Katie Haberman, the recipient of our “Study Abroad Scholarship” for 2019, feels that it is her duty to prepare her leadership to uphold human rights, engage in advocacy, and act alongside vulnerable populations. She wishes to hone her skills in advocacy, partnership building, critical inquiry, innovative problem solving, and therapeutic support. These are skills she hopes to sharpen with her acquisition of a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Social Work. The Study Abroad Scholarship is helping to finance her second year field placement on the border in Tucson, Arizona where she plans on engaging in advocacy for asylum seekers.
What draws Katie to the field of social work is a commitment to social justice and social change. Social work upholds the values that are most important to her in an education: social change, cultural competency, and evidence-based practice. The field of social work has the ability to move the societal needle towards more empathy, cultural proficiency, and collaborative solutions. Katie’s respect for social work education is grounded in its breadth and depth, and in its ability to train professionals in leadership on the micro, community, and macro scales. In doing so, the field of social work exemplifies the interconnection and complexity of social issues, and the creativity and innovation needed for solutions. Additionally, she aspires to be a leader and change agent in the field of social work. In this role, Katie will join efforts to further incorporate social justice, empowerment, and intercultural dialogue and collaboration in the field.
