Our alumni successfully pursue social work and nonprofit management careers in a variety of traditional and non-traditional fields. Learn more from some of our incredible alums below on all that they've accomplished since graduating from the Mandel School!
Jeff Zabinski (MSW/MA (bioethics) 2011)
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, NY
How did the Mandel School prepare you for your career and current role?
After graduating with my MSW/MA, I went to medical school, completed residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry, and now I'm on faculty at Columbia University. My time at the Mandel School was formative—an opportunity for safe self-reflection, and a place where I could develop as a communicator, advocate and leader. I continue to develop collaboration between psychiatry and social work, including in my current academic work and clinical care.
How has your degree prepared you to have impact?
The full scope of social work practice is often underappreciated or misunderstood in the medical setting. As a psychiatrist who has an MSW background, not only do I have a better understanding of what a social worker is capable of, I'm now in the position to help empower and lift up others around me. Together with a current MSW student at the Mandel School, we wrote an article arguing for the development of an MD/MSW program, which has been accepted for publication in a social work journal. My hope is that we can continue the dialogue at the intersection of medicine and social work to continue to develop an even greater impact in the future!
Describe a career highlight or accomplishment.
One of my recent career highlights has been working with the current Mandel School student I mentioned above to write a paper called "MD/MSW: A Call for a New Dual-Degree Program," which has been accepted for publication. Though there are not many of us who have both and MD and MSW, I think it's critical that social workers and physicians better understand one another—our voices have so much more impact together!
Why did you choose the Mandel School?
The Mandel School has an exceptional degree program where you learn from world-class leaders in social work in a diverse community of kind, supportive classmates—all within the city of Cleveland, where there is so much good work happening. There is no better place to train!
Bethany Friel (MSSA 2011)
Vice President of Management Operations
TREK Development Group
Pittsburgh, PA
How did the Mandel School prepare you for your career and current role?
The Mandel School prepared me for my career in so many ways! I was a direct practice student who had an interest in program development, assessment and macro-level work. Basically, I wanted to understand all aspects of social work. I was fortunate to have Gerry Strom as my advisor because he saw this in me and together, we designed several independent study projects that used my learning from the direct practice classes as a foundation to learn program administration/evaluation. One of the projects was to create an evaluation tool for a Cleveland-based organization that serviced survivors of sexual assault. I interviewed similar agencies across the county to learn about their work and how they assess their services. This was a meaningful project for me because I realized that most people like to talk about their work and I can learn so much from engaging other professionals. It gave me the confidence to be curious, which I believe is an important trait for all professionals, but especially for social workers.
Describe a career highlight or accomplishment.
I had always imagined I would work in the nonprofit sector for the entirety of my career because there was no apparent place for me or my skills in the for-profit sector. I have successfully proven that assumption wrong through my work at TREK Development Group, a privately-owned, for-profit company. It's very possible to keep our social work values, use our skills, make meaningful change and work in the for-profit sector.
Why did you choose the Mandel School?
I had been interested in graduate school for many years, but local graduate programs didn't allow for part-time students—since my kids were toddlers and I had to work full-time, I resigned to the idea of returning to school when they were older. In 2007, my family and I traveled to Cambodia to learn more about the country and work happening there. I was interviewing an expat about her work at the NGO when I learned she had gone to the Mandel School. She had done the Intensive Weekend program which sounded exactly like the program I needed. I was so impressed by her and she talked so highly of the school, I was on the phone with Gerry Strom the week I returned from the trip!
Leah Berdysz (MSW 2021)
School Social Worker
Educational Service Center of Central Ohio – South Western City School District
Columbus, OH
How did the Mandel School prepare you for your career and current role?
I enjoyed the hands-on learning opportunities, such as the required internship experiences. It also helped me to better understand the importance and impact of policy, as well as understanding how systems collaborate. The conversations surrounding DEI and biases also helped prepare me for working with vulnerable and diverse communities.
How has your degree prepared you to have impact?
The knowledge gained in the program helped me to acquire skills needed to support and advocate for others. I also built skills that allowed me to become a more critical thinker and question the status quo as a means to producing positive change.
Describe a career highlight or accomplishment.
In 202 I published a book called Conscious Empowerment: A Guide to Helping Girls Build Self-Esteem and Confidence. I also spoke in 2022 at a TedX event on "How to Empower Youth" (not yet published).
Why did you choose the Mandel School?
I chose the Mandel School because of its location, the Trauma-Informed Practice Institute, the school's program ranking and the opportunity to specialize in school social work.
Leon Harris (PhD 2018)
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
The Centers
Twinsburg, OH
How did the Mandel School prepare you for your career and current role?
I was able to hone my critical thinking skills and work with faculty and staff to address social and academic gaps that were identified at the school. I have used those same skills to develop strategy and draft policy related to improving social services and service delivery to residents in the Greater Cleveland area. My time at the Mandel School also helped me to better understand struggle, sacrifice, humility, discipline and perseverance. I believe all of these characteristics are needed to affect change.
How has your degree prepared you to have impact?
I obtained my PhD from the Mandel School, and I believe I have an impact on current students through my role as an adjunct instructor. I also believe in the Greater Cleveland community through mentoring, partnership and advocating for policy review, revision and the way in which services are delivered.
Why did you choose the Mandel School?
I worked at the school and it seemed to be the place where I would have the most support in furthering my education.
Siobhán Malavé (MSSA/MNO 2004)
Clinical Director
Hispanic UMADAOP
Cleveland, OH
How did the Mandel School prepare you for your career and current role?
The Mandel School had a tremendous impact on my current career. The classes, professors, papers I wrote and my colleagues all formed a strong foundation for my career which started in child and adolescent mental health, progressed to working with adults, families and children in the field of mental health, and finally working in the field of substance use disorder with adults.
Describe a career highlight or accomplishment.
My progression from working in direct practice, to moving into administration, and being at the time the only bilingual counselor in my building, to working in an agency where everyone speaks Spanish as their primary language and most people speak English, is definitely an accomplishment.
Why did you choose the Mandel School?
As one of the best schools in the country for social work and being from Cleveland, attending the Mandel School was an excellent opportunity for me!
Samantha Hess (MSSA 2019)
School Social Worker
Educational Service Center of Lorain County / Midview Local Schools
Westlake, OH
How did the Mandel School prepare you for your career and current role?
The Mandel School prepared me for my career by providing me with background knowledge and practical experience through my field placements about school social work and how to be effective while working with students and families.
How has your degree prepared you to have impact?
My MSSA degree has prepared me to have impact by allowing me to critically think about problems and helping those I work with. By solving problems and providing resources and support to the population I work with, I hopefully get them what they need and that they feel supported.
Describe a career highlight or accomplishment.
I now have a leadership position in the Ohio School Social Work Association!
Why did you choose the Mandel School?
I chose the Mandel School because it was a top social work school and offered several different concentrations of social work study. I was lucky to find school social work, which I have loved doing since graduating. The field placements I had and the knowledge I gained definitely helped me find a position working in schools.
Dalhee Yoon (PhD 2019)
Assistant Professor
Binghamton University – State University of New York (SUNY)
Binghamton, NY
How did the Mandel School prepare you for your career and current role?
My five-year doctoral program taught me how to be an independent researcher and teacher. The Mandel School has very well-organized classes, which support students to develop their research areas with hands-on experience.