Ashley Schwedt, MSW '15

In her role as the Diversity Initiatives Coordinator at U-M’s Spectrum Center, much of Ashley Schwedt’s work centers on creating and implementing more accessible social justice curriculum. She’s doing just that with Change It Up!, a new initiative aimed at providing first year students with innovative and, ultimately, more effective bystander intervention skills. Schwedt plays a key role in the development of the program, which seeks to engage, educate, and empower new students to build an inclusive and respectful campus community.

Understanding that not everyone learns in the same way, Schwedt and her team have partnered with U-M’s Educational Theatre Company (UMetc) to create sketches that engage with a broader audience. Through interactive theatre, students apply intervention skills to real-life scenarios to build their confidence when intervening in their own communities.

In advantage at SSW is the ability to interact with professional social workers. Through my assistantship and my studies, I receive mentoring from social workers who have used their degree in a wide variety of careers.

“It’s very exciting and rewarding to be involved in something like this from the ground up. I’m so fortunate to be in a field placement where I get to do truly impactful curriculum development work.”

In addition to her field placement, Schwedt is a Graduate Student Staff Assistant in the Office of Student Services.  She works an average of 16.hours a week in exchange for full tuition, a monthly living stipend, and university healthcare coverage.

“I get to be a resource for people. I enjoy being at the front desk, answering questions, and being able to provide background knowledge and context. I’m also getting mentorship from people who are already working in the field, as well as from faculty. And I’m doing large-scale organizing, which directly relates to what I want to do in the future. My experience working at OSS will be greatly beneficial to my career in social work.”