Alumni
A degree in the field of social work can open doors in hospitals, fundraising, law, and so much more. Using their degrees, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work alumni have pursued all types of jobs. In 2024, the Pitt Social Work Alumni Speaker Series highlighted some of the nontraditional careers that social work graduates have pursued. Thank you to the following alumni who joined us to expand on their journey after graduation.
Katherine Marshall (MSW ’20)
Katherine Marshall kicked off the new series to speak about her experience as a travel social worker. Marshall graduated from Pitt Social Work in April 2020, became a licensed social worker later that year, and achieved her goal of becoming a licensed clinical social worker in 2023. She now travels the country, providing empathetic care to patients and families in hospital settings. In her talk, Marshall discussed her career and the process of getting licensure in different states and had a real conversation about money. She also talked about the importance of self-care.
“I have to regularly ask myself how I am adding joy and how I am upholding the values of social work and also upholding values in my own life,” she said. “Reflecting professionally, personally, what do you want things to look like and not being afraid of what that answer looks like even if it looks different for other people.”
Halle Mayes (BASW ’97)
After graduating from Pitt Social Work, Mayes moved to Washington, D.C., for what she thought would be a short-term detour on her way to obtaining her master’s degree. Today, she is a trusted top Democratic political fundraiser on Capitol Hill.
Mayes talked about the initial decision to start her business (HM Consulting), how her business has transformed over the years, and how her social work education resonates. “One of the cool things about having your own business, even though I’ve been doing the same thing for many years,” she said, is that “every client, every project, every day is a new experience and a new landscape of what’s happening.”
Michael Dubinski (MSW ’21)
After graduating from Pitt Social Work, Dubinski enrolled in Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he used his MSW experience to focus his legal education on public interest law through various clinics and internships. Drawing on his practicum experience at Allegheny Health Network, Dubinski landed a job as a guardian ad litem attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee at its Milwaukee County Children’s Court office.
“In the business world or a nonprofit setting, you’re going to have such a better understanding of people and ultimately how to be a more effective advocate if you have a social work education under your belt,” he said.
You can find recordings of our speaker series on our YouTube channel, @PittSocialWork. As we move forward, we will feature alums in traditional and nontraditional careers! Please email sswalums@pitt.edu if you’re interested in being a speaker.