Social Work Graduate Students Amplify Their Impact Through Graduate Assistantships
Meet some of our current on-campus Master of Social Work students who balance the demands of their graduate coursework with work experiences on campus provided through graduate assistantships.
Their campus experiences allow them to have hands-on service roles with a broad range of entities and support teams across campus.
Lily Boehrer
Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement
Lilly Boehrer is a social work student working towards her MSW degree with a clinical pathway. She has been an intern with the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement since fall 2024, working with the center's Unconquered Scholars Program, providing supplemental support to students, supporting community partner relations, and organizing program events. "I have learned a lot from my work at the program and the time I have spent with the students."
Isabella Daniels
College of Social Work, development
Isabella Daniels is a social work graduate student pursuing dual master's degrees in social work and business. She has been a graduate assistant with the College of Social Work's Development Director, Paige McKay Kubik, since the fall of 2024, assisting with fundraising initiatives. "It's a unique opportunity to see all the behind-the-scenes work the college does to keep everything running smoothly and create the student culture it does. I also love working with Paige. She's the best and has taught me so much!"
Lauren DeGeorge
Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies
Lauren DeGeorge is an MSW student serving as a graduate assistant with the Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies. She works alongside the institute's staff and research assistants to develop online Professional Certifications for Multidisciplinary Workers, primarily centered around trauma-informed care and vulnerable populations. "Working at the institute has been a great experience and has promoted my professional and personal development. The variety in my responsibilities and evolving projects makes every day exciting. I am honored to be part of such impactful work that changes the lives of not only social workers and related professionals but also the populations they serve."
Maria Gualtieri
Collegiate Recovery Program, LIFT
Maria Gualtieri is a social work graduate student pursuing an MSW degree with a clinical concentration. She is a graduate assistant with CHAW and she works with the Collegiate Recovery Community, LIFT. She's worked with LIFT since fall 2023 and provides psychoeducation to staff and students across campus on addiction and recovery, providing Narcan education and distribution. She also facilitates open recovery meetings for students struggling with their mental health or addictive behaviors. "At LIFT, we believe in nonjudgmentally meeting people where they're at and supporting them in whatever recovery looks like for them."
Kara Guinan
Florida Institute for Child Welfare
Kara Guinan is a clinical MSW student and in her second semester as a graduate assistant working with the Florida Institute for Child Welfare housed at the College of Social Work. She works directly with the institute's Assistant Director of Organizational Development, Research & Evaluation, Dr. Lauren Stanley, on research projects. This semester, she evaluated the institute's Alliance for Workforce Enhancement, a three-year project aiming to enhance well-being in child welfare organizations. "I am so grateful for my role at FICW. Not only has it supported my educational journey at FSU, but it has also enabled me to discover my passion for research and supporting the child welfare system."
Mary Mangan
Center for Leadership and Service
Mary Mangan is a second-year MSW student who serves as a graduate assistant with the Center for Leadership and Service. She has served in this role since the fall 2023 semester, co-facilitating the Community Ambassador Program, which places undergraduate students in service-learning internships with nonprofits to foster meaningful community engagement. "I love empowering students to make a lasting impact in Tallahassee and seeing how it personally impacts them! Through our program, Ambassadors dedicate two semesters to a nonprofit, gaining hands-on experience, professional development, and a stipend — all while strengthening the connection between FSU and the broader community."
Selena Ortiz
Academic Center for Excellence
Selena Ortiz is a first-year MSW student working as a graduate assistant at the Academic Center for Excellence serving as an academic success mentor in the Proactive Referral and Engagement program. She has worked in this role since fall 2024 and supports students one-on-one in achieving their academic and personal goals by providing support and resources as well as facilitating workshops on various topics essential to academic success. " To current and future first-generation graduate students, the journey that you are embarking on is a profound testament to your courage, resilience, and ambition. You are not only paving the way for yourself but also setting a powerful example for those who follow. Your journey symbolizes breaking barriers and challenging norms, proving that with determination and hard work, dreams can become a reality. Embrace your unique perspective and the strength that comes from your experiences—your voice and accomplishments are invaluable contributions to academia and society. Keep pushing forward!"
Rebecca Sardina
Center for Leadership and Service
Rebecca Sardina is a first-year MSW student in the Clinical MSW pathway. She has been a graduate assistant at the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) located in the Dunlap Success Center since fall 2024, working on the leadership team supporting programming related to leadership. " I have worked on our Service Scholars program and have overseen the Leadership Speaker Series, a new program at the center. Through my work, I have learned skills related to student programming, facilitating teams, and public speaking. I have been able to apply the tools I am learning in my MSW program, and I feel as if I have developed as both a social worker and a student. I am so grateful for this opportunity from the CLS and from the College of Social Work, and I am beyond excited to continue working in this role throughout the next year!"
Jessie Yuan
FSU Career Center
Jessie Yuan is a social work student pursuing dual degrees in social work with a focus on social leadership and public administration. She is a graduate assistant with the FSU Career Center Employee Relations team and has worked with them since fall 2022. She supports a variety of the center's projects, including the Professional Clothing Closet, career fairs, on-campus recruitment, and more. "The Career Center offers so many valuable resources and I highly encourage all students to take full advantage of them!"