"I came in not knowing what I wanted to do with my MSW studies," said Hachem. "I'm a first-generation college student, so I pretty much had to figure everything out for myself. I knew I had strong leadership skills, but didn't know how to apply them. I spent a lot of time talking to my professors about my interests and goals. They helped me choose the concentration that was right for me."
Her interests - executive administration, program development, and community relations - led her to Management of Human Services with a focus on Community and Social Systems. She also chose the 20-month curriculum schedule, which offers the option of electing two different field placements. The extra time working in the community for human service organizations like Matrix Human Services' Off the Streets in Detroit and Public Allies Metro Detroit has given Hachem ample opportunity to develop her budgeting, grant-writing, and program management skills.
Hachem is also actively involved in student government and currently serves as Vice President of the SSW Student Union. Drawing on four years of student activism during her undergrad studies at U-M Dearborn, Hachem embraces her role as an ambassador for the SSW and a voice for her fellow students.
"I talk to students on campus, get to know them and listen to their concerns," said Hachem. "Leveraging their voices to create solutions that better their experience - it's exactly the kind of work I want to do when I graduate."
"I thrive best when I'm busy, and I like to integrate the principles of social work into everything I do," said Hachem. "I'm taking every opportunity I can here at U-M to build and strengthen my skills, because I want to be in a position to empower the people I hope to serve during my career."