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Undergraduate Student Leadership Program

Overview


The Undergraduate Student Leadership (USL) program is designed to build community between BSW students and facilitate the exchange of accurate and timely information.  Each BSW student in the program is assigned to a USL, a fellow student who has received training on leadership, communication, and information on the School of Social Work and BSW program. 
 

What do USLs do?

USLs serve as advocates and communication facilitators for BSW students, fielding questions about all of aspects of the undergraduate experience, including advising, field, registration, orientation, scholarships, deadlines, program policies, and more.  They are able to track down accurate answers to questions quickly by reaching out directly to program administrators and connecting students to services and resources.  Students who reach out to their USL with a question most often receive resolution to their presenting issue within minutes or hours of posing a question.
 

How do I contact my USL?

Your USL can be reached anytime via email or on Microsoft Teams.  Your USL will be reaching out to you every week to check in via email or Teams conference. If you are unsure of who your USL is or have not received a response to your inquiry within 24 hours, please email BSW Intern Caleb Crago (caleb.crago@mavs.uta.edu)

 

Undergraduate Student Leaders

Christopher Chambers

Christopher Chambers

Howdy, my name is Christopher Chambers. I am a BSW student in my junior year. My intention is to complete my BSW and my MSW here at UTA, even though, at the moment, I am undecided on which specialization I wish to pursue. My interest in social work came about during the six years I served in the U.S. Navy. I was very fortunate to get a glimpse into the world of clinical social work while I served, and I was very impressed by their dedication and care for their clients. I am enthusiastic about my future in the field and I look forward to assisting my fellow students on their journey at UTA.

Caleb Crago

Caleb Crago

My name is Caleb Crago and I am a senior here at UTA. I always knew I wanted to go into a helping profession, and it took me a while to realize that social work was actually the perfect fit. I plan to receive my MSW and MPP and go on to work in the legislative and policy side of social work. My passion is the creation of equitable policies that work towards the common good without further marginalizing individuals and people groups. I'm really looking forward to serving as a USL and helping my fellow social work students in any way that I can.

Angela Estrada

Angela Estrada

Hello! My name is Angela Estrada. I am a junior in the BSW program and plan to continue for my LMSW degree as an advanced standing student here at UTA. After I obtain my BSW degree I plan to work with children through CPS or an adoption agency and work my way up from there as I complete my LMSW. Since the age of 14 I have always worked with children and so far, have accomplished about 350+ volunteer hours in many fields. Social work has always been my passion since the age of 12 and look forward to working with the community and children in the near future. Aside from being a full-time student I am also a mom; I work part time for my husband’s company and enjoy spending time with my family and pets. I am super excited to be part of the social work program and part of the maverick community. This is my first semester in the USL program, and I look forward to working with my constituents...

Josabet Flores

Josabet Flores

My name is Josabet Flores! I am a freshman here at UTA. I plan to graduate with my BSW in spring of 2024 and continue in obtaining my MSW. My goal is to work in the Criminal Justice field of social work. More specifically, with the juvenile population. I have always had a passion in helping others. Therefore, I truly believe this program is a perfect fit for me. This is my first semester as a USL. I am super excited to join this program and assist the students around me achieve their goals! Go MAVS!!!

Toni Gallegos

Toni Gallegos

My name is Toni Gallegos and I am a Junior in the BSW program. It took me many trials and errors to get to becoming a Social Worker. I was blessed when I found my vocation in Social Work. This is my first semester as a USL, so I hope to learn along with all of you. After I complete my BSW I plan to go straight into my MSW and then the Ph.D. program at UTA. I hope to work with veterans, young adults, and pregnant women with a focus on mental health and trauma. I am very excited to be serving all of you!

Georgianna Goff

Georgianna Goff

My name is Georgianna Goff and I am a junior in the BSW program. I plan to graduate in Spring of 2021 and continue my education into The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Advanced Standing MSW program in Direct Practice. After obtaining my MSW I would like to work in a hospital primarily with children and their families. Aside from being a student, I work with the ages 2 through 18 as a dance instructor and strive to provide a place where my students can be themselves and have a community without the fear of bullying. I am excited to be your Undergraduate Student Leader and to assist my peers in achieving their academic and career goals throughout their time as BSW Students.

Schuyler Hopkins

Schuyler Hopkins

My Name is Schuyler (Skyler) Hopkins, this is my 1st semester as a leader in the USL Program. I am working on completing my Bachelors in Social Work by the summer of 2021, then hoping to move straight into the Master’s program. I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up in the social work world, but I think it will be related to dealing with Veterans of the Armed Forces. As a ten-year veteran of the United States Air Force, that served as a medic, I believe the VA would be a good fit. I am looking forward to serving my constituents this semester and representing the new USL program.

Christian Mason

Christian Mason

Hello! My name is Christian Mason. I am a junior from San Antonio, and this is my second semester at UTA. I transferred from Northwest Vista College in San Antonio before coming to UTA. If everything goes as planned, I will graduate in spring 2021 and then begin working on my MSW. My career goal is to work in refugee resettlement and to create mental health programs to assist former refugees.

Allyson Miles

Allyson Miles

Hello, my name is Allyson. I am a BSW student, and I should be graduating in Summer 2021. It took me a few tries before I finally found my calling, and I am happy that UTA allows me to pursue my degree in social work. I plan to continue and get an MSW degree immediately after graduating. Currently, I am a crisis counselor with a suicide hotline and run a peer support group online. I am a transfer student from UTEP, and I am interested in mental health and drug rehabilitation. When I am not working on schoolwork, the hotline, or the support group, I spend my time training my dog NOX (she is a German Shepard). She was born in November of 2019 and is currently in training to be a therapy dog. I hope she can one day join me in my journey to help and support people.

Connor Nickerson

Connor Nickerson

My name is Connor Nickerson (he/him/his) and I’m a transfer student entering my third semester at UTA. I started college as a criminology major but realized I’d rather tackle the justice system from a social work angle. After getting my BSW and MSW, I’m hoping to focus on victim and survivor services, as well as offender rehabilitation. I’m also very interested and drawn to environmental justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and policy reform. I’m excited to be a USL and am looking forward to working with other BSW students this summer!

Aide Ortiz

Aide Ortiz

Hello! My name is Aide (pronounced i-day) Ortiz and I am currently in my junior year of my undergraduate degree. I returned to finish my degree after an almost ten year hiatus! I was originally a business major, although through many lived experiences I was led to discover the amazing field of social work. I love everything about this field and what it stands for and I feel like I am exactly where I was always meant to be. I am excited to be an Undergraduate Student Leader this semester and look forward to assisting my peers in any way I can.

Jessica Phillips

Hello, my name is Jessica Phillips. I am currently a senior here at UTA, and I plan to pursue my master’s at UTA as well. I have always had a calling to help others, and after becoming a government certified hospice volunteer, I knew that working with the aging population was where I was meant to be. I am also the Secretary/Treasurer of the Gerontology Organization, and I am a full-time student, employee, and mother. I am excited to get the opportunity to help my fellow students stay informed and succeed here at UTA. Together we can do great things!

Natalie Rea

Natalie Rea

My name is Natalie Rea and I am a junior in the BSW program. I plan to graduate next summer 2021. After graduation I plan on continuing my education into UTA's MSW program. After I graduate with my masters, I plan on obtaining my clinical license to counsel clients with mental health issues. Apart from being a full-time student, I am a married mother of 3. In my free time I am usually at a sporting event for one of my 3 children, or at my church where I serve as a worship leader on our worship team. I am excited to be your Undergraduate Student Leader and help my peers through the BSW program.

Ashley Schmidt

Ashley Schmidt

Hello! My name is Ashley Schmidt, I am a transfer student from Tarrant County College where I earned an AAS in Horticulture. This is my second semester at The University of Texas at Arlington and my first semester to serve as an Undergraduate Student Leader. Once I earn a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), I plan to move into the Master of Social Work (MSW) program as an advanced standing student. The two MSW specializations I am most interested in are: Community and Administrative Practice and Direct Practice in Health. Alongside being a student, I also love gardening, spending time with my family, caring for our dogs, and camping with my husband, Alex. I am excited to finally be a Maverick and I look forward to serving my fellow social work students this semester! Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, so I may help you experience the best semester possible.

Katina Shuey

Katina Shuey

Hi, my name is Katina Shuey and I am in my second semester of working towards my BSW. I have a passion for helping others and I decided to return to college after 25 years (I received a BBA from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1994). I'm also planning to get MSW, but I'm undecided on where I want to practice. This is my first semester as an Undergraduate Student Leader and I'm honored to be working with other BSW students.

Eric Simmons

Eric Simmons

Hello, my name is Eric Simmons. This is my third year at UTA and my first semester serving as a USL. I am a military veteran with 13 years of service in the United States Air Force. My education goals are to complete BSW coursework in the Fall of 2021 and pursue an MSW with Advanced Standing. After completing the MSW program, I would like to work in a healthcare setting as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I’m excited about this opportunity to serve the UTA community, and I am looking forward to helping my peers in any way that I can.

Bailey Smith

Bailey Smith

My name is Bailey Smith, I am a Senior in the BSW program, and I am a first time Undergraduate Student Leader. I graduate Summer of 2021 and will begin in the graduate program in Fall 2021. After obtaining my MSW I would like to work as a social worker in a school setting working with children or I would like to work in a hospital setting working with children and families. I am an Instructional Paraprofessional that works with students that are in the special education program ranging from 1stgrade - 5th grade. I am very excited to be a USL and help my fellow peers anyway that I can!

Anna Tulloh

Anna Tulloh

Hi! My name is Anna Tulloh (Tuhluh). After earning a BS in Biology and spending 6 years in the environmental education field, I found my way back to school this summer. During that time, I started to see the impact that immersive science programs have on underprivileged children and their limited opportunity to interact with nature. I realized I wanted to do more and have a larger impact on these children’s lives, which led me to UTA’s Social Work program. My academic goals are to graduate with a BSW and a Certificate in Spanish for the Professions and then continue on to get my MSW in Community and Administrative Practice. I am currently interning with Big Brothers Big Sisters and hope to one day start a similar program with a focus on outdoor immersion and learning. I’m looking forward to diving deeper into the social work program and using my experience to help other students achieve...

Elisia Vargas

Elisia Vargas

Hello! My name is Elisia Vargas, but most people call me Elli. I am a 22 year old full-time student, worker, and wife. This is my first semester in the USL program, and my second semester at UTA. I plan to continue my education in social work all the way to a DSW or PhD. Until then, I want to work within the state prison systems to create effective rehabilitation programs to reduce incarceration rates and reduce the risk of incarceration for at-risk youths. Hopefully creating programs that are effective can lead me to opportunities and experience abroad.

Suri Zuniga

Suri Zuniga

Hello, my name is Suri Zuniga. I am currently a senior at UTA and plan on completing my MSW at UTA. Growing up I was not sure what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to help others. When I heard of social workers, I was truly amazed by all they do for people. As a DACA recipient, I know the importance of having someone guide you through a tough situation you know nothing about. Eventually, I would love to work with children in the immigration system and provide families with the resources to help make their situation easier. I am excited to be a USL and help others enjoy their time here at UTA!

Contact Us

Karen Magruder LCSW

Director of Undergraduate Programs
karen.magruder@uta.edu

James Langford, LCSW

Associate Professor in Practice
jimlangford@uta.edu

Caleb Crago

USL Intern
caleb.crago@mavs.uta.edu

Georgianna Goff

USL Intern
georgianna.goff@mavs.uta.edu