Alumni Stories

Carly Costello

Class of 2013 (MSW) / Owner and Therapist at the Counseling Nook

My mom was a therapist (LPC) and she encouraged me to pursue a MSW if I wanted to be a therapist because she said a Master's in Social Work was "more marketable"... I opened my own practice in September 2022 and have another therapist working with me now that went to grad school with me, Stephanie Majetich. My biggest tip for students now is to take advantage of all the resources you have being a student at WVU! Oh... and if you haven't been to therapy, GO, while you're still on your parents insurance or you can take advantage of resources for students. Take your LGSW exam as soon as possible while you're still in student mode, it definitely gets harder as time passes. You don't have to have it all figured out in school, learning continues beyond graduation. Your supervisor for licensure can be the most impactful mentor so choose wisely.

Lauren Verlinden

Class of 2021 (BSW) & 2022 (MSW) / Mental Health Therapist for Children and Adolescents

Now as a therapist for children and adolescents, I have been able to fulfill my biggest dreams because of the education, staff, professors and friends through the School of Social Work at WVU. Not only did the BSW and MSW bring me a career but also life long friends that I now get to watch grow in their own careers and stand by them during on their biggest days. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities and people this program and field have brought me! Any tips I would give incoming Social Work students would be to get involved, show compassion to your professors (they are human too), and take the licensure prep course! It really will help!

Denise Boudreau

Class of 1987 (BSW) & 1989 (MSW) / Medical Social Worker

Why did you choose to study social work?

I chose medical social work to assist dialysis patients.

Are there any special moments or memories from the program that you'd like to share?

A professor taught about historical research, acquiring information directly from the source and interpreting it in the correct context. This feels like the opposite of social media today. Another discussed the choice between being available for clients versus adhering to the organization's schedule, as well as the decision between broadening one's knowledge and scope of practice versus focusing on a management career.

I remember another faculty member emphasized the strategy of portraying political figures as "heroes" to ensure they take community action concerns seriously. Another provided insights into the financial value of volunteers to an organization and strategies for valuing their contributions. Learning from a retiring tenured professor, I realized that pursuing a tenured position could offer job stability without the requirement of regular class attendance.

I recall another professor clarifying the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, emphasizing their roles in providing care for the elderly and assisting those with lower incomes, respectively. I also recognized that flawed social policies often stem from inadequately written policies.

Another faculty member's teachings on euthanasia prompted me to reflect on my own beliefs. Saving papers on hard disks and utilizing Mac computers in the library for assignments made me realize the financial constraints of pursuing academia on a social work salary, motivating me to obtain an MSW to repay my student loans.

Lastly, I learned that research papers often fail to credit student contributions adequately, relegating them to "Et al..." in journal articles. Spending extensive time in the library exposed me to diverse topics, including Appalachian culture and the significance of its people in shaping West Virginia's identity. Despite the exodus of many, I chose to remain in West Virginia, appreciating its unique heritage.

I am also grateful for the friendship, and my classmate who introduced me to the concept of a "poke."

Evelyn Tomaszewski

Class of 1980 (BSW) & Class of 1985 (MSW) / MSW Program Director and Assistant Professor at George Mason University

Why did you choose to study social work?

The inequities that were visible in my own community and in the larger society, seeing how people and communities (and even societies) can find a way to have their voices heard and create positive change - this all created a desire to really be part of those creating safer and better communities. And as I entered social work, I began to realize this interest or passion was really about wanting to work for social justice and equal rights.

Are there any special moments or memories from the program that you'd like to share?

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