“Social work is something that’s always been in the back of my mind,” David says. “I’ve always been interested in doing work in the social services area. Also, I’m originally from Chicago, so I knew Loyola and liked the idea of attending a Jesuit school.”

 David completed his MSW in 2006 while working full-time as a financial planner. He then enrolled in Loyola’s PhD social work program. David drove down from Milwaukee to Chicago every weekend to complete classes at Loyola.

 “Loyola offers an excellent program. The academic challenges are what really drew me in and obviously made quite an impression on me, since I put up with that commute,” he explains. “Loyola faculty members realize that most of their students are working professionals, and my professors have always been very flexible and understanding.”

As part of his PhD studies, David completed two field placements: one at Rogers Memorial Hospital and another at Columbia St. Mary’s, both in Milwaukee. He also attended a two-week study abroad program in Beijing, China last summer. During his overseas experience, David completed a special topics course titled Global Social Welfare Issues and Social Work Responses. He and his classmates also traveled to many different social services sites, attended presentations on Chinese social issues and culture, and explored one of the world’s most fascinating cities.

David’s trip to Beijing was one of the highlights of his Loyola experience thus far.

 “It was wonderful to meet so many social work professionals in China and learn how the field is developing in another part of the world,” he says. “I’d recommend the study abroad option to anyone. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a first-hand look at a culture you probably won’t otherwise get to experience.”

 David is currently working on his dissertation, which he expects to finish in 2010. Completing a doctoral program in social work will allow David to develop higher levels of expertise in his current field of practice, which focuses on the treatment of eating disorders. David also teaches part-time at several colleges and universities, including courses in Loyola’s MSW cohort program. His ultimate career goal is to earn a full-time faculty appointment upon completion of his degree.

 Now in his early 60′s, David has no plans to slow down anytime soon. He’s enjoying every aspect of his new career and the many opportunities at his disposal. According to David, attending Loyola is what made his dream of building a career in social work a reality.

 “It’s a wonderful school, but in addition to that, the mission of Loyola is so aligned with my personal values and the values of social work,” David explains. “I didn’t give much thought to that initially, but as I continue to spend more time at the University, it becomes even more apparent to me.”

A mere two years later, in January 2010, Boyle successfully sponsored and launched Loyola’s first certificate program in substance abuse, The Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (IAODAPCA) Advanced Accredited Training Program (AATP).

“This program prepares graduate-level social workers and other health and mental health professionals for clinical practice serving people with alcohol and other drug disorders,” Boyle explains. “It’s different from existing training programs because it takes on a clinical social work perspective, employing an ecological person-in-environment approach.”

Alcohol and other drug disorders cause or worsen problems for nearly twenty percent of social work consumers. According to The National Association of Social Workers, the involvement of social workers in treating substance abuse points to the need across the field for more comprehensive training in substance abuse prevention and treatment. Thanks to Boyle’s AATP, students can apply to take the CADC exam upon completion of the program.

“Because most social workers receive limited training in identifying and treating alcohol and other drug problems, having an accredited training program is not only an advantage to the students, but is vital for improving the clinical treatment of clients,” she points out.

Boyle is thrilled to add the new AATP to Loyola’s growing School of Social Work and to her own list of credentials, which includes previous work in direct clinical practice, clinical supervision, agency administration, advocacy, and research and education. Re-Application Form 2010

“The purpose of my research is to explore the strengths of a client population, rather than just pinpoint the deficits or disadvantages of that group,” Deanna explains. “I wanted to stay at Loyola because this type of clinical research is encouraged, and without the opportunity I’m given here to serve, the youth I work with would otherwise not receive any treatment at all. For me, that’s just not an option.”

When she is not working on her own dissertation, Deanna teaches social work courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, advises undergraduate social work students interested in Loyola’s five-year BSW/MSW program, supervises current master’s students clinical work, and is the editor-in-chief of Praxis, one of the only student published journals of social work in the nation.

Her longstanding efforts at Loyola earned Deanna the Schmitt Foundation Scholarship for Research in 2010, and she will complete her PhD with the support of this scholarship in 2011.

“Loyola’s service-learning methodology and the counseling I’ve been able to provide to real people as a result is the only way I could become the person I came here to be–a person for others,” Deanna admits. “Make an impact and see the change. That’s the focus of the Schmitt [Foundation] and that’s what Loyola has enabled me to do.”