Tell us about your current role — what do you do, who do you serve, and what does a typical day look like?

I am a Workforce Development Manager for New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD). I am responsible for executing and coordinating the delivery of professional development programs for the CYFD workforce. I supervise a team of talented individuals who deliver high-impact training and coaching initiatives throughout the state to enhance the competency and wellbeing of frontline staff, supervisors, and managers. A typical day is a combination of supervision, interagency collaboration, project management, and responding to requests for assistance to meet the ever-evolving learning and development needs of the child welfare workforce. No day is the same, which is something I love about working at CYFD.

What have you been working on lately that you're proud of or excited about?

I am extremely proud of the internal coaching program we’ve built at CYFD that is anchored in developmental coaching, which means focusing on a person’s holistic development and wellbeing at work, not just the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to do their job effectively. Burnout and secondary trauma is an occupational hazard of child welfare work, and our staff need a psychologically safe space to process intense work experiences, reflect on areas for growth, and try on new ways of thinking and doing. Our coaching program is a transformational change and empowerment program thinly disguised as professional development. We are in the process of designing a robust evaluation to explore the impact of coaching on employee retention, among other outcomes.

How did your time in the NMSU Social Work program shape the practitioner you are today?

The program instilled in me the importance of reflective practice and helped me challenge assumptions I’ve made (or been conditioned to make) about why systems and institutions that govern every facet of our lives are the way they are. I was encouraged to complete practicums in both micro- and macro-level practice settings during my MSW based on my professional interests, which helped me connect the dots between direct service provision and broad social issues around equity, access, and representation.

What's one lesson from your career you wish you'd known as a student?

You are not going to do a good job helping your clients regulate if you are not regulated yourself, and for me, that means an intentional process of learning and unlearning coupled with therapy and supervision. I remember being taught the importance of self-regulation in social work school, but I don’t think I truly learned the lesson until I graduated and started my career.

Is there anything else you'd like fellow alumni or current students to know — about your work, your journey, or the field?

17 years ago I graduated from college in Washington, DC and started my career in the international development and global health field. 11 years ago, I moved to New Mexico to pursue master’s degrees in social work and public health. As a young person I knew a career in social work was for me, but I would have never anticipated working in child welfare and putting down roots in southern New Mexico. Students, don’t be afraid to take chances and follow your dreams! Fellow alumni, I’m grateful to be in service with you and look forward to opportunities to collaborate.