Alumni

Melissa Atterberry, MSW CADAC II

Melissa received her MSW from Indiana University School of Social Work. She is currently a Chemical Dependency Therapist at St. Francis Behavioral Health. Her job description: Conduct substance abuse assessments Make recommendations for treatment Facilitate groups for the chemical dependency Intensive Outpatient Program Facilitate individual and family therapy sessions Complete all necessary paperwork

Rose Butler, LSW, Program Graduate 1985, Masters in Counseling, 2002

Rose received her Masters in Counseling from Liberty University in 2002. She serves on our Advisory Board for the Phylis Lan Lin Program in Social Work. She also currently serves as Acting Director at Marion County Children's Guardian Home, an emergency shelter for children who are abused, neglected, or abandoned. Job description: Human resources (hire/fire/orientation/on-going staff training) Oversight of facility and Program Oversight and annual presentation of budget at public hearings Primary staff to interact with other child welfare agencies representing the Home Oversee all departments: Social Work, Health Center, food services, education, religious, maintenance, recreation, child care, volunteer and administration

Karen Copeland, LISW

Karen received her Masters in Social Service Administration from Case Western Reserve University. She is currently the Child Welfare Supervisor at Montgomery County Children Services in Dayton, OH. There, she supervises 5 on-going workers, intakes workers, and support workers who provide direct child welfare services to children and families who are dealing with child abuse and neglect issues.

Wendy Behnkendorf Galyen, BSW 2002, MSW 2003

Wendy Behnkendorf Galyen "Wendy at work in a classroom"

Wendy is currently working as a Home-School Advisor in the Speedway Schools (Allison & Newby Elementary Schools). She does individual and group counseling and also classroom guidance lessons. She is also currently seeing individuals and families for counseling at Interact Counseling Center in Danville, IN.

Jenny Garris, BSW 2004

Jenny Garris "Jenny is a Disabilities Coordinator at Tri-Cap Head Start"

Jenny is a Disabilities Coordinator at Tri-Cap Head Start. Jenny's job description: Develop and implement IEPs Consult with staff on the progress of disabilities services and the children Arrange and coordinate contractual and donated services of community agencies Provide staff training and development, including on-site consultation Be in the classrooms as needed to observe, record, and communicate with the teachers- 1 visit, 13 classrooms each week to observe Obtain diagnostic reports and confirmation of disability conditions by the appropriate professional and provide follow-up plan for assistance

Sarah Haggard, BSW 1999

Sarah Haggard "Sarah finds time to eat in class (1997)"

Sarah is currently a Supervisor at Adams County Healthy Families. She monitors caseloads of Family Support Specialists and provides clinical supervision. She recently obtained a Masters in Science in Management for IWU.

Sarah (Gettinger) Haldeman, BSW 2003

Sarah is now employed by Lutheran family Services. She enjoys working there very much.

Christie Jansing, BSW 1999, MSW 2004

Christie received the first Distinguished Alumni award in 2004. She is currently working at Adult and Child Mental Health Center. Her title there is Case Manager/ Clinician. She also serves on our Advisory Board for the Phylis Lan Lin Program in Social Work.

Kathy Leising, 1984 Program Graduate, MSW 1986

Kathy's Social Work Journey: Big Sisters of Central Indiana, 1986-1992 Caseworker for 3 years Casework Supervisor for 4 years Adult & Child Mental Health, School Outreach Therapist, 1992-present. Though she is currently employed directly by the school system, West Newton Elementary, her job has remained unchanged. She does individual, family and group therapy with children, consults with teachers, does peer mediation, parent education, and crisis intervention.

Sherry (Dobbs) Markel, 1995

Sherry Dobbs "Sherry in 2004. Doesn't look any older!"

"The good thing about the Social Work profession is that it is very flexible. I worked as a Program Director at the Boys and Girls Club of Franklin when we had our first son, I chose to stay home with him. While doing so, I have always found part-time positions, and have felt connected to both my profession and my family. I know that when I am ready and my family is ready, the field of Social Work will be ready to embrace me again, and that excites me. Being a social worker takes many of the same characteristics as being a mother. I like being both!" She is currently a mother/housewife and volunteers her time at the Children's Bureau (foster care program).

Emily Murray, BSW 2003

Emily Murray "Emily poses with her family at graduation ceremony in 2003"

After graduating, Emily was employed at St. Francis Transitional Care Unit, where she had completed her Senior Practicum. She left this position to travel the globe, and then enrolled in the advanced standing MSW program at Temple University. She graduated in May, 2005, and lives and works in California.

Kris Ruddle, BSW 1997

Kris received her Masters in Applied Sociology in 2005. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. She is currently the Match Support Team Leader at Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Indiana, where she coordinates services for traditional matches, supervises 7 employees, and provides trainings. However, she will soon be taking a position at Centene Corporation. She is also on several agency advisory boards and is a United Way Torch Bearer.

Kelly Thompson, BSW 2002, MSW 2004

Kelly Thompson (MSW picture, 2004)

Kelly received her MSW from The Indiana University School of Social Work in 2004. She is currently a Care Coordinator at the Damien Center in Indianapolis. The Damien Center offers intensive case management services for anyone infected with HIV. Her job description includes developing individualized care plans to address the needs of the clients.

Becca Tice, BSW 2001

Becca Tice "Becca with a group of U of I students during a Spring Break Service Project in Birmingham, Alabama. They were there doing clean-up from a tornado."

Becca was previously an Informational and Referral Coordinator at A Better Way, a domestic Violence Shelter, located in Muncie, IN. She is currently in Cincinnati and will be married on May 20, 2006.

Sonya Ware-Meguiar, MSW, ACSW

Sonya received her MSW from IUPUI in 1993. She continues to stay actively involved in the community. She is currently the Director of Community Outreach at Gateway Services in Franklin, IN, and has been there for the past 15 years. Her job description: Administration and programmatic supervision of children's services Marketing, public relations, grant writing and fundraising for the agency Staff development and training agency wide Community outreach and involvement

Marylynne Winslow, BSW 1999

Marylynne is currently the Assistant Director of Admission at the University of Indianapolis. There she does student employee training and supervision and counsels students through the application and financial aid process. She also does event planning and implementation. She continues to work part time at the Red Cross where she receives calls from disaster victims, dispatches volunteers and counsels and calms the victims until the volunteers arrive. She also receives calls from military member or their families and processes necessary paperwork for official communication for emergency leave. She spent 10 days working with Katrina victims in Louisiana. (Featured in article in Winter 2006 edition of the Portico).

View more pictures in the Alumni Photo Album