In honor of National Social Work month, we’re shining a spotlight on social work major, Gemma DeVincent. Although she’s technically a 2nd year student at The University of Akron Wayne College, Gemma will graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a minor in addiction services. She participated in the College Credit Plus program at Orrville High School, which gave her a substantial head start toward early graduation. Gemma noted UA Wayne’s proximity to her home, the opportunity to obtain a four-year degree in social work, the “excellent” financial aid and scholarships offered and the ability to take classes that fit her schedule as influential in her decision to attend Wayne College.
Gemma said her decision to pursue her bachelor's degree in social work was because she was drawn to the values of social justice and advocacy that are integral to the field. “I wanted a career that focused on clinical practices such as counseling and diagnosing mental health conditions, and the more I learned about the program, the more I wanted to pursue it. As I continued my education in this degree program, I realized that social work was truly my calling.”
Gemma has nothing but appreciation and love for UA Wayne College. “The campus feels familiar and comfortable, almost like a second home to me! I'm grateful for the student employment opportunities available at Wayne College, especially in the Smucker Learning Center, where I have been working as a student assistant for nearly two years. I have discovered scholarships that have helped me reach my goals, and the connections I have made with staff and professors have played a crucial role in my success.”
In addition, Gemma said UA Wayne has equipped her for future success because of its “amazing and supportive staff and its outstanding social work program.” She summed up what UA Wayne means to her by saying, “I never realized how instrumental Wayne College would be in my success. Without UA Wayne, I wouldn't have learned about great scholarship opportunities, secured an internship as a victim advocate at OneEighty, or discovered my passion for social work.”
Gemma plans to pursue her master's degree in social work after graduating from UA Wayne while working full-time at OneEighty. She seeks to gain admission to the advanced standing program so she can earn her MSW in 11 months. Her future goals are to obtain her LSW and CDCA (Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant) certification to support her career and practice clinical social work, and become certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy) to better assist her patients.
To learn more about UA Wayne’s social work degree program, visit our bachelor’s degree webpage or at UA’s website: https://www.uakron.edu/socialwork/basw/.
