Student Spotlight: Carl Willey

Carl Willey didn’t always know what social work was, but he started practicing its core element of helping others at a young age. 

Willey, a Master of Social Work student at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, was taught to treat others with kindness and to look out for people in need. He grew up in a small town in Parsons, Kansas, and wasn’t sure what his professional path was as an early adult. 

Willey joined the U.S. Army at 26 as a petroleum specialist and served from 1996 to 1999. Throughout his time stationed at army bases in Texas, Virginia and South Carolina, Willey met a variety of people from different backgrounds.

From his hometown in Parsons to his companions in the Army, Willey felt many people were underserved of their needs. 

“There were a lot of people I felt like that could use services in the military, because there are a lot of people in the military that had families and can use help,” Willey said. “I think that probably did help push me toward social work, because I've always liked to help people, and even though that wasn't my job there.”

After serving in the military, Willey got a general studies degree with an emphasis in psychology from Pittsburg State University and worked in foster care for nearly a decade. He specialized in working with young children with developmental delays, but also worked in group homes and as a paraprofessional in schools. 

“I really want to do stuff where I can help as many people as I can,” said Willey, who was a resource worker and family support worker at TFI Family Services for over 10 years. 

Willey has since worked at Parsons State Hospital in various roles, including his practicum as a social worker. In his practicum, Willey is helping individuals with intellectual disabilities. Much of his inspiration to help people came from his upbringing, where he witnessed peers become addicted to drugs and never get proper help. 

“I just always thought, ‘Man, if I could be a therapist and go back and work with kids, I think it'd be great’,” Willey said. “I just want to help.”

Willey is enjoying learning about diagnosis and substance misuse issues in his current classes in the MSW program. After all, Willey’s inspiration for getting an MSW comes down to something core to his values: Helping as many people as possible.