The FSU Alumni Association recognized Alexa Cronin Sobeck as a 2021 Notable Nole, a program that recognizes outstanding accomplishments of FSU graduates 35 years old or younger that are exceptional contributors to their profession, community, and society or the university.

She was also one of six recipients of the 2021 Reubin O’D. Askew awards. The Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed by the FSU Alumni Association on young alumni. Named in honor of former Governor Askew, the award recognizes his contributions to the state of Florida, nation and university and honors young alumni who perpetuate his legacy built on the foundation of their education at FSU.

Graduating with her BSW in 2015, Alexa moved to Washington, DC, to continue her studies in social work at the Catholic University of America to earn her MSW degree. “It was at FSU that I developed my passion for working with vulnerable populations,” she recalled. And Alexa’s passion would be honed in her master’s program one-year field placement at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, the only stand-alone psychiatric hospital in the District of Columbia, where Alexa became committed to a career and service in mental health.

After completing her internship, Alexa was offered a clinical social worker position at the hospital, a testament to her impact and contributions during her field placement. She spent a year in the Adolescent Unit at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, working towards independent licensure with children ages 10-17 experiencing acute mental health crises and with many local agencies and organizations.

Through her work with community organizations, she was offered an opportunity to join the Children and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Services (ChAMPS) program at Catholic Charities, the only mental health emergency response service for youth in the District of Columbia and operates a 24-hour crisis hotline. Through this opportunity, Alexa was able to experience all aspects of behavioral health crisis intervention in the community. She obtained her licensure as a licensed independent clinical social worker in less than a year. She was promoted to the clinical manager of ChAMPS, overseeing a team of 20 social workers and counselors and leading multiple initiatives to continue the mission of stabilizing youth in the community to prevent unnecessary hospitalization. During this time, Alexa also assisted in renewing the ChAMPS multimillion-dollar contract with DC’s Department of Behavioral Health.

Alexa worked with ChAMPS for three years before returning to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington to serve as director of the social work department at the age of 27. As the youngest department head at the hospital, Alexa led her department through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a surge plan to ensure behavioral health patients were quickly transferred from emergency rooms to make room for coronavirus patients.

Currently, Alexa serves as the hospital’s director of clinical services, overseeing five departments, including social work, psychology, expressive therapy, substance use counselors, and patient advocacy communication. In her role, she also reports directly to the hospital’s CEO and is part of the seven-person senior leadership team.

Her accomplishments, particularly during the pandemic, have served her community and have impacted behavioral health services in the District of Columbia. Although she is consistently the youngest person in the room, according to her nomination letter to the FSU Alumni Association, “she acts as a steadfast advocate for her patients, their families, her social work staff, and the social work profession. As a testament to her roots at FSU, Alexa relies daily on the clinical skills she obtained at the College of Social Work and the leadership skills she honed through SGA’s Office of Servant Leadership.”