On the effect she hopes to have on students and CSUN...
I hope I have many more years ahead of me, but honestly, after my diagnosis, I realize that nothing is promised! Living and working with a brain tumor has forced me to live and work in the present, and makes my daily interactions much more meaningful. I see the major role of a social worker to be an agent of change and I want to be an agent of change for GOOD not evil. When it's all over, I want to look back at my career and see colleagues, students, clients and systems that have been positively impacted by my efforts. I want my questions, discourse, publications, research and alternative teaching and supervision methods to promote growth, critical thinking and competence in micro, mezzo and macro contexts.
On the most exciting trends in her field, and why we should care...
I would say that the focus on intersectionality is one that I am the most awed by. Twenty years ago we understood the value of diversity and the role of cultural competence in effective treatment, but the emphasis on diversity, power and privilege and their impact on social justice really adds complexity to how we understand clients and systems. Without this understanding, the world is very polarized; with it, we have awareness and respect for the nuances that shape our individual lenses. We should care about this because there are so many things happening in the world that make us feel obliged to "choose a side." As social workers, choosing sides based on media biased information, personal preference or fear is unprofessional and unethical. Having intersectionality based knowledge and critical thinking skills to examine and explore the nuances of each person's experiences promotes client engagement and anti-oppressive practice.