Fordham University Graduate College of Social Work Master’s Level Intern/Graduate!

Andrew (he/him) lives just outside Albany, New York. As a children's book editor for nearly thirteen years, Andrew aspired to publish authors from marginalized backgrounds so that readers of could see themselves represented authentically in literature. During his internship at LDF, Andrew learned how to work more directly with kids and teens in a variety of capacities to help them flourish in their lives. When he's not reading or studying, Andrew enjoys running, knitting, and playing the piano.

Fordham University Graduate College of Social Work Master’s Level Intern/Graduate!

Latoya’s (she/her) professional journey started in the clinical medical field in a hospital setting. She was honored to impact the individuals she worked with for over 10 years. During this time, she cultivated skills such as empathy, active listening, and advocacy which she believes are key to social work. She is located in the Big Apple, where she enjoys being a part of the multicultural community. She believes in a holistic approach to mental health. She enjoys empowering, advocating, and celebrating all people. She is proud to belong to the social work profession that is committed to enhancing the well-being of others. Latoya enjoys indoor and outdoor horticulture and practices eco-therapy for self-care as part of her daily routine.

Fordham University Graduate College of Social Work Master’s Level Intern/Graduate!

Krystal (she/her) is currently working for the military in Yuma, AZ. Krystal is a Navy veteran. While on active duty in the United States Navy, she worked in a clinic setting with children and adolescents receiving gender-affirming care, Krystal sought to expand her scope of practice. She has a strong desire to advocate for the most vulnerable populations. Shehas volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the CASA of the Coastal Bend. Her ultimate goal is to provide trauma-informed, comprehensive, quality care to LGBTQ+ people. Krystal enjoys nature and is an avid runner. In her off time, she enjoys empowering people to utilize movement and nature to increase well-being.

Fordham University Graduate College of Social Work Master’s Level Intern/Graduate!

Michelle (she, her) is located in Delaware. A degree in Social Work was ideal in fulfilling her dreams of advocating for others. With so many injustices facing marginalized communities, Michelle felt the need to be a part of the driving force for change. She is interested in healthcare where her journey started working in the Emergency Room. She is now assigned to Maternity /Labor & Delivery where she supports families. In her daily interactions with patients, she understands the dynamics, pertinent services and resources needed. Her goal as a social worker is to create awareness, motivate, educate, enhancing well-being while helping to meet the complex needs of individuals and fostering a better environment for all. Michelle enjoys traveling, cooking, and long trips with her family.

Fordham Graduate College of Social Work Master’s Level Intern/Graduate!

Michael (he/him) lives in central New Jersey. Through his undergrad degree in healthcare, he was aware of the depth and complexity of external factors as they impact individuals. He sought the opportunity to find an even more impactful role for his career trajectory and chose Social Work. His personal and professional goal to positively impact people's lives led him to Fordham's MSW program. This has been a major step in working to achieve his career goals. Michael enjoys sports and working out.

Capella University Graduate College of Social Work - Master’s Level Intern

Christine (she/her) has been very active in the Houston community working to empower members of the community to overcome obstacles. Her desire to earn a Master’s Degree in Social work is reflective of her commitment to continue this work as her chosen career.

University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work - Master’s Level Intern

Antonia (she/her) is located in Houston, Texas. She has a wide variety of experiences in the non-profit and public service fields, including social policy research, program design, and community outreach. She is passionate about developing community-centered programming and supporting Houston children and families. Antonia is a first-year MSW student and Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Houston, where she looks forward to building both clinical and macro-level skills. Outside the classroom, she enjoys playing cello and singing in local ensembles, as well as reading fiction.

Fordham Graduate College of Social Work Master’s Level Intern

Melissa brings to her internship at the Lian Dante Foundation over 35 years of experience working as a BSW- level social worker, school counselor, and higher education access professional and administrator. Melissa sees her work helping young people and their families as fulfilling her purpose and ministry to help others. When the pandemic arrived, and the opportunity to provide teletherapy exploded, Melissa returned to school to get her Master's in Social Work at Fordham. Working with the Lian Dante Foundation allows her to expand her knowledge and work with other young people and their families who have different experiences living in Texas than in New York City and New Jersey. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her significant other, her adult son and his girlfriend, and her extensive support network of friends and family.

University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work - Master’s Level Intern

Madalyn (she/her) is currently located in Montgomery, Texas. Her undergraduate degree is in psychology. She is currently working full-time at Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare as a mental health professional. She is in her first year at the University of Houston’s MSW program with a goal to become a counselor for adults needing assistance with their mental health journey. She is especially interested in working with clients with mood disorders and psychosis. In her free time, Madalyn enjoys reading, riding her bike, and playing with her cat, Puar.

Howard University Graduate College of Social Work - Master’s level Intern

Alisha (she/her) is currently located in Fort Worth, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Social Work in Spring of 2022. During this time she learned about the importance of empathy, meeting the client where they are at, as well as the importance of advocacy. Alisha’s love for advocacy took her to Howard University where she has expanded her knowledge of civil rights and community organizing. She is passionate about policy reform and human rights. When she is not in school Alisha enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and cats.

Fordham Graduate College of Social Work Master’s Level Intern

Brian lives in Houston, Texas. He has worked in the field of addiction recovery in Houston for the past two and a half years. Currently, he is working with refugee families as a case manager. He chose to pursue a Master’s in Social Work in order to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and practice therapy. He is passionate about working with persons across all developmental life stages interested in healing their wounds, finding meaning in their lives, and becoming whole. He enjoys running, reading and writing in local cafés, and dancing to live music in his free time.

Capella University Graduate College of Social Work- Master’s Level Intern

Abdul lives in Houston, he decided to get into social work school following his experience as a volunteer at a refugee resettlement agency. During his time there, he enjoyed assisting refugee families from different countries. In his current role, he works as a case manager for a rental assistance program. He is passionate about serving clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and providing psychoeducation to individuals with limited access to mental health services. In his free time hours, Abdul enjoys playing pick-up soccer and going on hikes.

Howard University Graduate College of Social Work - Master’s Level Intern

Kesha is a BSW-level Social Worker with over 25 years of experience working with youth and families. Her work history includes case management and support services for non-profit agencies and health care programs. She has a passion to provide support in accessing needed resources to individuals. Kesha is currently enrolled in the MSW program at Howard University and looks to enhance her knowledge and skills to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In her free time, she enjoys community outreach and spending time with family.

Lone Star University- AAS Human Services Intern

Annette Rivera is an undergraduate student at Lone Star University in Houston, Texas. She is currently enrolled in their AAS for Human Services Degree program and hopes to graduate in May 2024. She’s had the privilege of working at 2 Houston ISD schools supporting both parents and students by translating, connecting them to resources, and mentorship. Her passion for helping others led her to a Life Coaching Certification and continuous pursuit of a Human Services Degree. She hopes to make an impact in her community by helping parents and children with goal-setting and life skills (including self-love, self-compassion, and self-care.)