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The Department of Social Work is pleased to announce Jeanne Booth, LCSW, as the new Director of Field Education. Assistant Professor Booth will lead the Field Education Office, which connects Bachelor and Master of Social Work students with experiential learning opportunities through internships with local organizations. The Field Education Office is a liaison between the 350 graduate and undergrad students and more than 250 active partners. Undergraduate social work students are required to complete 450 hours of field education prior to graduation and graduate students must complete 1,050 hours.
“Experiential learning is a critical element of social work education. We are proud to connect undergraduate and graduate students with field education opportunities that are aligned with their area of interest and meet community needs. In her new role as Director of Field Education, Professor Booth will help shape the next generation of social workers. She will collaborate with community partners to create and support internships that provide students with hands-on training and learning,” said Emily Ihara, Department of Social Work chair.
Currently in her fourth year with the department, Booth joined Mason with over 29 years of experience providing clinical and administrative social work practice in a variety of areas including housing, justice, mobile crisis intervention work, child welfare services, and aging and developmental disability services. Her professional experience includes 20 years in local government.
“Our community partners play an integral role in preparing students for careers in social work, and I look forward to connecting with existing and new organizations to provide opportunities for our students to build and strengthen social work skills both generally and in their specialized fields. Practicums are so important for students to put their studies into practice and leave Mason ready for their future career,” said Booth, who was previously the department’s community program manager.
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by both the Virginia Department of Health Professions and Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for APAH (Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing).
A field practicum is required for the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social work degrees. Learn more about Mason’s BSW here and Mason's MSW here.