Master of Social Work

Jordan's Career Journey

Jordan C. Floyd (she/her) graduated in August 2018 and currently works at West Chester University in a full-circle role on the Clinical Case Management team at the Counseling Center as an Assistant Referral Specialist, where she helps connect students to off-campus mental health providers and provides support in other areas of student life. In her daily work, she conducts research, meets with and supports students, connects with mental health providers, and attends frequent meetings as part of her ongoing responsibilities. Her MSW education provided important foundational learning, particularly through the Mental Health: A Recovery Approach course, which shifted her perspective on mental health by emphasizing the importance of seeing individuals as whole people rather than focusing solely on diagnosis or memorizing the DSM-5. A particularly impactful class for her was Advanced Policy and Practice (now Specialized Social Work Practice with Communities), which deepened her understanding of how policy shapes the resources and services social workers are able to provide. She manages stress by intentionally leaving work at work and focusing on rest and enjoyment at home, often listening to true crime podcasts or audiobooks while watching shows or enjoying ice cream as a way to decompress. She encourages current students to stay grounded in their passion for helping others, reminding them that although graduate school is challenging, the ability to support vulnerable populations makes the effort worthwhile and meaningful. Reflecting on her experience, she shares that students do not need to have their career “niche” figured out during or immediately after graduate school, as her own path took time to develop before finding her place in higher education social work. One of her favorite memories from the MSW program is the strong friendships she formed, which she credits with helping her successfully navigate the program and which continue to be meaningful connections today.