Blog: Dr. Debbie Gioia

Dr. Debbie Gioia (pronounced Joy-a) is a new professor this year at the School of Social Work. She most recently taught at the University of Michigan. Her specialty is working with young adults who have a chronic mental illness. She is passionate about helping people! Her mom was a nurse, and she said that she wanted to help people like her mom, but without all of the blood. And, so she became a social worker.

I had Dr. Gioia for the “Individuals Module” of my practice class. She taught us how to interview clients, she encouraged us to think critically about our agencies, and she taught us that we must take care of ourselves.

If you have an opportunity to take a class from her…TAKE IT! You will not be disappointed. She is passionate…she is caring…she is brilliant, and she is humble. (She also likes India Arie!) I don't care what she teaches…I will sign up for it. I will take her classes because I know that I will leave with more than I came in with. I know that she will challenge me to think outside of the box. I know that she cares about me and about the clients that I will eventually work with.

So, check your schedules. Next semester she is teaching a class called: Clinical SW with the Severely Mentally Ill. It counts as an elective, and it fulfills the diversity requirement. I think she will probably teach Psychopathology and the Individals Module again in the future.

Thanks, Dr. Gioia, for making my education here a worthwhile experience.

Posted by Carmen at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm back!

First, I want to thank everyone who has sent encouraging emails to me. I really appreciate your care, concern, and prayers. I had a very rich time with my dad the last two weeks, and he is doing well.

Two days before I left, I took a midterm and turned in a paper. While I was gone, I took a midterm, turned in a paper, and prepared for a debate that I presented Tuesday morning in class. I have four more papers due before Thanksgiving Break…and then we hit the home stretch with final exams. WOW!

I felt overwhelmed during the first week of school, but now that I have gotten back a few grades and can see that the end of the semester is near…I am feeling relieved.

One step at a time, one assignment at a time, one issue at a time, one day at a time. You can do it!

Email me or leave a (nice) comment!

Next week I am going to profile one of my professors. Thanks for reading!

Enjoy the beautiful leaves outside…

Posted by Carmen at 6:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)