2014 – 2015 Department of Social Work Newsletter Staff and Letter From the Editor

Newsletter Readers,

We are pleased to provide you all with our annual 2014 – 2015 Newsletter from the Department of Social Work at NC State University. We thank you for reading and taking interest in NC State and for your continued commitment to achieving social justice. We hope that our newsletter has sparked your interest in this field and our university and we welcome any and all questions.

Sincerely,

– Paige L. Moore

Staff Writer – Glenetta Burrell: Glenn Burrell is a rising senior studying social work at NC State. Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Glenn studied music performance at the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where, apart from rigorous training, she was taught to restructure the way she sees the world with a critical eye for social analysis. Her college career began with a major in biology, but soon after, a sociology course (Current Social Problems) in her first semester inspired her to quickly change her interests and course of study. This transition to social work has intensified her passion for the humanities and expanded her knowledge of the world around her. It is to her studies, faculty and student interactions, and community experiences that she owes her passion for social justice.

Since the transition, Glenn has seized every opportunity to get involved and stay engaged in justice-focused organizations both within and outside of the Department of Social Work. Just a few of her activities have involved working in case management with Lutheran Family Services—Refugee Resettlement; membership in the Epsilon Kappa Phi Alpha Honor Society; protesting sexual assault through annual volunteer work with Take Back the Night; and advocacy work on the Diversity Retention and Recruitment Committee. Additionally, she studied abroad in the summer of 2014 in Guatemala where she taught English in local schools. At the broader University level, Glenn plans to use her leadership in Student Senate, the Student Centers Board of Directors, and the Housing Conduct Judicial Board as outlets for applying the social work skills that she has acquired to creating campus-wide change.

Staff Writer – Teyara Hudson: Teyara Hudson is a Senior in Social Work with a minor in Spanish. She was raised in from Winston-Salem, North Carolina but, upon graduating hope to move to Raleigh to continue her education and obtain her MSW. Hudson plans to become a School Social Worker and work for Wake County Public Schools.

Staff Writer – Nicole Kilpatrick: Nicole Kilpatrick is an upcoming 2015 graduate of NCSU’s Master of Social Work program. She earned a BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As an intern at SouthLight Healthcare, she co-facilitated groups and conducted individual sessions with clients seeking substance abuse and mental health treatment. She was also the first Social Work intern for the Wake County Public Defender’s Office, where she developed their social work department. Her tasks included cultivating partnerships with local community
agencies, coordinating informal jail diversions and providing case management for clients involved in the criminal justice system.

Kilpatrick is an active in the dance and prison ministries in her church. She serves as an inspirational speaker for youth group and women’s ministry engagements in Wake County and across North Carolina. Nicole enjoys traveling, visiting local street fairs and festivals, reading suspense novels, baking, trying new restaurants, and making natural soaps and body scrubs.

Staff Writer – Casey Mackey: Casey Mackey is a senior with in the Department of Social Work here at NC State. Hailing from Reidsville, North Carolina, his passion for helping youth has driven him to pursue a career in social work with a focus on child welfare. Upon graduating this summer, he plans to work with young adults with in the foster care system and be an advocate for positive change before applying to graduate school.
Mackey is also very active on campus. As well as working in the Department of Social Work’s front office, Casey also works at Case Athletic Center as an academic monitor. Alongside of his responsibilities on campus Mackey partakes in a lot of social organizations as well. Some of these organizations include African American Male Mentor groups such as Pack’s P.A.C.T. and Collegiate 100 to various service organizations including Reach Out and Touch and Habitat for Humanity. Mackey has also filled many leadership rolls including being co-founder and president of the Men in Social Work organization as well as treasurer for the Baccalaureate Students of Social Work Organization. He currently serves as the Keeper of Finance for the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated in which he was initiated in the spring of 2014.
Macley has enjoyed his time here at NC State as a member of the Wolfpack. Moving forward he said he will always remember the times he has shared with his friends and fellow classmates. “You never know where this crazy thing called life will take you. Your presence in a space may be temporary but the memories you make with the one you love last forever.”

Editor, Staff Writer – Paige Moore: Paige Moore is a May 2014 NC State alumna with her B.A. in Political Science. She is currently serving the Department of Social Work as the University Program Assistant to Department Head Dr. Karen Bullock, Editor of the Department of Social Work’s 2014 – 2015 newsletter and serving as Transitional Academic Advising Coordinator. Moore joined the department in November of 2014 and has enjoyed working there since.

Staff Writer – Adriana Ognibene: Adriana Ognibene is an undergraduate in the social work department. She is a lover of coffee, cats, and fighting for social justice wherever and whenever necessary.

Staff Writer – Jason Tuell: Jason Tuell is a staff writer for the Social Work Department newsletter.  His most important work has been counseling adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with co-occurring mental illness, a career which began in 2009.  Before that time, he worked with children with dual diagnosis. Tuell graduated from NC State with his MSW in May 2015.