Student Profiles
Arturo Martinez
School Social Work Specialization
Hometown: Cicero, Illinois
Arturo entered the program in the fall of 2006. As the first person in his immediate family to be in a masters program, Arturo is building a bridge for his siblings by helping them realize they too can further their education beyond high school and beyond an undergraduate degree. Before being accepted to the School of Social Work program, Arturo was working for an AmeriCorp program named Admission Possible in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Through Admission Possible, Arturo was able to work with high school students by providing resources and encouragement to under-represented individuals interested in going to college. Working with the students, faculty, and staff at North High School in Minneapolis fueled his passion for working with high school students in his professional career, and it was such a rewarding experience that influenced Arturo to want to be a social worker.
"Besides being one of the top social work programs in the nation, another reason why I chose UIUC was for the great financial opportunities. I was a recipient of a fellowship from the School, which has provided great assistance for me. The professors at UIUC have been amazing! Whether it's just a simple greeting or making sure that I am getting my work done, the School of Social Work faculty is great."
Sharrell Hibbler
Advocacy, Leadership, and Social Change Specialization
GSWA President
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
As a proud Chicagoan, Sharrell has always dreamed of attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She attended the U of I for her undergraduate degree in sociology, and then decided that social work was the best fit for her professional outlook. She is currently a first-year MSW student in the advocacy, leadership, and social change specialization, as well as the president of the Graduate Social Work Association. Her interests include research, community organizing, and social entrepreneurship and leadership.
"The reason why I chose to pursue a master's degree at the University of Illinois is because I liked the School's three-fold mission with an emphasis on research, teaching, and public engagement. Although there are several high-ranking universities with comparable social work programs, U of I is the best fit for me. The faculty are knowledgeable, accessible, and approachable."
Debra Cruickshank
Community Mental Health Specialization
Hometown: Peoria Heights, Illinois
Debra entered the MSW program in the summer of 2006 and belongs to that subgroup of the cohort whose undergraduate degrees were earned "back in the day" before this website or the Internet existed. She has always been a fan of Illinois orange and blue, having received a bachelor's degree in the teaching of English in 1987. Her interest in the field of social work grew from her experiences working with adolescents and living overseas for a few years, and she decided to make a career change. She has three more courses to take before entering practicum in May 2007.
"National ranking, largest university library collection in the world, on-campus or outreach program options, flexible class scheduling, block practicum placement, employment rate following graduation...why go anywhere else?"
Natalia Cukierman
Community Mental Health Specialization
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Natalia graduated from Purdue University in 2003 and entered Illinois' MSW program in 2005. Prior to entering the program, she was a case manager at an Outpatient facility in Lafayette, Indiana. Natalia worked primarily with adolescents who were involved in the criminal justice system. Toward the end of her time with the agency, she became involved in some case management at a local high school. Natalia worked with students, teachers, administrators, probation officers, and families to ensure that everyone involved had the services necessary to enhance their well-being and to succeed academically. While at the School, Natalia has worked as a graduate assistant in the Student Affairs Office by answering questions from prospective students about the School, the admission process, and the faculty. She began her field education (internship) in January of 2007 and expects to graduate in August 2007.
"The professors here are great. They get to know you as a person and they are understanding. This has definitely enhanced my educational experience here at the U of I. The courses offered at the School of Social Work are interesting; they have definitely given me a knowledge base and have prepared me for my field placement."
Jessica Voigts
Community Mental Health Specialization
Hometown: Chatham, Illinois
Jessica, originally from the Springfield area, graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology in 2004. After working for a year as an Aquatics Director and Swim Team Coach, she decided to return to school to pursue her MSW in the summer of 2006. Jessica volunteered at Teen Reach and ran a program for at-risk youth which sparked her passion for helping children and adolescents. She will begin her field placement in January 2008 and expects to graduate in August 2008
“The small class size and friendly professors and staff are what really stand out about our program. Everyone is so supportive and professional--I really feel like I am part of a team here. I have also found the courses to be very interesting and I feel like I am going to be well prepared to enter the field.”