Kelly Maycumber is a field education coordinator in the School of Social Work at Colorado State University. She began her new role in January and will focus primarily on placing undergraduate students into internships as part of the social work major. Learn more about why she came to CSU, and her interests in international social work, healthcare in human services, and HIV/AIDS.
1. What brought you to the School of Social Work at Colorado State University?
After I received my Masters in Social Work from CSU, I embarked on some career exploration, and in addition became a field liaison for the School of Social Work. Field liaisons serve as a bridge between the practice community and school, to ensure a valuable field learning experience for students.
I realized I was most passionate about fulfilling the needs of students. This self-knowledge served as the tipping point toward working with students on a more permanent basis and I love my new role in the School of Social Work! Awesome team, awesome students, awesome campus.
2. What are your research interests, and how did you get into that topic?
My interests are field education, international social work, healthcare in human services, and HIV/AIDS. I also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines and found this to be one of the most rewarding and challenging parts of my career so far.
While in the Philippines, I worked for a non-government unit and served on a HIV/AIDS committee that created and launched a mobile sexual education program for youth. When I returned home, I continued on a similar path through working as Health Insurance Program Manager for Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP). This ignited my interest in affordable and equitable healthcare for all.
At NCAP, I had the opportunity to work with CSU social work students in varying degrees. This led to my passion for field education and providing students with the support needed to create a truly meaningful internship experience.
3. What’s your philosophy for helping students?
My philosophy for assisting students is to meet them where they are, while empowering them to continually challenge themselves to grow and evolve into the best social worker they can be. I firmly believe everyone has their own unique strengths to guide them. My style of working with students infuses humor and a positive outlook, setting boundaries, and letting natural consequences guide the process.
4. What’s your favorite thing about campus so far?
My favorite thing is the people. I have very much enjoyed working with all the various folks who take care of, nurture, and strive to continue making this campus great!
The School of Social Work is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
