"The social work program at CBU is what lit the fire underneath me to improve access to care for marginalized populations and people without socioeconomic means."
Quick Facts
Programs: Master of Social Work
Graduation Year: 2022
Hometown: Desert Hot Springs, CA
Current City: Desert Hot Springs, CA
Current Job Title: Executive Director
Life at CBU
Why did you choose your major and graduate degree program? What interested you in
this particular field of study?
After obtaining my B.A. in psychology, I went on to receive a certification as a drug
and alcohol counselor. Working with people struggling with substance use disorder
opened my eyes to how much of an impact our environment has on us. Social work was
a natural transition for me as I was already interested in case management and improving
antiquated systems, so when I was looking for graduate programs I knew my heart would
be in social work.
What did you like about being in this program at CBU?
I had the benefit of being in the distance learning program and thoroughly enjoyed
being able to attend classes around my hectic work schedule, but also being able to
connect in real time on Friday nights was crucial. There was a balance between independent
learning and collective learning, without it I'm not sure I would have been able to
graduate. I loved the distance learning cohort and the in person residency when we
all got to be together in person was one of my favorite experiences.
What did you think about your professors?
My professors were real people and that is what I enjoyed the most. Dr. Mejico, Professor
Breitenbucher, Dr. Hays, Dr. Costello and Dr. Gaoena all had a huge hand in shaping
me as a social worker and for that I incredibly thankful. In my second year there
I was once again paired with professors who were supportive and could challenge me
but would do so with grace and compassion. I'm almost positive every single one of
them have seen me break down and cry from the weight of running a facility and trying
to earn my degree, I was always met with support and encouragement.
Did you complete an internship or any field work? What was your experience like?
I was able to complete my internship at my place of employment. This was another feature
of the program that enabled me to finish the program.
How did you grow (spiritually, socially, educationally) while in this program at CBU?
From the Marginalized Populations class, I learned to take a hard look at my own privilege
for the very first time in my life. That has allowed me to now focus more on areas
that were blind spots for me. Friday night supervision allowed me to process as a
student, which was a necessary break as I was a teacher in all other areas of my life.
Research forced me to face the fact that I am not perfect (lol), and that as an old
dog I can learn new tricks.
Did your program help you figure out your purpose?
The social work program at CBU is what lit the fire underneath me to improve access
to care for marginalized populations and people without socioeconomic means.
Life after CBU
What have you done since graduating?
I was given the opportunity to design and build an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment
center in Palm Springs. From logo to implementation, I built it through the eyes of
a social worker. My mission was to address the gap in access to care and to make sure
that people with less resources were given the opportunity to receive the same treatment
as people who could pay $30k (which is our rate) for a treatment episode. I included
modalities from different cultures and viewpoints in order to build the most inclusive
clinical program possible. From Refuge Recovery to Wellbriety, clients learn about
it all. We opened our doors in July of 2022, in December of 2022 we secured a contract
with Indian Health and in March of 2023 we began accepting Medi-Cal clients.
What are your current job duties?
I oversee all aspects of the business. My hand is in operations, compliance, clinical,
business development and the day-to-day operations. I do my best to be a servant leader
to my staff and take time to teach new skills whenever possible.
How has your program and time at CBU prepared you for your life and career after college?
I was blessed to be building the business at the same time I was taking the leadership
class. I was able to write a business plan based on what I learned in CBU classes.
How are you making a difference in the world? How are you living your purpose?
I was able to bring many different cultural components to the center. Wellbriety is
designed for the Indigenous population and Refuge Recovery introduces clients to an
alternative, more mindfulness approach to 12 steps. I began to work with Indian Health
Services to create a contract that would allow more Native Americans to access culturally
relevant care.
What are your future plans and goals?
I plan to get my license and open a private practice. I am trained in EMDR and am
a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, I will focus on trauma and its relation
to substance use disorder.
Would you recommend CBU to others?
I constantly recommend CBU to clinicians who are thinking about going to grad school.
My daughter just graduated from UCSD and I am encouraging her to attend CBU for grad
school.
Anything else you'd like to add? Anything else we should know about you?
For fun, I purchase and flip abandoned storage units. In January I started a Youtube
channel about it called Millennial Treasure Hunters. :)