RIC Faculty Expose Highschoolers to Social Work Profession

RIC Professor of Social Work Jayashree Nimmagadda is principal investigator of an initiative that introduces social work as a profession to high school students through case-based learning activities.

“Students are presented with a real-world social work scenario and asked to identify the presenting concerns, explore solutions and consider ethical dilemmas. This gives them an authentic glimpse into the profession and invites them to step into the role of a social worker,” says Nimmagadda.

This learning activity was developed by RIC Assistant Professors of Social Work Estrellita Moronta and Joise Garzon. 

Garzon recently presented this activity to 30 highschoolers at Village Green Charter School. She and Moronta have another presentation scheduled for Juanita Sanchez High School.

Garzon opened with a mini-lecture about the personal characteristics of an effective social worker and the wide range of career opportunities available with a social work degree, after which the students participated in a case-based learning activity. They read a case scenario and explored how they might support a client in the role of a social worker.

Garzon followed up with a debriefing to encourage reflection, critical thinking and the application of concepts.

“The majority of students were surprised by how much they could do with a social work degree,” says Garzon. “One student’s takeaway was that ‘being a social worker is more than just a job.’”

Garzon also noted that “one of the staff members present said she had applied to another graduate program, but after our presentation she definitely knew that social work is actually what she wants to do.”

Garzon originally offered this interactive presentation in the summer of 2025 to a group of high school students who were participating in the Onward We Learn Program. Other outreach efforts to high school students have included holding a social work table at high school career days and presenting on mental health to high school students who were part of the College Visions program.

“Rhode Island faces a shortage of social workers,” Nimmagadda says. “If we want to build the future, we have to start at the high school level. By giving them knowledge and interactive learning, we hope that they will consider social work as a career.”

Learn more about RIC’s School of Social Work.

Headline photo by Onward We Learn.