Success Stories

Alumni Success Stories

Name: Greg Anderson, MSW 1994

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

I am the Director of Client Support Services at Hamilton Center, Inc.

2. What about any previous positions?

I was previously employed as a State hospital Social Worker in Outpatient therapy.

3. Why did you originally select social work?

So that I could help people achieve their goals through advocacy.

4. What advice would you offer to social work students?

It is important to have patience, be a good listener, and be computer literate.

5. Any comments?         

My interests would be in describing careers in social work and in field practicum supervision.

Name: William (Bill) Baker MSW 1954

Bill Baker attended the 2005 NASW Conference in October in Chandler, Arizona. Gary Bailey, former NASW National President and current Chair of the Public Image Campaign, presented Bill and several other NASW founding members with Olympic style medals. “After the obligatory picture taking, Bill removed his coat, tie and shirt to reveal his true persona!”

Bill was a caseworker with the Indianapolis Family Service Agency in 1955 when NASW was founded.

He and his wife, Tommie (Baker) BSW 1951, also a retired social worker, reside in Phoenix, AZ. One of their two daughters, Cynthia Baker, BME 1978, MM 1987 also lives in Phoenix.

Name: Amy Barnette, MSW 2001

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

I am the Director of Social Services at Holy Cross Care & Rehabilitation, a skilled nursing facility.

2. What about any previous positions?

Previously, I was the Director of Social Services at St. Joseph’s Care Center.

3. Why did you originally select social work?

I wanted to help find and provide resources for those in need.

4. What advice would you offer to social work students?

Because social work is always changing, my advice would be to empower yourself by continually expanding your knowledge of the field, even after you finish school.

Name: Holly Frier, MSW 2004

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

I am a Therapist for Family Service Society, Inc. in Wabash and Marion

2. Why did you originally select social work?

To work with children of abuse and neglect.

3. What advice would you offer to social work students?

Get as much experience as possible in the field.

Name: Jim Kuemmerle, MSW 1994

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

I am employed with Value Behavioral Health of PA as a special projects manager. VBH-PA is an affiliate of ValueOptions. I have been employed there for seven years, starting in the clinical department. I have been employed in both community mental health and substance abuse programs in rural North Carolina and Pennsylvania. I teach part-time in the BSW program at California University of PA. I am also a volunteer firefighter, EMT, and hazmat tech. In addition, I volunteer with the Pittsburgh Area CISM Team.

2. Why did you originally select social work?

I originally chose social work because I wanted to help people and change the part of the world that I came in touch with. This is why I am still in the field today.

3. What advice would you offer to social work students?

Question things, do not accept what you are told if it does not make sense. Challenge your peers and supervisors not to accept substandard work of any nature. Be creative in your approach.

Name: Llewellyn Linde, MSW 1957

In October 2004 the “Marcella and Lew Linde Public Service Law Endowment” was started by Lew Linde at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN. It will go to Minnesota’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). This gift of $34,000 will fund three grants of $500 each annually. Linde said, “He hopes to be a ‘pump primer,’ inspiring others to contribute to support this ‘great organization’ and ‘very important effort.’”

Lew Linde has also established the Linde-Ruhr Scholarship for the Master’s Program at the IU School of Social Work. An award will be made annually through the St. Paul Foundation.

Name: Anne Nicolaou, BSW 1997

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

I was recently promoted within Wells Fargo Bank to the Money Services Business Due Diligence Department.

Name: Phyllis Pleuss, MSW 1975

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

LCSW Clinical Supervisor for Lutheran Social Services – I supervise in-home family therapists.

2. What about any previous positions?

I was a therapist in an outpatient mental health clinic in Appalachian Kentucky for two years.

3. Why did you originally select social work?

Like everyone else, I wanted to help people, especially in a one-on-one basis in a knowledgeable way.

4. What advice would you offer to social work students?

Be realistic about the low pay of the field and difficulties in getting licensed, but also know that there can be tremendous job satisfaction.

5. Any comments?

I treasure my experience and education at IUPUI. It was only the beginning of my learning – and it hasn’t stopped yet!

Name: James Paul Schroeder, MSW 1978

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

I am a Family Therapist at Oliver Headache & Pain Clinic.

2. What about any previous positions?

From 1980 to 2001 I worked as a Family Therapist for Southwestern Indiana MHC.

3. Why did you originally select social work?

To help people live healthier lives.

4. What advice would you offer to social work students?

Have the courage to be a Family Therapist.

5. Any comments?

We need to be encouraging clinical social workers to be providing therapy in doctor’s offices. We can provide better coordination of treatment and fewer stigmas this way.

Name: Erin (Hurst) Werner, BSW 1994

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

I am currently a probation officer with The Monroe County Probation Department. I was hired with the department in 1996 as a home detention officer. In 1997 I transferred to our Probation Division and began work as an Adult Probation Officer. From 2000-2001, I worked with our Drug Treatment Court as a case manager. I discovered that working as an Adult Probation Officer with a mixed case load was my niche.

2. What about any previous positions?

Between 1994 and 1996 I worked as a caseworker with the Marion County Office of Family and Children, while also working part time as a case manager with holy Family Shelter in Indianapolis.

3. Why did you originally select social work?

I felt compelled to help and intervene in the lives of those less fortunate.

4. What advice would you offer to social work students?

Do not limit yourself to working (internship), or studying in specific areas of the social work arena that you suspect you sill enjoy. Instead explore an area where you may have little or no interest at all, you may be pleasantly surprised. The area I had the least interest in was criminal justice, and 10 years later I remain extremely satisfied in my work!

Name: Shannon Wilson, BSW 1993

1. What is your position now and at what organization?

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana; Assistant Director, Alumni Relations, 2005 – Present.

Although the alumni program was established in 1994, no one has been responsible for managing the program. It is my responsibility to design the program, find and establish relationships with our alum, plan and coordinate regional and statewide events, write/maintain regional newsletter and website, and report on employment/activities of alumni.

2. What about any previous positions?

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana; Assistant Director, Career Services, 1999 – 2005

Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana; Community-Based Evaluator, Employment Specialist, 1996 – 1999

RMS of Indiana, REM-Indiana; Associate and Team Leader, Program Coordinator, 1994 – 1996

Johnson County Youth Services; Youth Care specialist, Home Manager, 1989 – 1994

3. Why did you originally select social work?

I chose social work because I wanted to make a difference with people. I also believed, and still do believe, that knowledge is power. If a person has information, then he/she will make good decisions. I also seemed to have an innate ability to talk with and get people to talk to me. I recognized my strengths and my values and matched them up with social work. Although, I am not directly involved in the field anymore, I cherish the skills that I acquired in my social work classes. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t have the opportunity to listen to someone, identify needs and research possible solutions. I also think that the training that I received in social work has made me more aware of my community, issues that we have and the need to solve these problems.

4. What advice would you offer to social work students?

·Keep your eyes and ear open because opportunities are everywhere

·Learn at least one thing, positive or negative, about your experiences and learn to apply that knowledge

·Keep your successes and the good things about life close to your heart. In this field, you’re going to see the ugly things about people and life, and it’s easy to get discouraged. When the world gets ugly, look for the beautiful or the good to get you through those times with your sanity and positive outlook intact.

·Tackle only one problem or issue at a time. If you try to solve the world’s problems all at once, it’s too easy to get discouraged. I always remember the story that one of my professors in Bloomington told about the boy and the starfish on the beach.