Online MSW student finds community across state lines
Shortly after enrolling in the online Master of Social Work (MSW) part-time program in August 2023, Brittany Lamont joined the Enrollment Management team as a Student Ambassador. In the role, she welcomed prospective and incoming students through countless webinars, phone calls, and emails.
After beginning the program in California, Lamont moved to Arizona in her second semester to be closer to family. "At the time, I was beginning to prepare for my practicum placement in my third semester, and my placement advisor took the time to support me and help navigate the transition. Their guidance eased a lot of my stress as I balanced my coursework while relocating to another state," said Lamont.
At Sunset Health – her practicum placement site in Arizona – Lamont provided integrated social work services, collaborating with the healthcare team to ensure coordinated care and offering individual psychotherapy to patients who were referred by their primary care providers (PCPs) to address concerns such as depression and anxiety. In addition to completing her twelve hours per week of practicum education at Sunset Health, Lamont worked full-time as a case manager at Easterseals Blake Foundation.
Beyond the bonds built as a Student Ambassador and through her work with Sunset Health and Easterseals Blake Foundation, Lamont has forged lasting friendships with her online classmates — many of whom she met in-person for the first time at Tulane's Commencement Ceremony in May. Using the online messaging app GroupMe, Lamont developed personal relationships with her cohort. Even after graduating, she says they continue to chat and share updates about their professional journeys.
"Seeing my online cohort in person was an amazing experience. After spending 32 months connecting through Zoom, it was exciting to finally meet face-to-face," Lamont said. "Because we had already built strong relationships, it felt natural and comfortable, as if we had been friends for years."
Lamont has been approved to take the Arizona LMSW exam and will continue her work with Easterseals Blake Foundation, transitioning from a case management role into a therapist position after graduation.
