a children’s home in Texas.  While attaining her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in Dallas, she worked for 3 years at The Women’s Center of Tarrant County as a community educator, speaking in schools and various venues on topics such as child sex abuse and sexual assault.  Sara continued her military service in a Fort Worth F-16 Air Force Reserve unit, deploying for a third time in 2008.  She transferred into the Iowa ANG after being accepted into the Masters of Social Work program at UNI to continue her love of wearing the military uniform alongside a pursuit of higher-level professional development.  Sara enjoys being back in the school environment and has a desire to make an effective contribution to the campus and social work program.

 

Fund Raising Chair: Brittany Schau

 

Brittany Schau is a foundation student in the Masters of Social Work program.  She considers herself to be an “Iowillian” due to spending half of her life in Iowa and half in Illinois.  Brittany loves adventures, new friendships, and a good cup of coffee (with Pumpkin Spice Lattes being her current favorite!).  She received her Associate of Arts Degree from Black Hawk Community College and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Psychology and Art History.  During her time at WIU, Brittany became involved in a student run organization called Students Today Leaders Forever. She had the opportunity twice through STLF to help lead 30-40 college students on a Pay It Forward Tour; which is a nine-day bus trip traveling across the country, with the focus of revealing leadership through service, relationships, and action. Brittany’s current field placement is at Lowell Elementary School, but her future career interests include working with children, preferably in the mental health field.  As her first year in the MSW program and first as part of the student association, she is very excited to jump right in and see what can be accomplished in the year to come!