How experiential learning shaped a career in social work for alumna Casey Lee

When Wayne State University President Kimberly Andrews Espy launched the College to Career initiative, she likely envisioned supporting students like Casey Lee.

Lee, who received a bachelor's from the School of Social Work in 2021 and a master of social work in 2023, is now a staff community organizer at Graft Living Studios, a collective of artists, engineers, builders, and social activists in Southwest Detroit focused on creating sustainable community spaces, to promote homeownership, food access, and skill development in the neighborhood.

Lee credits much of her student success to the volunteer work she did as an orientation leader, her internships, and her involvement in student organizations. "As a commuter student, I was hesitant to become involved in so many on-campus activities," Lee said. "But the second I did, I met so many wonderful people, got more involved, and I walked away with so much more experience than I could have expected in that short amount of time. It's been an incredible experience, and it's helped me grow, not just professionally, but holistically and as a person."

Espy's College to Career initiative, part of Wayne State's Prosperity Agenda aims to bridge classroom learning with real-world application. By offering learning by doing opportunities, the university prepares students for successful careers by allowing them to gain practical experience and new perspectives.

"Casey Lee exemplifies the ingenuity and creative thinking we hope to see in all our graduates," said School of Social Work Dean Dr. Sheryl Kubiak. "More macro-level social workers who emphasis system-level change is what we'd like to see!"

As co-president of the Coalition of Community Social Workers, Lee collaborated with social work students of various practice levels and students from other disciplines across campus to enhance their leadership and community-building skills. One project was an environmental justice event with Graft Living Studios. "I just fell in love with Graft's mission and their approach," Lee said. "They truly take innovative approaches to addressing shared problems and feelings within communities and look at strength-based approaches and solutions that really push boundaries."

During her first master's class elective, Lee was partnered with Graft for a group assignment that focused on writing a grant proposal on behalf of their partner organization. The leadership at Graft was as impressed with Lee as she was with them. The experiential learning she acquired in class led to a job offer and Lee went to work as a grant writer for Graft. She quickly built up her role and now serves as staff community organizer. "It's not just the physical work that's being done at Graft - there's a culture that's being cultivated and I'm proud to be a part of it," Lee said. "We've been growing the micro apprenticeship program, pairing mentees with industry experts to foster professional and personal growth and empowering local leaders."

Lee has worn a lot of hats in her role and even got to play the part of mentor, advising local youth on the ins and outs of community organizing and overseeing projects that bring together students to address the dropout rates in the area and answering together that "big elusive question of what comes after high school."

Lee knew that, for her, the answer to that question involved helping others. After volunteering with her dad at the Crossroads Soup Kitchen, Lee was hooked. She wondered, "How do I make a career out of this?" The experiential learning opportunities she gained through internships and as a student organization leader led her to explore different paths and opportunities. When she discovered the field of social work. "I fell in love with macro social work and from then on, I knew that's the direction I wanted to go in my career."

"Throughout her transition from student to social worker, Casey has demonstrated the key values and practice skills of community social work. Casey is an empathetic listener, understands program structure and is a true gatherer of people," said Andre S. Iadipaolo, an academic services officer for the School of Social Work. "We are very proud of her and look forward to collaborating with her in future semesters."

Another influential student experience for Lee was joining the Climate Reality Project : WSU Campus Corps. She was always interested in environmental justice, even before she knew the term. Lee said that she is excited to continue working in community organizing and seeing Graft grow in its scope and impact, but she hopes to eventually branch off into a career in international environmental policy. "One of the biggest takeaways of working with Graft has been my ability to help understand the community and knowing what it truly means to meet people where they are," said Lee. "I really want to embrace an interdisciplinary approach to work and that's why I love having a social work background. I feel I can truly help put people first wherever my career may take me."

Writer: Sarah Freeman and Editor: Betsy Vanderstelt