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Welcome weekend acquaints incoming students with the School

By Rayhaan Adams, MSW Student

Student Services and the School of Social Work’s Alumni Council hosted their fourth annual Welcome Weekend on March 30-31. 90 newly-admitted students and 20 guests traveled from Washington D.C., Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, West Virginia, and several other states for the weekend events.

Participants had the opportunity to attend a mock class with either Dr. Betsy Bledsoe on “Identifying and Treating Depression” or Dr. Mark Testa on “Policy Advocacy on Behalf of Multigenerational Family Caregivers.” Participants also attended a Certificate Programs, Dual Degrees and North Carolina Residency Fair, where they were able to interact with faculty, staff, and current students based on their areas of interest. A curriculum overview and various opportunities for field education were also presented by the Field Education faculty.

On Saturday, admitted students were welcomed by Dean Jack Richman, and had the opportunity to hear from Aesha Green, Assistant Director of Graduate and Professional Programs; and Sharon Thomas, Director of Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid; regarding scholarships, student aid, and all things financial aid. Questions were also answered by student panels, made up of current Student Ambassadors and student volunteers.

The highlights of the weekend included a reception and lunch, in which students could meet each other, alumni, faculty, and current students. The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many students particularly enjoyed sharing their interests and making personal connections to the School.

Over 30 professors, alumni, staff, and students participated in order to make this event possible, and based on the feedback from attendees, the School of Social Work can look forward to seeing many of the same faces in the not too distant future. As one student stated, “The Welcome Weekend was informative and enjoyable. It was great to meet new people, and the weekend provided me with a clear picture of what to expect in the next few years. It reaffirmed my decision to attend the program.”