Student Spotlight – Caitlin Zahlis and Alex Tanon
Congratulations to our BA and MSW Outstanding Graduating Students Caitlin Zahlis and Alex Tanon!
Name: Caitlin Zahlis
Graduation year: 2018
What made you enroll in the graduate/undergraduate social work program at the SDSU School of Social Work?
With a background in developmental neuroscience, I knew I was interested in a career working with children. A meeting with a school social worker, shortly after I graduated from college, sparked my interest in applying to an MSW program. I was inspired by this social worker’s dedication to community-building and prioritization of student self-determination and empowerment. I had my heart set on SDSU after speaking with numerous social workers in the field who spoke highly of the school’s faculty and program.
Describe your most memorable experience in the School.
Attending the School Social Work Association of America’s (SSWAA) national conference in Ohio with members of my cohort was a highlight of the program for me. It was inspiring to witness the dedication to child welfare, family well-being and community-building that transcends state boundaries. I have, additionally, loved working with Dr. Urada and learning about her community organizing and public health endeavors, related to HIV/STIs and Human Trafficking. Her international and domestic work is truly inspiring.
What are your plans after graduation?
My goals are to work as a school social worker, and to begin working towards my license in clinical social work (LCSW). Throughout my career, I plan to influence policy that encourages the presence of social-emotional supports in schools across the United States.
What are some of your favorite aspects of the program?
One of my favorite aspects of the program has been completing course assignments that require students to engage social work agencies within San Diego. I have appreciated my professors’ efforts in connecting us with these opportunities, and I have enjoyed meeting social workers in multiple specializations through these assignments.
My two internship placements in school settings have exceeded my expectations in providing me with incredible supervision and opportunities for professional and personal development. Lastly, I have enjoyed connecting with like-minded individuals within my cohort. I have valued their immense support throughout the program.
Describe why you would recommend SDSU to potential students.
I have appreciated my professors’ active efforts to connect students with research, publication, graduate assistantship, community organizing, stipend and travel abroad opportunities. The level of personal and professional support from faculty members and students in my cohort has been such an incredible aspect of my MSW experience. SDSU has a wonderful reputation in the field, and provides students with a great number of quality and diverse internship experiences to choose from.
Name: Alexander Tanon
Graduation year: 2018
What made you enroll in the graduate/undergraduate social work program at the SDSU School of Social Work?
I faced many challenges throughout my life growing up in poverty, watching my parents struggle to provide for our family, and enduring discrimination due to my sexuality. I wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for the love and support of my family and friends. They taught me the power we have to be change agents in people’s lives, and I feel a desire and obligation to tap into that power.
Meeting social workers through my volunteer work with hospice patients, people experiencing homelessness, and children with developmental disabilities made it evident that a career in social work allows the opportunity to facilitate change on many levels, from the individual to society at large. Several of these social workers graduated from SDSU and had great things to say about the program, so I decided to apply.
Describe your most memorable experience in the School.
My most memorable experience while at SDSU was in my macro social work class when our professor, Dr. Judy Shepherd, shared her work in Uganda. Through community organizing she helped acquire land, build a school from the ground up, and provide free education to children from rural families in severe poverty. I was greatly inspired by her work and her exemplification of the far-reaching possibilities of social work.
Another particularly memorable experience was my study abroad class in Guatemala, where we worked in a school in a remote, impoverished village. I had never seen poverty to that degree before, and I was deeply moved by the resilience of the families and the community who continue to survive and support each other despite the extremely limited resources available to them.
What are your plans after graduation?
I was accepted into the advanced standing MSW program here at SDSU and will be starting in the summer. While most of my social work experience has been in geriatrics, I have found in my three years as a financial aid outreach specialist at San Diego Mesa College that I love working in a college setting. After earning my MSW, I’m hoping to continue to work with college students, especially students with disabilities and who are on the LGBTQ spectrum.
What are some of your favorite aspects of the program?
The program is anything but one-dimensional, which I really appreciate. The professors and student body are very diverse and offer various perspectives on methods of working with clients and engaging with communities. Classes often don’t adhere to a strict, linear schedule which allows for meaningful class discussions. Lastly, my professors and my field instructor have been very supportive, both academically and personally – while in the midst of the program, my father, who lives on the East Coast, was diagnosed with colon cancer and needed emergency surgery. I had to take time off of school to fly over and take care of him while he was in the hospital. If it wasn’t for the support from the faculty and my internship, I would not have been successful that semester.
Describe why you would recommend SDSU to potential students.
I would recommend SDSU to students because of the supportive, knowledgeable and diverse professors and student body, as well as the opportunity to work in the field and bridge the gap between classroom learning and real world application. This prepares students to be effective social workers in virtually any setting.
