Practicum Spotlight: Taylor Jones

Taylor Jones’ inspiration to join the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program came from her eagerness to help and connect with people. She used to visit the domestic violence prevention center on KU’s campus and wanted to get involved in assisting others.

Through her work with the center, Jones met influential Social Welfare faculty and staff, including doctoral student Jennifer Ananda, assistant professor Juliana Carlson and KU faculty and staff members like Cassy Ainsworth, Caleb Stephens, and Audrey Cress. Jones' relationships helped guide her to pursue her MSW at KU, and would lead to unique opportunities. 

Jones, who is now a prevention educator at the KU Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center, already knew what it was like to advocate for herself and others from her time as a professional dancer, she said. 

“To be candid, I think dancers and cheerleaders find themselves in this struggle and fight for visibility,” Jones said. “A lot to be seen as a sport, even with a lot of institutions on the college level, a lot of them are still just seen as activities.” 

Jones’ experience as a professional dancer and former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader led her to an unlikely practicum education experience – one with Sporting Kansas City. 

This was a practicum placement Jones advocated for, and the School of Social Welfare supported. 

“Prior to this, I don't think anybody had done a practicum with Sporting (KC) and I don't know how many practicums total have been done in the sporting world,” Jones said. 

Jones focused on the macro side of social work with Sporting Kansas City. She worked with mental performance coach Becky Wiseman and looked into how Major League Soccer (MLS) and Sporting’s mental performance staff made a difference. 

Not every MLS team has the same approach to mental performance staffing, and part of Jones’ practicum was to analyze that. 

She came away with a unique experience, along with validation she already knew. 

“I think we know by now in the School of Social Welfare that social workers are pretty much needed everywhere,” Jones said. "Anything that you can think of, or any space that you can think of, you're probably needed there.”