GMercyU Celebrates National Social Work Month

From family counselors and drug and alcohol treatment specialists to community organizers and parole officers, the need for social workers has never been higher.

In fact, the demand for social workers is expected to increase by 13% through 2029 - faster than the national average - and the demand for mental health and substance abuse social workers is projected to grow 17% through 2029 (BLS).

Gwynedd Mercy University's Bachelor of Social Work program was established to meet these demands.

The accredited program gives students the eligibility for advanced standing in Council on Social Work Education master's degree programs, so students can complete your MSW in just one year instead of two.

GMercyU is celebrating National Social Work Month by honoring our Distinctive Mercy Graduates who have earned their Master of Social work degree and are making a difference by being Social Work champions.

Kelly Anderson, MSW, DSW

GMercyU, BS, 2012
Tulane University, MSW, 2014
Tulane University, DSW, 2020

Current Position: Social Worker at KIPP New Orleans

"GMercyU prepared me for graduate school and my work as a social worker by offering a curriculum, courses, and internships that provided me with a foundation to begin my MSW program with confidence that I was in the right field."

Learn more about Kelly's GMercyU experience and post-graduate success.

Clover Beauduy, MSW

GMercyU, BS, 2014
Barry University MSW, 2015

Current Position: Mental Health Practioner at Legacy Behavioral Health in Port St. Lucie, Florida

"Clinical Social Work was one of the best decisions I could have made not only for myself, but the people I serve. GMercyU prepared me for graduate school by not just teaching, but also mentoring me. They saw something in me that I never knew existed and helped mold me into the person I am today."

Kathleen Carroll, MSS

GMercyU, BA, 2015
Bryn Mawr College, MSS, 2020
Home School Visitor Certification, 2020

Current Position: Social Work Counselor at Community Service Foundation

"The most rewarding part of my work is being able to witness the social and emotional growth of my students. GMercyU helped me to develop confidence in myself. If it wasn't for the support that I received at GMercyU, I wouldn't be where I am in my career."

Melissa Dziedzic, MSW

GMercyU, BA, 2010
Widener University, MSW, 2013

Current Position: Director of Field Education for Graduate Social Work at West Chester University

"This most rewarding part of being a social worker is having the ability to influence change at all levels. GMercyU prepared me for graduate school by providing the early exposure to the field from the moment I walked onto campus as an undergraduate student. There were opportunities to volunteer with social service organizations, listen to guest speakers/social workers in class, and the incredible internship opportunities. I am forever grateful for the mentorship that I received from GMercyU, which has inspired me to be in a role where I am mentoring and supporting the next generation of social workers!"

Becky Fitzgerald, MSW

GMercyU, BA, 2014
West Chester University, MSW, 2014

Current Position: Behavioral Consultant at SPIN (Special People in the Northeast)

"GMercyU helped prepare me for graduate school by fostering a tight-knit community where it was easy to seek guidance from professors. This helped me to continue creating bonds and widening my network within social work. I thoroughly enjoy my work now because I have a mixture of work in schools and homes helping children build skills to gain functional communication and other life skills."

Megan McStravick

GMercyU, BS, 2006
Tulane University, MSW, 2008

Current Position: Social Services Intake Coordinator at New Orleans Musicians Clinic

"GMercyU enhanced my personal and professional growth through intimate academic settings allowing me to reflect and express my own thoughts with potential to adapt based on experiences, education and others perceptions. As the Social Service Intake Coordinator for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic for the past 12 years, the most rewarding part of my job is witnessing the resiliency through social, environmental and financial disparities for thousands of musicians, performing artists and cultural bearers."

Learn more about Megan's GMercyU experience and post-graduate success.

Carol Anne Patton, MSW, LSW

GMercyU, BS, 2015
University of Pennsylvania, MSW, 2017

Current Positions: Rehab Social Worker at The Community at Rockhill; Hospice Social Worker at Grandview Hospice

"GMercyU taught me to be an informed and educated student. Going to such a reputable school as University of Penn, I needed to be a strong writer. I learned from professors who had high standards and expected the best from their students. Now I am serving people at their most vulnerable. Whether they are at end of life, in the hospital recovering, or they are working through therapy to get back home, I am giving them hope and comfort."

Learn more about GMercyU's Bachelor of Social Work program here.