Social Work Alumna Expresses Gratitude to SHU

Nikki Bettinelli’s passion for service kept leading her back to social work

Sacred Heart University alumna Nikki Bettinelli ’19 needed some time to find her path. She had a passion for community service and advocacy and immediately was drawn to social work, but she also explored music, music therapy, education and political science before realizing social work definitely was the passion to pursue. When she led campus tours, she said, “I would always tell the parents not to get worried if their child changes majors multiple times.”

After volunteering with a mentoring program in Bridgeport, Bettinelli thought perhaps education was her calling. “I think that tutoring in Bridgeport was my favorite experience while at SHU. But I realized that, more than teaching them to read, I loved hearing about their lives, which brought me back to social work,” she said.

Bettinelli credits Maura Rhodes, director of field education for the School of Social Work, with helping her find her destination. “I was a frequent flyer in her office. We would talk about my goals, how I wanted to help people and, ultimately, I kept describing different aspects of social work. I truly would not be the social worker or person I am today without Professor Rhodes. She is one of Sacred Heart University’s finest.”

Another of Bettinelli’s favorite SHU experiences was Lobby Day at the state Capitol in Hartford. “We learned how to testify and lobby. I was one of the people who was chosen to sit in front of representatives and state senators and lobby for a bill. That was an incredible experience,” she recalled.

One of Bettinelli’s assignments in her graduate program was writing a piece of testimony and testifying before members of the Connecticut General Assembly at the Capitol in Hartford. 

“The practice and training I had from Sacred Heart’s Lobby Day made me comfortable and confident,” while delivering testimony in favor of Senate Bill 140-An Act Requiring Free Feminine Hygiene Products in Middle and High School Bathrooms, she said.

Having experienced Sacred Heart’s and UConn’s social work programs, she found the two are “completely different” atmospheres. “You get a community feel at SHU that you don’t get at other places,” she said. “Your professors are invested in your future. They truly care about students.”Sacred Heart’s social work program itself is special, according to Bettinelli, who described two aspects of the practice: the micro, or working one-on-one with people; and macro, which looks at policies and the bigger picture. “I am a huge believer that you cannot have one without the other,” she said. “The policies affect your one-on-one work with clients, and that work affects what policies need to be put into place.” Sacred Heart’s curriculum stresses the importance of both aspects. Having toured other schools, she found that other programs focused only on one aspect. “Sacred Heart taught me to understand and value both aspects of social work,” Bettinelli said.”

Even in her master’s program at UConn, Bettinelli was still reaching out to her professors at SHU. “I truly feel that I wouldn’t have gotten through my master’s program without them,” she said. “Sacred Heart’s professors really do care about your education and your future. If you are willing to reach out, they are always willing to offer advice and guidance.”

“The best part was that they didn’t tell you what they wanted you to do. They helped you determine what you wanted for yourself,” she said. They encouraged her to try new experiences to find her niche and supported her decisions.

Bettinelli said her experience at Sacred Heart gave her a foundation that few of her classmates had in her graduate program. “Because of Dr. [Victoria] Osborne’s class, I was far advanced in understanding and applying research, as well as the importance of the role of research in contributing to the social work profession,” she said.

Bettinelli also acknowledges Kerry “Kate” Kelly as a professor who had a tremendous impact on her education. “Her passion, drive and love of social work gets passed on to every student that she works with,” said Bettinelli. “Professor Kelly challenged me to look at the world of social work through another lens.” Even after leaving SHU, Bettinelli continued to stay in touch with Kelly and seek her guidance.

Another benefit of SHU’s social work program is that all the professors have actual experience within the field of social work, Bettinelli said. “They brought stories from their careers into the classrooms. We heard about real-life situations; what happened, what could have been done differently. Professors in other programs don’t always have field experience.

“While preparing to take the social work licensure exam, I am constantly referring back to the lessons Professor [Patricia] Carl-Stannard taught and realizing how much her teaching has prepared me to take the exam,” Bettinelli continued. “She used real-life scenarios from her own practice that really helped students better understand social work concepts. When I pass the exam, a big thanks will be to the exceptional teaching and professional development I received from Professor Carl-Stannard.”

Carl-Stannard, interim chair of the School of Social Work, had equally high praise for Bettinelli. "I was Nikki's instructor for a few of her BSW courses, and she was an excellent student who was eager to learn about the breadth and depth of social work practice. She has taken her experience in the BSW Program to pursue graduate training for an MSW degree, based on her commitment to the profession. Nikki's passion has always been creating positive social change through an anti-racist lens. I predict that she will have a very successful career as a social worker who will influence and create social and legislative policies rooted in her commitment to social justice for all."

Bettinelli, who fell in love with Bridgeport during her time at SHU, said she ultimately wants to find a position in the area.

Photo credit: Mary Peacock Photography