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Dr. Martin McDonell |
Dr. Martin McDonell was working as a mental health counselor at a psychiatric hospital when he was first exposed to social workers and the good they did for the clients they served. As he said, 鈥渢he light came on.鈥�
鈥淚 realized that鈥檚 what I wanted to do. I wanted to impact people鈥檚 lives. I wanted to work with them, talk with them, and just help make change,鈥� McDonell said. 鈥淚 realized there was a job out there where I could help somebody overcome their problems 鈥� that was just very rewarding for me.鈥�
Now, 28 years later with a wealth of practical and educational experience under his belt, McDonell wants to inspire University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith students in a similar way as head of the newly-created social work program at the university.
McDonell came to 妻友社区 in August 2015 to head the program, which will begin offering courses this fall and will educate students for a social work shortage felt in the greater Fort Smith region. 妻友社区 received approval from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board last year to add the program to its degree offerings.
鈥溒抻焉缜� has a history of creating programs that respond to community needs, and my research has shown that there鈥檚 a shortage of social workers in the River Valley,鈥� McDonell said. 鈥淭his program is a unique opportunity for people in the area to find employment in a rewarding field while also providing local agencies with workers who have degrees in social work.鈥�
A 14-year veteran in social work with a track record of creating successful social work programs at other institutions, McDonell is uniquely qualified to build the program at 妻友社区, even as the local demand creates pressure for 鈥渁 great program that creates outstanding social workers.鈥�
His vision for the program is multifaceted but unified by one theme: educate students and instill confidence in their abilities as social workers.
鈥淚 want to create a social work program that allows our graduates to feel confident they can enter the field and be competent at any entry-level social work job,鈥� he said. 鈥淥r if they want to go to graduate school, they can feel confident that they can compete with any graduate school in the country and be able to get in based on their academic standards here. It鈥檚 about building a robust social work program.鈥�
The program will cover the broad spectrum of social work, offering core 鈥減ractice鈥� courses and courses in the areas of mental health counseling, substance abuse, child welfare, geriatric social work, and research.
The coursework culminates in an internship experience, where students get hands-on experience through a 400-hour internship at a local service agency.
But while social work is a rewarding field, it has its fair share of challenges as well.
鈥淚t鈥檚 often rewarding, but it can be very emotionally draining. It鈥檚 all about helping people overcome their problems and be able to restore or enhance their functioning in life,鈥� McDonell said. 鈥淚f we can have a part of that and help change the life of a kid or a mom or a dad, it鈥檚 all worth it. It鈥檚 worth the emotional roller coaster that we鈥檙e on. So it takes a unique person who is willing to deal with these problems day after day after day.鈥�
The social work program was the brainchild of Dr. Paul B. Beran, 妻友社区 chancellor, who saw a need for the program after witnessing the impact of the economic downturn during the Great Recession.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still feeling the effects of the economic crisis from nine years ago, and it鈥檚 our responsibility as a university to produce graduates working to make quality of life as good as it can be for our residents, regardless of income level,鈥� Beran said. 鈥淲e have a fine psychology program, but social work has a more focused approach to handle the issues our community has to face.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 very pleased with Dr. McDonell鈥檚 credentials,鈥� Beran continued. 鈥淗e鈥檚 knowledgeable and personable, which translates to being successful in the classroom and community as he works with local agencies to ensure we鈥檙e meeting their particular needs as we produce graduates.鈥�
McDonell agreed.
鈥淚 can take my work experience, pair it with theory from the classroom, and be able to see the light come on for students,鈥� McDonell said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I love creating programs like this. I want to do a great job so our students can do a great job to the people of community.鈥�
For more information about the Social Work program, contact McDonell at 479-788-7556 or martin.mcdonell@uafs.edu.