Student Life
Student Organization
The School of Social Work's Student Organization is a valuableand
enjoyable enhancement to the academic program. Through the organization,
students sponsor a variety of social as well as social action events.
The organization is open to any student enrolled in the BASW or MSW
programs.
Alumni Profiles
Cyril
Francis
MSW University of Maine 1998
"I am proud to be a graduate of the Master of Social Work Program at the
University of Maine. As a Native American woman, I experienced and
nearly succumbed to the some of the obstacles faced by my community.
Through the self-help experience of overcoming a dependence on alcohol
and drugs, I realized that I wanted a career in which I was helping
people to help themselves. "
"The faculty and my fellow students at the School of Social Work were
accepting, understanding and supportive of my culture, language and
perspective. I was able to have my MSW field placement with people from
my own tribe, at a sister reservation. People there say that I'm an
inspiration, that if I did it, they can do it. I am now the Coordinator
for a new substance abuse treatment program at the Indian Township
Health Centre in Princeton, Maine. I've found that people are more
willing to ask for services when a tribal member is providing them."
Kate
Roberts
MSW, LCSW University of Maine 1993
"As a social worker with two very different jobs, it is easy for me to
see how the UM School of Social Work helped shape my present career
path. Currently, I direct a statewide political campaign as well as
maintain a private therapy practice in Portland, Maine. Because of the
intimacy of the UM program, I was able to explore and experiment with
both my passions - direct service and community action."
"My professors noticed at an early point, my interest in a diverse
career. They nurtured this interest with flexibility and encouragement
to explore the rich and diverse opportunities within our field. The UM
program gave me the confidence and courage to develop my own identity as
a social worker, part therapist, part politican."
Elin
MacKinnon
1995 BASW, MSW LCSW
"I attribute my success to
the broad range of experience I gained at UMaine's School of Social
Work"
"I never planned to be a
social worker but an introductory social work class at UMaine inspired
me to change my major. I am now the clinical consultant for experiential
learning for Care Development in Bangor, Maine and work with an
adolescent group home where we use both traditional and non-traditional
therapeutic approaches. A specialist area of mine is horticultural
therapy. In addition to my work, I now teach the introductory course at
UMaine which originally inspired me to enter the social work
profession."
"My course work and my field placement work prepared me well for the
work I do now. The school offers very extensive field placement
opportunities and I have heard and seen that people coming out of this
program are the most prepared for the social work field. They are really
trained as generalist social workers to approach a lot of different
challenges. The commitment of the people who teach in the department has
given me a real passion for social work."
