For Lindsay Bingaman, an outstanding graduate from the School of Social Work at Colorado State University, earning a Master of Social Work was the best step to build upon her eight-year career in international aid work.
In 2022, Bingaman accepted a humanitarian assignment in Ukraine, where she assisted refugees and those fleeing the war. Now back in Kenya, Bingaman is continuing her work on women’s equity causes, including trying to end female genital mutilation, promoting girls’ education and challenging negative gender norms. Bingaman chose to pursue her MSW to gain clinical and systems-oriented skills.
“My desire is to maintain my work with populations who have been made vulnerable, and acquire clinical skills to support individuals, families, and groups effectively,” Bingaman said. “An MSW program aligns perfectly with these aspirations, equipping me to comprehend the intricate dynamics within which individuals exist and to consider the broader system around them.”
Bingaman is considering moving to Colorado after falling in love with the Rocky Mountains, and has family and friends in the state, bolstering her decision to choose CSU to pursue an MSW program.
Bingaman said CSU’s hybrid MSW program fit her unique circumstances well. “The program’s flexibility allowed me to remain in Kenya with my partner and our cats for the time being, continue my work in international development and humanitarian contexts, and at the same time, be connected to an inspiring community of social workers virtually and during in-person gatherings once or twice a year,” she said.
Pipeline to accomplishment
One of the biggest struggles Bingaman had faced earlier on in her graduate studies was during the initial months of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 2022 and 2023, where she took on a humanitarian assignment in Ukraine.
Working as a mental health and psychosocial support and protection advisor (MHPSS) for HelpAge International would mean missing a mandatory in-person session at CSU due to travel restrictions at the time.
“This career opportunity was too important to turn down, despite the challenges it posed,” Bingaman said. “While I was disappointed not to graduate with my Boulder cohort in December as planned, this situation allowed me to connect with the Fort Collins cohort, effectively doubling my professional network and opportunities for collaboration.”
Another significant challenge in Bingaman’s career was the time and distance differences in taking a hybrid course while being based in Kenya. For Bingaman, both classmates and professors helped make a positive experience for her in the MSW program, especially with those challenges.
Bingaman mentioned that her classmates were “incredibly understanding and accommodating” during her time in the program, including one colleague who had offered to let Bingaman stay in her home in Fort Collins during an in-person period.
Several professors also impacted Bingaman, including Mindy Van Kalsbeek, the associate director of distance MSW programs, and Instructor Jodie Ball, who helped Bingaman learn the skills she needed to succeed.
Van Kalsbeek’s theory class helped her form a strong foundation for comprehending social work practice, while Ball’s trauma-informed class gave her knowledge about the nervous system and the psychological aspects of mental health and trauma work.
Bingaman also received incredible support from Carolyn Treddinick, the MSW field education coordinator, during her fieldwork, especially with conducting internships overseas.
“She was always available to hop on a call, answer questions, or brainstorm ideas with me, which was immensely valuable. It’s heartening to think that the connections and friendships fostered during the program seem to endure beyond graduation,” Bingaman said.
Learning and success abroad
Bingaman’s desire to maintain her work with populations who have been made vulnerable, having the clinical skills to help them, and a versatile degree, led to her eventual choice of CSU’s MSW Program.
She also admires the holistic and systematic approaches used by social workers, alongside utilizing anti-oppressive, culturally adapted, and trauma-informed methods, which hold importance to her professional work and personal beliefs.
Bingaman was also able to engage in various field work placements thanks to CSU’s MSW program.
During her time as an MHPSS and Protection Advisor in Ukraine, Bingaman focused on assisting refugees as well as the internally displaced.
“A significant aspect of this role involved conducting extensive training sessions for local staff, strengthening their capacity with skills in providing psychosocial support, psychological first aid, effective case management, and self-care techniques to prevent burnout or vicarious trauma,” Bingaman said.
Alongside her work in Ukraine, Bingaman was also able to engage in field work at home, aiding in efforts to end female genital mutilation in Kenya. In this work, she promoted girls’ education and challenged negative gender norms to improve women’s livelihoods.
Bingaman also helped aid refugees escaping from Afghanistan during the Taliban occupation, supporting efforts in helping them seek asylum in other countries.
Leveraging accomplishments abroad, Bingaman also found personal success in being able to acquire an MSW, especially with navigating a career shift into social work from international development.
“Transitioning into a new career path in your mid-30s can be quite challenging,” Bingaman said. “However, I realized the importance of embracing a beginner’s mindset and leveraging the opportunity to learn from my peers rather than feeling inadequate or comparing myself to them.”
Pushing forward, looking back
After graduation, Bingaman’s future goals are to pursue certification as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Bingaman is deliberating on either staying in Kenya or moving to Colorado with her partner. Her dream is to “split my time somehow between Kenya and Colorado and clinical and humanitarian work.”
Bingaman also looked back at her time at CSU fondly.
“I really enjoy being in a learning environment, so I will definitely miss that aspect,” Bingaman said. “I’ll also miss the community. It was lovely to have a group of like-minded peers to consult, commiserate with, and seek and share advice.”
The School of Social Work is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
