BSW grad returns to school for a new career and desire to impact her community

When Shawn Stowe's position was eliminated due to cutbacks, she knew she was ready for something new. She also knew that if she pursued a degree, it would be at Binghamton University, despite the 200-mile roundtrip to attend classes in person.

"My husband and oldest daughter graduated from Binghamton, and my younger daughter is currently a student; they all loved their experience," Stowe said. "Plus, it has the best accredited social work program around."

Stowe, a native of Bath, N.Y., attended Corning Community College after graduating high school, earning an associate degree in social sciences. While studying there, she met her husband; when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, they moved to Texas and began raising a family. After her husband received his discharge, they lived in Atlanta, Ga., for several years before moving back to upstate New York to be closer to family.

When she lost her job at an agency that collects on defaulted student loans, Stowe decided to return to school to pursue her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA), a decision she finds ironic. With the full support of her husband and family, she was able to attend classes full-time and fully embrace her new role as a student.

However, returning to school after a 31-year break presented its own set of challenges.

"It was difficult to re-learn how to study and write papers," she said. "Fortunately, I had a supportive cohort that really helped boost my confidence and empower me. They were always there to lift me up when I felt overwhelmed or doubted my abilities."

The friendships and relationships that Stowe formed allowed her to connect more deeply with the program. She served as a BSW student ambassador and was the director of Community Services Initiatives for Tao Sigma, the national honor society for transfer students. As a student ambassador, Stowe helped organize activities for CCPA's food pantry and clothing closet to increase student awareness of the programs and created pop-up clothing shopping experiences for students on the main campus and the University Downtown Center.

In the fall of 2024, Stowe received a Cornell Contribution Project Award, a micro-grant intended to help fund small community-based projects. For her project, she collaborated with a local church and used the funding to buy essential clothing items for their donation-based clothing store. She purchased rarely donated but much-needed items, including men's and women's socks, underwear and t-shirts.

In addition to her work ethic, Stowe is a positive influence on those around her, according to Bobbie Jo Deuel-Lewis, who worked with Stowe as her field liaison and BSW Field Integration Seminar instructor.

"Shawn is an excellent student, going above and beyond with assignments," Deuel-Lewis said. "However, what I appreciate even more than her academic motivations is her natural inclination to support her peers and to join her cohort in group cohesion. This isn't limited to her classmates; Shawn also demonstrated these abilities in her field agency. Shawn is warm, authentic and genuine - attributes she entered the program with, but they are also foundational for effective social workers."

Next fall, Stowe will return to Binghamton to earn a dual master's degree in social work and public administration and policy. She is interested in practicing "macro" social work, addressing the needs of a diverse population and influencing policy to create meaningful change for communities of people.

"I want to address social issues and systemic change rather than direct, one-on-one client interactions," Stowe said. "I want to be part of impacting policies, advocating for social justice, developing community programs and working to improve societal structures. I am particularly interested in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in small-town America using restorative justice practices to bring key stakeholders to the table to discuss solutions that work for everyone."

Stowe is also exploring the idea of building a private practice with her social worker husband.

"My husband is an African American man, and many men of color request him when seeking out mental health help," she said. "So, I am interested in working with him to build an agency where we bring in other practitioners from diverse backgrounds to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population."

For Stowe, it's a matter of advocacy - standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. "I know it sounds cliché," she said, "but I genuinely want to make a difference in the world, even if it's just for one person."

When asked what advice she would offer to other adults considering returning to school, she advises them to use their life experiences as an asset toward achieving goals and excellence.

"Don't underestimate your abilities," counseled Stowe. "Trust in yourself, believe in yourself. You can do anything that you put your mind to."