MSW Student Spotlight: Madi Perkins

Getting involved in the community and advocacy were driving forces behind Madi Perkins getting into social work. Perkins, who graduated with her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare in May, also wants pace in her career choice. 

Roles in quick environments like medical and hospital social work were right up her alley, and the School of Social Welfare helped Perkins be in those spaces.

“There's a lot of calling other places, like health clinics and insurance companies. Calling all the places people are nervous to talk to, and helping navigate that,” Perkins said. “So that has worked really well for me.”

Perkins’ practicum in her final year in the MSW program was at University Health, a public hospital in Kansas City. At her practicum, Perkins shadowed the emergency department and networked with people from different backgrounds and diverse populations – this ranged from substance misuse and mental health to housing connections in the Kansas City area. 

“I love my practicum. My supervisors and the people I work with mesh very well,” Perkins said. “I never super fit into the therapy part of clinical stuff. I’m a fast-paced person, and it’s nice to be around people who are strength-based and solutions-focused.”

A core reason why social work and practicum worked out for Perkins is that she knew what kinds of roles were appealing and what weren’t. Perkins got her bachelor’s degree in psychology, but didn’t like the slower pace. And even a therapy job in social work might be too slow. 

Perkins knows her strengths. The KU School of Social Welfare allowed her to flex those strengths.

Video edited by Naomi Sui Pang.