ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES
Dear BCSSW Alumni,

While we all have had a challenging year of virtual life and learning, we have continued to remain impressed by how alums are navigating their personal and professional lives while continuing to remain involved at the school. In the midst of pivoting, your participation contributes to the lives of both students and alums and we appreciate all that you do.

There are many ways to continue to stay connected with the BCSSW. Sharing your expertise through field placement opportunities, offering your guidance for mock interviewing, or committing your whole self to the mentoring program are just some of the great ways for alumni to stay involved. Additionally, serving on the Alumni Board is a way to bring your energy and ideas to your current and future colleagues alike!  

The Alumni Board is seeking new members for the coming term cycle that will begin in the fall of the 2021-2022 academic year. We sincerely hope you will consider bringing your talents to the Board, and we look forward to staying connected!

Sincerely,
Lujuana Milton
President of the BCSSW Alumni Board
EARN CEUS
BC Continuing Education offers workshops, certificate programs, and conferences throughout the year. Visit www.bc.edu/continuinged to learn more.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Want to hire the best and brightest? Email sswcareerservices@bc.edu to post your job openings in the BCSSW jobs database. Job searchers can also email us to request a username and password to access the jobs database. Listings include opportunities from across the country and across the globe.
FIELD SUPERVISORS
In these trying times, we are in need of more placement opportunities for our committed students.
Please consider being a supervisor for BCSSW students. It is a great way to give back to the School and to enhance your professional skills in your organization. Check out our website regarding field supervisors responsibilities or email BCSSW Field Education at swfield@bc.edu with any questions.
NEW INITIATIVES
As part of Boston College School of Social Work's continued efforts to pursue equity, justice, and inclusion in social work practice, the school is proud to announce the creation of the Leaders for Equity and Justice in the Workplace certificate. This innovative new academic certification prepares social workers to disrupt, promote, and innovate on equity in the workplace. Through a set of exciting courses, focused on systems of oppression and privilege, organizational justice, and leadership development, students are trained to tackle some of the most pressing workplace equity issues of our time. The focus of this one-of-a-kind program will be to prepare social workers to gain jobs that impact workers and help to advance the cause of worker rights.

BCSSW is also pleased to announce a brand new Black Leadership Initiative, focused on preparing students in afrocentric methods of social work practice. This special program will focus on supporting Black students, preparing social workers as interventionists and advocates within the Black community, and developing scholarship and leadership focused on the Black community. 

Chairing this initiative is Dr. Samuel Bradley, Assistant Professor of Macro Practice. 
UPCOMING EVENTS
SAVE THE DATE:
PINDERHUGHES DIVERSITY LECTURE
Friday, April 23
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual
VIRTUAL SOCIAL SERVICES RECRUITMENT FAIR
Friday, April 9, 2021
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This job fair is open to students and alumni from BCSSW, MA in Counseling, and undergraduates interested in social service positions.

Represent your agency at this “free” job fair or plan to attend as a job seeker.

Email Cindy Snell for more information.
OFFER A VIRTUAL MOCK INTERVIEW for GRADUATING MSWS
March 17 to 19 & 24 to 26, 2021

We invite you to volunteer as an interviewer. Sign up by March 10!

This program offers graduating students an opportunity to polish their interviewing skills with your help! You don't have to be in the Boston area to participate as all mock interviews are virtual.

Students will be assigned a 45-minute mock session. A minimum of 1.5 hours is appreciated from each volunteer.
ALUMNI MENTORING PROGRAM
September 2021 to June 2022

The BCSSW Alumni Board invites you to sign up for the BCSSW Mentoring Program, which runs September 2021 to June 2022. The program offers recent (2016–2020) graduates an opportunity to learn from those with more professional experience (alumni who graduated in 2017 or earlier), while experienced graduates are able to share their valuable perspectives and stay connected to the University. Alumni pairs do not need to be located in the same place to participate.

What’s Expected
Mentors and mentees have a minimum of quarterly phone, teleconference, or e-mail communications; many pairs communicate informally through texts and e-mails in-between scheduled communications as needed. The BCSSW Mentoring Program coordinators supply a suggested agenda for the calls, but there is flexibility to use the time however the mentor and mentee choose.

In addition, the coordinators provide quarterly articles on timely topics such as mentoring relationship goals, leadership and teamwork, work-life balance, workplace challenges, and career goals. The coordinators are also available as a resource for mentors as questions arise.

For more information, please contact sswalumni@bc.edu.
ALUMNI BOARD
Interested in Joining the BCSSW Alumni Board?

Mission: To represent alumni and facilitate their continued commitment and involvement in the activities and direction of the School, the social work profession, and the social welfare field. All alumni are welcome to participate. The Alumni Board’s role is to facilitate the engagement of alumni with the School and act as a liaison between alumni and the School.

Organized by subcommittees, which include: Career Services, Field Education Admissions, Executive Board, Events & Communications, Continuing Education, Student Collective, and Mentoring.

Signature events include: November Networking Event, Winter Distinguished Alumni Award Celebration, and Spring Mock Interviews.

Alumni Board Term: 3 years

Alumni Board Meetings: Monthly, September to May, last Monday of the month from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

Contact Cindy Snell with any questions. Applications should be submitted by April 1, 2021 for consideration for the coming academic year.
STAY CONNECTED
EAGLE EXCHANGE

Boston College has recently launched Eagle Exchange, a new global online networking platform. Eagle Exchange facilitates career-related conversations between current students and alumni.

Through Eagle Exchange, members can:
  • Boost their professional network.
  • Fulfill the key role of a mentor to current student(s) or alumni who aspire to be where you are.
  • Gain valuable perspectives from the global BC community.
  • Ask career-related questions through industry specific groups and discussion forums.

Start making connections today at bc.edu/eagleexchange.
UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO

Submit the Update Your Contact Info Form from the Boston College Alumni Association or send your name and the information you would like updated to Boston College Information Services at infoserv@bc.edu.
FIND US ON LINKEDIN

BCSSW has a new home on LinkedIn! Visit our new School page for news or to connect as alumni. You can also join the BCSSW LinkedIn group to connect with each other, be a resource to job searchers, post a job opening, or pose a social work professional question.
QUICK LINKS