Social Work MSW Macro Spotlight: Emma Kelley

An interest in understanding systems, policies and structures drew Emma Kelley to macro social work.

After graduating from the KU Master of Social Work program in 2024 with a specialization in social work macro practice, Kelley started a job as a research project coordinator with the Urban Education Research Center at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, doing full-time research work and program evaluation.

Kelley earned a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies from Iowa State University, and has taught social-emotional learning in schools across the Kansas City metro.

"In all the areas that I found myself working, I was just interested in why they are the way they are, how they're implemented, how they're created, and how they're improved," Kelley said. "I wanted to dig deeper into the bigger picture."

Kelley shared why she chose to specialize in macro social work at KU, what she learned in the KU MSW program, and how her first MSW practicum placement helped her choose a career path.

Why did you choose social work?

When I decided that I wanted to go to graduate school, I was picking between a Ph.D. in human development and family studies, or getting a master's degree in social work. I know that I eventually want to get my PhD ... but I really wanted to explore working with people in the community before I decided to go into research.

Why did you choose a macro specialization?

I wanted to explore what it was like working with people every day. And although I really loved it and I think I'm good at working with people, sometimes just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to do it.

I found myself being interested in the systems and policies and structures behind social work programs and social welfare. In all the areas I found myself working in, I was interested in why they are the way they are, how they're implemented, how they're created, and how they're improved. I wanted to dig deeper into the bigger picture. That led me to more of the research perspective and the policy perspective, and that's how I found my niche.

What stood out about your social work education at KU?

I was living in Kansas City and I was able to do it at the Edwards Campus and still feel like I was getting the in-depth experience that I would have on a typical larger campus. I really enjoyed having those closer relationships with my professors and having those smaller class sizes.

I also liked that KU has a strong social justice perspective, and that you get to pick if you want to specialize in macro versus clinical. I really liked that I got to focus on one area. I still got the clinical side during the first year of the Traditional MSW program and then got to specialize later.

What did you do for your practicum and what did you learn from it?

My practicum was not out of my comfort zone, necessarily, but it wasn't in my interest area. It ended up being a blessing. 

I did my practicum at First Call Kansas City. They do recovery and prevention services for substance use, and it was just all around such a great experience. I actually ended up getting a full-time job there.

For my practicum, I was doing more recovery-focused work, so I was out in the community at public detox centers and recovery residential centers doing more on-the-ground work. I think that's what helped me get the perspective that I was leaning more toward macro social work. It helped me figure out what I wanted to do. 

It was a super impactful experience. It was kind of a happy accident, but it worked out well. I stayed there for the whole time that I was in school.