Virginia Western’s Human Services Program paused this semester to reflect on more than a half-century of serving the community. A reception brought together alumni, community partners, students, and College faculty and staff for “Honoring Our History, Shaping Our Future” on Jan. 30 at the College’s Natural Science Center.
The Human Services Program prepares students for entry-level positions in the helping fields, or graduates may transfer to a four-year college or university for bachelor’s degrees in human services or social work.
“I’m proud of all of you,” Dr. Robert Sandel, Virginia Western President, told all the attendees as he outlined some of the ways the program has served the Roanoke region over the past half-century.
Thanks to research from College librarian and archivist Dale Dulaney, the roots of the program were traced back to the early 1970s. Three new “paramedical” programs started at Virginia Western in the fall of 1972, including Mental Health Generalist. Iona W. Sutphin was named the director of Mental Health Technology, and the College welcomed the first class of 25 students to the two-year program.
A close connection was established in the foundations of the program with the Veterans Administration, and students were required to have “coordinated practice” in the local Veterans Administration hospital, as well as “various social and health agencies in the community college region.”
The program’s tie with these local agencies became the bedrock of the program that persists to this day. At the reception, program faculty honored representatives of community agencies who provide internships to Human Services students.
“The internship was always core to the program,” said Dr. Annemarie Carroll, who retired as Program Head in December. Human Services is 63 credit-hour program with a 180-hour internship.
“It’s something that so many people don’t get through their education, that ability to dip their toes in the field and understand what it’s going to be like in the field, because it’s challenging,” said new Program Head and Assistant Professor Mike Abajace. “And having that experience and getting that before you finish your degree — to me, that’s probably to me one of the biggest advantages Virginia Western has to offer in the Human Services Program.”
Abajace gave special recognition with certificates presented to members of the Curriculum Advisory Committee, a group of professionals in the field who help the program stay current and aware of developments in the human services field. Many Curriculum Advisory members are also internship coordinators, he said.
The program has adapted over time, and now the coursework can be completed fully online, as well as in person. Abajace said there are also a lot of changes in the field, which leads the program to continually assess “how we can better train and serve.”
Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer, Vice President of Academic and Workforce Solutions, noted the positive ripple effects that Human Services has had. “Most of our students stay in Roanoke, and so, many of you that are graduates started at Virginia Western and have been in Roanoke for your whole career, which is wonderful for our community,” she said, addressing those at the reception. “It’s wonderful for our graduates to stay here, to go back to the employers that maybe you worked with as an intern. And thank you to all of our employers who provide … on-the-job learning for our students. That is a wonderful gift.”
Joy bubbled up around the room at different points of the reception as attendees recognized and greeted one another. “My heart’s just exploding,” said Carroll, who received many hugs, especially from former students. “This program is incredible. It makes such a difference in Roanoke … lives touched in so many ways. We need to celebrate that, that that’s a big deal, we all did this together, and still continue to do this, and will continue to do this for another fifty-plus years, I hope so. Thank you all for being here.”
