Paving the Way

“After graduating from Wake Forest in 1969, I wasn’t sure where I was heading. I underwent some testing in the counseling center, which suggested social work as a career. The psychologist strongly recommended the UNC School of Social Work as the best in the state, and thankfully I took his advice.

“I was very fortunate at Carolina and had great teachers and field experiences. My parents put me on my own after paying for four years at Wake Forest, which was certainly understandable! I had no income and planned to work part-time. However, a wonderful lady in the dean’s office received my letter asking for referrals for jobs. Her response? Offering me a full stipend if I took a field placement at the VA Hospital in Salisbury, and I gladly accepted. The stipend paid for fees, books and living expenses.

“Such attention and support from Carolina set me on a career path working for the VA Healthcare system for 36 years. Donating to Carolina, especially the School of Social Work, is my way to pay back what I received and helping others who need assistance. Donations can make the difference in helping students in need get through the proper courses and experiences that can set them on a lifetime career.

“My favorite memories include finishing a thesis I could be proud of, and my field experiences at Central Prison in Raleigh and a locked psychiatric ward at the VA Hospital in Salisbury. Those experiences exposed me to new worlds that helped to pave my way to work as a clinical social worker all across the Southeast.”

-Charles Beck ’71 (M.S.W.)

Beck made a gift to the School of Social Work in August 2018.

array(2) {
  [0]=>
  object(WP_Post)#8416 (24) {
    ["ID"]=>
    int(759)
    ["post_author"]=>
    string(1) "2"
    ["post_date"]=>
    string(19) "2015-12-03 16:01:24"
    ["post_date_gmt"]=>
    string(19) "2015-12-03 16:01:24"
    ["post_content"]=>
    string(1388) "

“We’ve lived in different parts of the country, and we’ve had affiliations with a wide variety of colleges and universities, but there’s just something about the School of Social Work. It’s just an exceptional place, and the graduates, by and large, tend to stay in North Carolina. I’ve said it before, but I really like that they go on to share their knowledge and skills with communities across the state, which creates this ripple effect. They truly are problem solvers, and they add to the quality of life in North Carolina.”

Prudence Meehan (right) and her husband Peter gave $1 million to the UNC School of Social Work to support student scholarships, assist in the recruitment and retention of promising junior faculty, and fund new innovation initiatives to meet emerging needs in the field.

Read the complete Carolina Story from the UNC School of Social Work…

This is story number 78 in the Carolina Stories 225th Anniversary Edition magazine."
    ["post_title"]=>
    string(26) "Something exceptional here"
    ["post_excerpt"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_status"]=>
    string(7) "publish"
    ["comment_status"]=>
    string(6) "closed"
    ["ping_status"]=>
    string(4) "open"
    ["post_password"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_name"]=>
    string(26) "something-exceptional-here"
    ["to_ping"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["pinged"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_modified"]=>
    string(19) "2018-09-26 19:20:55"
    ["post_modified_gmt"]=>
    string(19) "2018-09-26 19:20:55"
    ["post_content_filtered"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_parent"]=>
    int(0)
    ["guid"]=>
    string(30) "https://stories.unc.edu/?p=759"
    ["menu_order"]=>
    int(0)
    ["post_type"]=>
    string(4) "post"
    ["post_mime_type"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["comment_count"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["filter"]=>
    string(3) "raw"
  }
  [1]=>
  object(WP_Post)#8501 (24) {
    ["ID"]=>
    int(744)
    ["post_author"]=>
    string(1) "2"
    ["post_date"]=>
    string(19) "2015-11-30 14:14:46"
    ["post_date_gmt"]=>
    string(19) "2015-11-30 14:14:46"
    ["post_content"]=>
    string(1029) "

“I’m not someone who accepts the word, ‘No.’ One of the most frustrating parts of my ordeal has been feeling like others weren’t doing enough to help my family. At the same time, my experience has shown me that I can help create the change that’s needed.”

Olivia Bass’s son has a rare genetic disorder. Over the last few years, she has learned how to better advocate for herself and her family as well as for others who feel powerless in the face of overwhelming challenges. Graduating with a master’s degree in social work is the first step in realizing her goal to “be the loudest voice in the room” for other families like hers.

Read the complete Carolina Story from the UNC School of Social Work…"
    ["post_title"]=>
    string(29) "The loudest voice in the room"
    ["post_excerpt"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_status"]=>
    string(7) "publish"
    ["comment_status"]=>
    string(6) "closed"
    ["ping_status"]=>
    string(4) "open"
    ["post_password"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_name"]=>
    string(29) "the-loudest-voice-in-the-room"
    ["to_ping"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["pinged"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_modified"]=>
    string(19) "2017-09-07 17:23:31"
    ["post_modified_gmt"]=>
    string(19) "2017-09-07 17:23:31"
    ["post_content_filtered"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["post_parent"]=>
    int(0)
    ["guid"]=>
    string(30) "https://stories.unc.edu/?p=744"
    ["menu_order"]=>
    int(0)
    ["post_type"]=>
    string(4) "post"
    ["post_mime_type"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["comment_count"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["filter"]=>
    string(3) "raw"
  }
}

Related Posts


Something exceptional here

The loudest voice in the room