Carthage College
Carthage College
Simmons University
Episode 8: “Practicing What We Teach: Transforming Practicum Education Through Partnership and Advocacy”
Host of The Conversation, Amy Skeen, explores how partnerships and advocacy can help social work programs address some of the challenges students face in completing practicum education.
In this episode, we look at SWIFT, an innovative initiative at Carthage College that provides practicum stipends to social work students and grew from a collaboration between social work and campus career services.
We’re joined by Debbie Minsky-Kelly, Assistant Professor and Field Director, and Carolyn Serdar, Executive Director for ASPIRE, to talk about how the partnership developed, what they learned along the way, and what other programs might take from their experience.
Listen to the episode on Spotify hereGuest Bios
Debbie Minsky-Kelly, LCSW, is field director and assistant professor at the Carthage College School of Social Work in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Her 25+ year career as a social worker includes work in child welfare, domestic violence, homeless healthcare, private practice, and childhood trauma. Debbie has been teaching at the Carthage College BSW program since 2018.
Carolyn Serdar is an esteemed and experienced higher education leader in the career and professional development field who possesses a rich background in strategically leading a team of career service professionals in advising, teaching, employer development and event planning. She has served in multiple roles at Carthage College, including her current position as the executive director of career and professional development for The Aspire Center, Carthage’s four-year career development program. Additionally, Carolyn has served as the director of employer relations and internships, career specialist, and adjunct psychology professor. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Theater, a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Lewis University, and an Education Specialist degree in Counseling from the University of Kentucky.
About the Podcast
Applied Learning in Social Work Education‘s podcast, The Conversation, is created and produced by the Simmons University School of Social Work for the benefit and enrichment of the social work education community, including practicum directors and instructors and social work faculty and students. Read Applied Learning in Social Work Education here: https://alswe.simmons.edu/
Host: Amy Skeen, DSW, Simmons University
Guests: Debbie Minsky-Kelly and Carolyn Serdar, Carthage College
Production Coordinator: Evan Rice, Simmons University