Meet Dianne Bennett, an experienced educator and social worker. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology and her master’s in guidance and counseling from Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York and spent the early years of her career as a guidance counselor in her home state of New York. While teaching human services courses at Kingsborough Community College, she earned a Ph.D. from Capella University in human services with a focus in counseling studies. Bennett and her family moved to Florida, and she worked as an adjunct professor for 12 years at Rollins College. But she felt an itch to return to hands-on work in her field, which led her to work towards an MSW at UCF.
While a graduation stage is all too familiar to Bennett, she says she feels fulfilled and rewarded after the work she has done at the Aphasia House, where she and her peers created support services specifically for caregivers. research study with focus groups of caregivers and families at Aphasia House, gathering data to clarify the types of support that are needed.
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Degree: Master of Social Work
- What will you be doing after graduation?
My plans after graduation are to continue my path to licensure (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and continue to work as a mental health therapist with transitional age youth and young adults to help empower them to overcome and manage personal challenges and/or their mental diagnoses, as well as continue teaching in higher education, preparing students in the helping professions prepare for their careers.
- What are your long-term career plans?
I plan to continue teaching, contribute to the knowledge in my field by writing and publishing professional literature and work as a therapist.
- What accomplishment from your time at UCF are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the contributions I have made towards the development of caregiver support services at Aphasia House.
4. What did you love the most about your time at UCF?
The faculty, my classmates and the clients I encountered in my generalist and clinical internships. They all contributed to my professional growth and humbled me in ways that are difficult to put into words and prepared me to assist families who are facing challenges due to a health crisis.
- What was your favorite class, professor, or experience at CHPS, and why?
My favorite experience at CHPS was my field placement at Aphasia House.
My favorite class was Psychosocial Pathology (SW6123) with Instructor Adam Evelyn. I enjoyed the case studies that required me to critically evaluate cases and provide the diagnoses and develop treatment plans. Instructor Evelyn was very approachable and held weekly Zoom meetings to discuss the course content and answer student questions and clarify assignment tasks. I found him to be extremely knowledgeable and experienced in the topics of the course.
