Lauren Tinaglia, MSW '15

As an undergrad student at U-M, Lauren Tinaglia studied Psychology and Sociology, setting her sights on earning a PhD in Clinical Psychology someday. But when the School of Social Work launched the Community Action and Social Change (CASC) minor program during her junior year, her vision for the future changed.

“CASC exposed me to grass roots community-based campaigns and really reinforced my love for social work. I knew that I wanted to work with patients in one-on-one and group therapy settings, but social work specifically provided a way for me to look at all the factors that contribute to and affect a person’s wellbeing. Social work is the avenue for looking at the whole person.”

Without the funding that I receive because of my GSSA position, I would never have been able to attend grad school. It’s a tremendous gift that has allowed me to fully concentrate on my program.

Tinaglia holds a Graduate Student Staff Assistant position in the School of Social Work’s Career Services. She spends approximately 16.5 hours per week meeting with students and alumni to assist in their job searches, including providing resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and coordinating networking trips to help current students connect with alumni in cities across the U.S. As a GSSA, Tinaglia receives full tuition, a monthly living stipend, and health and dental coverage under the University’s insurance program.

“Without the funding that I receive because of my GSSA position, I would never have been able to attend grad school at this point in my life. It’s a tremendous gift that has allowed me to fully concentrate on my program. It’s given me the opportunity to get a fabulous education, while at the same time gaining hands-on experience in my field. That’s so valuable to me as a future social worker.”