Meet the Eboard

Emily Van Dixhorn '26

PRESIDENT & FOUNDER

MAJORS: Social Work and Chinese

MINOR: Criminal Justice.

In January 2024, I founded SWSA with help of older social work students and a faculty mentor. It was important to me to have a social work organization on campus to build community for social work students, advocate for the issues we face, and create awareness of the importance of the social work field.

Katie Gignac '26

VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER

MAJOR: Social Work

I joined SWSA as a sophomore, eager to connect with fellow students who share my passion for social work. Since becoming a member, I have had incredible opportunities, including attending the Fall 2024 NASW conference and collaborating with social work students to build a supportive and engaging community. I am grateful for the chance to support my peers and work alongside others who are dedicated to promoting student wellbeing.

Kendle Smith '27

SECRETARY

MAJORS: Social Work and Psychology

I joined SWSA as a freshman because I wanted to get to know more people who share the same interests and major as me. Since joining the Social Work Student Association (SWSA) and serving as secretary, I've gained valuable leadership experience and had the opportunity to connect with more experienced students in my major.

Debbie Minsky-Kelly

ADVISOR

Debbie Minsky-Kelly, LCSW, is Field Director and Assistant Professor at the Carthage College School of Social Work. Debbie’s 25+ year career as a social worker includes leadership in mental health treatment with children, teens, and families, most recently as a director with Rogers Behavioral Health. Debbie’s background includes work in child welfare, domestic violence, homeless healthcare, private practice, and childhood trauma. Debbie has published research in areas including the healthcare system’s response to domestic violence and ethics related to mental health service delivery models. Debbie teaches social work practice classes, courses on psychological trauma, and human resilience. She was selected as Distinguished Teacher of the Year at Carthage College in 2021. Debbie has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences, and for many nonprofit agencies and schools on subjects related to social work ethics and trauma-informed approaches to service delivery. Debbie is an active volunteer lead with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.