Dr. Ronald Rea Commits to Providing Humanitarian Service

 

11/15/2018

Baton Rouge, La -- Ronald Berry Rea comes from Houston, Texas, but attended Harding University, where he received his bachelors of arts in psychology; LSU, where he received his MSW in the School of Social Work; and Tulane University, where he received his PhD in Social Policy and Administration.

My LSU Experience

Dr. Rea originally chose LSU for his masters due to the School of Social Work faculty showing interest in him in assisting with the admission process and also indicated that the school would provide guidance in finding financing resources to enable Dr. Rea to afford the cost of a graduate professional education.

LSU led him to develop collaborative skills. When Dr. Rea applied to LSU, he expected to gain knowledge and skills that would prepare him for a career in clinical work. During his first block field placement, Dr. Rea found that administrative work might be a better fit for him, rather than direct services provision.

During his second year at the university, Dr. Rea’s field instructor was a skilled psychotherapist and also an agency executive director. Dr. Rea received more administrative assignments by the executive director as well as individual and family casework assignments.

 

“These unanticipated field instruction experiences resulted in my changing my career goal within the profession from providing direct client services to social work administration,” said Dr. Rea.

An Ideal Career

Upon completion of his MSW degree, he was employed in a beginning professional position which included case work with children, youth, adults, and case consultation with other professionals such as teachers, lawyers, and physicians. He was also appointed to a board of directors of another community agency that provided services and advocacy for developmentally impaired individuals.

“The major benefit of the kinds of professional assignments I received as a graduate student, and later as a beginning social worker, was acquiring skills in collaboration.  In my situation, the collaboration skills that I first begin to acquire as a graduate student at LSU became the single most critical set of skills that I have used in making an impact as an alumnus of LSU,” said Dr. Rea.

In the future, Dr. Rea plans to continue providing volunteer assistance to the victims of torture and maltreatment for international clients who are being held in detention facilities in the United States pending deportation court hearings. He served as a field instructor for two MSW students during their second year, and he would love to continue this activity but more broadly consulting with other social workers who would like to provide this humanitarian service for clients being unjustly held in detention facilities and who are facing deportation.

About SSW

The LSU School of Social Work (SSW) aspires to be a leading school of social work, a vibrant center of intellectual development, a leader in promoting and supporting diverse communities, and an advocate for an integrated and inclusive model of social work, all within a learning environment that supports best educational practices. The SSW offers Child and Family Studies (CFS) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) undergraduate degrees, MSW, online MSW, and PhD. SSW is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.  

Visit the School of Social Work.

 

About CHSE

The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Information Studies, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree and/or certificate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,120 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan.

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