An MSW in action: Stephanie Gulledge ’25 gives back where her social work journey began

For Stephanie Gulledge ’25, earning a Master of Social Work at PLU was just the beginning — she now serves the same community that shaped her education.

Today, as a clinical care manager with PLU’s Wellbeing Services and Resources, she oversees clinical operations within Health and Counseling Services and works alongside colleagues and interns to support the health and wellbeing of PLU students.

Gulledge is part of a broader team that exists to make health, wellbeing, and support services easier for PLU students to access and navigate.

“Social work to me is an agent of change,” Gulledge says. “I am not satisfied with sitting on the sidelines while the world moves forward. I want to be involved and show people that there is hope, empathy, and compassion when it feels like you can’t find it anywhere else.”

Gulledge’s path reflects the kind of work PLU’s Master of Social Work program prepares graduates to pursue. With an emphasis on healthcare and behavioral health, the program combines clinical preparation with hundreds of hours of practicum experience in community settings.

That training comes at a time when health and behavioral health providers are working to fill social work vacancies, particularly as demand for mental health services continues to grow.

As Gulledge entered her final year in PLU’s Bachelor of Social Work program, she had already started to discern what she wanted to do next.

“During my last year in PLU’s BSW program, I had a growing interest in pursuing medical social work, and getting my MSW and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. I found the process of applying and transitioning to a graduation program to be seamless, which made me feel encouraged and confident in my decision.”

Because Gulledge already held a BSW at PLU, she entered PLU’s advanced standing program, completing her MSW in August 2025. Qualified PLU BSW students can also receive guaranteed graduate admission to the MSW program, creating a streamlined path between the two degrees. Gulledge isn’t alone in choosing to stay at PLU for what comes next – 28% of PLU graduate students are PLU alumni.

“The program is rooted in respect, community, and lived experience,” Gulledge says.

That emphasis on community shapes how students learn, with preparation extending well beyond the classroom. PLU’s MSW students spend hundreds of hours gaining experience in social service agencies and other community settings, working under the supervision of MSW-trained social workers.

“The program is setting social workers up with foundational knowledge and skills that are beneficial to have in our tool box for when we start to think about what we want to do in our careers,” Gulledge says. “Additionally, the program’s involvement in the community to place social work students with a practicum site can lead to opportunities for employment within the practicum site.”

Now, Gulledge gets to apply her training to the community where she was once a student.

“College is a period of transitions. I know from my personal experience as a student that those transitions can feel a lot less scary and difficult to navigate if you have people that are in your corner.”

Her role also gives her a direct view of what successful social work can look like. Sometimes, it’s not about someone no longer needing help. It’s about making sure they know where to find it.

“I know I’ve done my job well when a student comes back,” Gulledge says. “When a student knows they can come by and be met with care, compassion, and respect, then I know I have made a difference and have done my job.”