Kelly Griffin, a Master of Social Work student at IU South Bend, was initially inspired to pursue a career in the social work field early in her life due to family experiences. Before Kelly was born, her mother chose to leave her home in Louisiana due to the racism and hate towards marginalized groups. As a young child, Kelly watched her uncle being sentenced to prison, where he endured many years of assaults, the hard labor of chain-gangs, and was finally paroled, but labeled a felon. Kelly’s uncle’s experience, including leading up to incarceration and after he was released into the community, inspired her to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and become a parole officer. Since leaving the military and being a parole officer, Kelly’s journey has allowed her to experience career fields other than those labeled social work. Kelly believes she has been a social worker her entire life and she strives to assist people in whatever role she takes on.

Kelly would like to use her Master of Social Work degree to make significant changes regarding laws surrounding social and criminal justice reform. Kelly’s biggest passions lie with criminal justice reform, social justice, and the legal process. Through the knowledge she has gained during her time in the Master of Social Work program at IU South Bend, Kelly believes she will be able to advocate for the many changes that need to be made to improve the United States’ social work structure and stop the marginalization of re-entry citizens. While working in criminal justice, Kelly was a witness to the continual marginalization of citizens who were attempting to make significant changes upon release from incarceration and the blockades which hindered this process due to governmental policy.

Currently, Kelly volunteers her time within her parish at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Kelly feels very fortunate to be employed in a position as the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist in St. Joseph County. It is through her volunteer work that Kelly can support and assist military veterans with tangible goods and services, mentor participants in veteran’s court, and assist veterans with significant barriers in securing employment and services.

The biggest lesson Kelly has learned in life is to ignore the naysayers, continue life-long learning, and use your gifts to make a difference in the lives of others.

Kelly’s favorite quote is: “My basic principle is that you don’t make decisions because they are easy; you don’t make them because they are cheap; you don’t make them because they are popular. You make them because they are right.” - Theodore Hesburgh