After several years of adjusted plans due to pandemic-related health and safety protocols, the 星空传媒 community will gather once again this year for fully in-person commencement events.
The Class of 2022鈥檚 accomplishments will be celebrated in ceremonies on May 14 and 15, most of which will also be available to view via livestream.
As more than 3,000 students prepare to earn their diplomas, The Daily is highlighting 鈥攐ne from each school鈥攂efore they move on to the next steps of their professional journeys.
Read more about the Mandel School's featured student, Sami Hausserman, below.
Sami Hausserman
Samantha 鈥淪ami鈥 Hausserman entered the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences鈥 Master of Social Work program ready to pursue her interest in social justice. But it wasn鈥檛 until Hausserman secured a field internship with the school鈥檚 Community Innovation Network (CIN) that she got the opportunity to dive into mental health and community engagement鈥攁 path she now hopes to follow in her social work career.
Through CIN, Hausserman was assigned to help the YMCA of Greater Cleveland promote mental wellness within its community branches. Among her projects: a survey of more than 2,000 YMCA members from across the Greater Cleveland area to uncover how they felt about the mental health and substance use care and support they received from the organization, as well as how it could supplement that support.
Analyzing the qualitative data, Hausserman found that a large majority felt the YMCA supports the development of a healthy spirit鈥攁n asset they said addresses the mental health and substance misuse needs in their communities. Hausserman鈥檚 analysis of how current members understand the organization鈥檚 historic commitment to 鈥淢ind, Body and Spirit鈥 is helping YMCA members promote mental wellness across Greater Cleveland. One branch, for example, took the data and turned it into a complete initiative鈥攖ransforming into a hub for mental wellness support by providing resources and a welcoming environment.
Along with working on projects for the YMCA, Hausserman also organizes CIN鈥檚 Innovators鈥 Monthly Meetups, designated spaces for collaboration and support among community builders in the area.
鈥淢y experience at CIN has been the most meaningful to me while at the Mandel School,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t has pushed me to grow and see myself and the work I want to do in a completely different perspective.鈥
In her spare time, Hausserman served as one of the Mandel Council鈥檚 Graduate Student Council Representatives as a way to advocate for her fellow students in various university-wide issues, and became its social media ambassador to promote the group鈥檚 events.
After graduation, Hausserman hopes to work at a nonprofit in Cleveland to continue doing community development and engagement similar to what she has done at CIN.
鈥淚 want to thank the Community Practice for Social Change professors for all of their encouragement and for making me into the practitioner that I am today,鈥 she reflected. 鈥淚鈥檓 so happy to have made connections and formed relationships with such a diverse and passionate group of people.鈥
This story appeared in on May 6, 2022.