Garnet
Nelson, MSW
UMBC
Social Work Alumni, ’03
Impacting
Lives
A
selfless heart and an unquenchable thirst to help
others are qualities necessary in an effective social
worker. A person with these attributes coupled with
the right tools and resources has the ability to
positively affect others in profound ways, and this
is exactly what Garnet Nelson, Director in the Homeless
Service Program at the Community Ministry of Montgomery
County, is doing. A graduate of UMBC’s Social Work
Program at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG),
Nelson has had the opportunity to pursue a career
in social work.
Transferring
from Montgomery College , Nelson found herself part
of the first charter class of UMBC’s undergraduate
Social Work Program at USG. She found her comfort
zone in the people with whom she worked and studied
alongside. “It didn’t take long for me to know that
this charter program, even though in its infantile
state, was the right place for me. There were many
uncertainties to overcome. However, because of the
family-like atmosphere and small group discussions,
it was so much easier to work together. As a group,
we experienced the tragedy of 911 together and the
horrific Montgomery County sniper shootings, which
really built camaraderie among our team.” There
was clearly a bond and a closeness among Nelson
and her classmates.
After
graduating from the UMBC’s BSW program, Nelson became
a shelter staff worker at the Community Ministry
of Montgomery County and began pursuing a master’s
degree. Upon completing her MSW, her supervisor
asked if she was interested in becoming full-time
as an addictions specialist where she would help
setup and run the drop-in center and day program.
She accepted and soon after earned the role of program
manager and volunteer coordinator. Currently, Nelson
is the program director for three different programs
and supervises over twenty staff members.
In
hiring her staff, the number one quality she looks
for is good work ethics (i.e. accountability, team
player, and ability to engage in healthy conflict).
Other important qualities are good health interpersonal
skills, work experience, and a good knowledge of
social service/mental health – a definite “must.”
In
addition to this position, she is a field instructor
for UMB. “I love this job, too, because I am able
to develop and coach people and share a lot of the
knowledge that UMBC has instilled in me. I try to
inform students that as social workers, they must
stand firm for what they believe in because they
have the power to make a difference. Sometimes this
means having to be the voice and strength for others.”
Perhaps
the greatest gift Nelson has taken away from UMBC
is the way in which it prepared her to give others
the tools they need to move forward and make something
truly remarkable of their lives.
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