Incoming social work students say curriculum at ASU in Tucson is preparing them to effect local change

Sharday Bennett-Rau, Austin Bonasia, Cheyanne Sorg and Lov’e Sturm are among an incoming class of social work students who began in-person studies this fall at Arizona State University without leaving their home base of Tucson.

ASU has been offering social work courses in Arizona’s second-largest city for 52 years.

So far in 2024, 76 graduates have earned degrees at ASU’s Tucson location. The university provides most of the social work workforce in Tucson and southern Arizona, said ASU Assistant Teaching Professor Heather Voelkel, the School of Social Work’s Tucson program coordinator.

This fall, the new class of social work students in Tucson totals 60 immersion students, 47 of whom are seeking a Master of Social Work and 13 who are pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work, according to ASU statistics. One-third are first-generation college students.

Fifty-three of the students are Arizona residents, six are nonresidents and one is an international student. Forty-seven are female, and 13 are male. Fourteen identify as belonging to an underrepresented minority group.

And while their average ages of 30 and 32 for BSW and MSW students, respectively, trend slightly older than their counterparts studying social work at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix and West Valley campuses, they share the same passion for serving others.

After her sister died from an accidental fentanyl overdose five years ago, Bennett-Rau, who is from Tucson, decided to enter the field.

“My sister's overdose placed a passion in my heart to create ways for change and a better system to help those struggling in vulnerable communities who do not have the strength to help themselves,” said Bennett-Rau, who is pursuing an MSW.

Bonasia, another MSW student, said the challenges facing men motivated him to enter social work because he has a “deep desire to empower men and challenge societal stigmas surrounding emotional expression.”

Sturm, also an MSW student, said she chose to pursue her master’s degree at ASU in Tucson because of the university’s strong commitment to community engagement and social justice, “which aligns perfectly with my values.”

Sorg, who is starting her BSW program, said she is studying social work because she wants to give back to her community in ways others have given to her.

“My initial vision has been to do this through providing individual therapy and counseling, and social work is a great program of study for that career path,” Sorg said.

Despite ASU's presence in the Old Pueblo spanning more than five decades, many people are likely unaware that ASU is the only public university in the Tucson area that offers an in-person social work degree program, Voelkel said.

Since first offering extension courses in Tucson in 1972, the university has readied thousands of graduates in the area to earn their bachelor's and master's degrees in social work, according to ASU statistics.

Each year, students log more than 90,000 annual service hours to the community through real-world experiences at more than 250 social service agencies and similar outlets in southern Arizona.

The number of incoming graduate students starting their studies with advanced standing increased in fall 2024, Voelkel said. Such students must have earned a BSW with a high grade-point average that qualified them to be able to complete their master’s program in one year instead of the standard two.

Bennett-Rau entered with advanced standing after earning her bachelor's degree at ASU in Tucson in May 2024.

She said the ASU graduate program allows her to grow in the profession and effect change in today’s world beyond what is gained from a bachelor’s degree alone.

“The master's program for social work gives you more room to help make that change you want to create,” she said. “ASU has an excellent MSW program, and I am grateful to be a part of it.”

Bonasia, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, in May 2020, said he has seen how stigmas can limit men’s ability to fully express themselves, which can lead to isolation and mental health struggles.

“By working with men, I aim to foster a culture where vulnerability is seen as strength, helping them to embrace and communicate their emotions openly, ultimately leading to healthier, more fulfilling lives,” he said.

Bonasia, from Needham, Massachusetts, said he has developed a deep connection to Tucson in the four years he has lived there.

“Choosing to pursue my graduate degree in social work at ASU’s Tucson location felt like a natural next step,” he said. “ASU’s reputation as an outstanding school for social work, combined with my love for Tucson, made it the perfect place to advance my education and continue serving the community I’ve grown to cherish.”

Sturm, whose BSW is from Northern Arizona University, said entering ASU’s program in Tucson with advanced standing allowed her to build on her previous experience and education and hasten her journey to become a licensed clinical social worker.

“The Tucson location also offers a unique opportunity to work closely with diverse populations, which is essential for my growth as a social worker,” said Sturm, who was employed in the field in Tucson before starting her MSW program.

Tucson is Sorg’s hometown. She said that having grown up in (University of Arizona) “Wildcat country,” she never thought she would want to be a Sun Devil, but that changed after she reviewed ASU’s social work curriculum.

“Once I looked into its social work programs, I found that ASU has a nationally recognized program, and that there was a campus right here in Tucson,” Sorg said. ”The program reputation and campus location made ASU an easy decision for me.”

Bonasia’s post-graduation plans include helping people who struggle with alcoholism and addiction.

“Eventually, I aspire to open my own private practice or a sober-living program, where I can create a supportive environment tailored to the unique needs of those on their journey to sobriety and long-term recovery,” he said.

Bennett-Rau said that, after graduating, she hopes to work in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or earn a commission in the armed services to help military personnel.

Sturm said after graduation she’d like to help people navigate the dying process “with dignity and as much control as possible.”

Once Sorg earns her BSW, she wants to continue on toward an MSW, which fortunately also can be earned at ASU in Tucson, she said.

“Once I am in the professional field of social work, I would like to either work as a therapist or work in a government office, helping to create and change social policies,” Sorg said. “That's one great thing about a degree in social work: There are many different areas it opens the door to.”