Serena Rose Gaskin

I am currently a full-time Masters in Social Services (M.S.S.) Candidate at Bryn Mawr’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. My degree is concentrated in clinical practice, however I plan to apply my clinical experience to policy reform and administrative work. Getting my bachelors in psychology, my passion for this field remains, and I plan to incorporate my love of child psychological development into my practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I am a Junior Fellow for Bryn Mawr’s Center for Child and Family Well-being, and I plan to serve families and young children (primarily infants and toddlers), focusing on removing barriers and providing resources to families to ensure quality care for all parties involved is attainable. In addition to my studies, I am currently the School Social Work Intern at The Miquon School, and work part-time as the Graduate Assistant for the Leadership Learning Laboratory at Bryn Mawr’s Career and Civic Engagement Center.

Some of the most influential experiences at Ursinus that impacted my career path were the Bonner Program, participating in research, campus jobs, and relationships with faculty and administration. Being a Bonner Leader for my 4 years at UC afforded me opportunities to give back to my community – both at UC and in local neighborhoods. I was able to discover that I enjoy giving back in direct and task-focused ways, through engaging in different service programs, such as On the Same Page (OSP) Reads Book Club, Henrys Got Crops, ESL Tutoring, Barnstone Art Thearpy for Kids, and Wismer on Wheels. Bonner also taught me the value of social justice, and I use this approach in the work I currently do. My research experiences in the psychology department at Ursinus allowed me to focus on the areas of psychology I am interested in. Having research experience has also proven valuable in my pursuit of a graduate degree in social work. My position as a student worker in the Office of Student Financial Services and the Business Office revealed my appreciation for and enjoyment in doing administrative work. My role as a Senior Teaching and Learning Institute (TLI) Consultant cultivated my skills in direct communication and collaboration with an appreciation for curriculum in higher education. Throughout my time at Ursinus, the relationships I developed with countless faculty and administrative staff taught me the value of not just enjoying what you do, but who you do it with, as these individuals provided me with advice and wisdom that has positively influenced who I am today. All of these experiences and people have led to me pursuing a Masters in Social Services at Bryn Mawr’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. I chose a small graduate program because of the impactful experience I had at my small liberal arts undergraduate school and am pursuing a career that aligns with a social justice initiative.