Sydney Woods

Sydney (she/her) was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University. She graduated with honors in the spring of 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology and minored in Peace & Justice Studies, Women & Gender Studies, and Business. It was at Michigan State University that she fostered a passion for social justice initiatives as well as understanding the complexities of the human psyche. During her undergraduate career she participated in various DEI initiatives, served as a TA for psychology classes, and partook in an internship in Lesvos, Greece where she was able to connect and provide aid to refugees traveling from the Eastern Mediterranean routes. Sydney is a MasterTrack MSW student exploring both the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse and the Global Social Work pathway. She is currently doing her field placement at Personalized Nursing Lighthouse in Canton, Michigan, where she uses Motivational Interviewing techniques to facilitate group and individual therapy to those diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders. Through the participation in the MSW and GASP program, she hopes to gain more experience in working with refugees and immigrants, particularly looking through a lens of experiences of violence. In doing so, she hopes to develop a more holistic, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and evidence-based therapeutic practice. Outside of academics, Sydney enjoys learning how to play different instruments, cooking, and practicing yoga.