Mauricio Cifuentes

M.S.S.W. '03

School of Social Work

For 16 years, Mauricio Cifuentes taught law in Bogota, Colombia. But he eventually realized his desire to help people in other ways.

While visiting friends in Chicago, Cifuentes discovered Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work. Aiming to diversify student enrollment, the School was glad to receive an application from the Colombian attorney. Cifuentes planned to obtain a master's degree, but financing his degree posed a major challenge.

Loyola helped Cifuentes obtain a generous scholarship. At 42, he earned his M.S.S.W. degree and also was named a 2002-03 President's Medallion Award winner. The President's Medallion is awarded annually to one student from each of Loyola's schools who exemplifies the highest standards of excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.

During his studies, Cifuentes completed an internship in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood through St. Anthony Hospital. "For the first time in my life, I was doing therapy," he says. "I knew a lot about the Latino community, about personal struggle for Latinos and their struggles as a community." After he graduated in 2003, Cifuentes accepted a position as social work coordinator for St. Anthony's Programa Cielo, which provides mental health services for the hospital's clients, most of whom are Mexican immigrants living below the poverty level.

"Loyola's social work program, which combines the clinical and social aspects of human beings, was exactly what I was looking for—and it has absolutely given me the tools I need to assist my clients," says Cifuentes, who recently completed a Chicago Center for Family Health certificate program for social work within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. "I also see how good the clinical skills are among the Loyola interns we have at Cielo today. Loyola takes advantage of people's individual talents and skills to better prepare them for being clinicians."

"Cifuentes' experience is consistent with the school's mission," says former Dean Joseph A. Walsh. "Our vision is to educate social workers who will be vigilant about responding to issues affecting social and economic justice in the communities they serve. We continue to shape our curriculum to address cutting-edge clinical, community and social issues encountered by social workers in diverse areas of practice."

Founded in 1914 and accredited since 1921, Loyola's School of Social Work educates students to become clinical social worker leaders. The curriculum addresses contemporary clinical, community and social issues encountered by social workers in practice. Degrees include a clinical master's degree with concentrations in family, children, elderly and adult care for practice in mental health facilities, schools and hospitals. Dual master degrees are also available, including degrees in divinity, early childhood development, law, child and family law, and women's studies.

For more information about the School of Social Work, please visit:www.luc.edu/socialwork/