By NORTHWESTERN NEWS
Dlonra (Dee Dee) Nolan, Enid senior, was elected as the undergraduate student representative to serve on the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW-OK) 2016-2017 Board of Directors.
NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world and works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social practices.
“I am incredibly honored to have been selected to serve as undergraduate student representative for the NASW Board of Directors. I am also grateful to Northwestern’s Social Work Department and, specifically, Dr. Kylene Rehder for her support, guidance and leadership.
“Social work was not my original major, but after learning about the advocacy and passionate service on behalf of those in need, I felt social work was the right path for me. At this juncture, I am not 100 percent sure what area specifically I’d like to become involved in within social work. There are so many opportunities and paths in this field, and I need to narrow down a focus area,” Nolan said.
Nolan is majoring in Social Work with a minor in English. She is a graduate of Northern Oklahoma College and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. In 2014, she was a recipient of the Geraldine Burns English Award and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. During her tenure in the Navy, she was awarded three Navy Achievement Medals and Sailor of the Year. In 2015, she served on the board of directors for the Enid YMCA and is a current member of the NASW.
“We are so proud to have a student from Northwestern elected to serve on the NASW-OK Board of Directors,” Dr. Kylene Rehder, Department of Social Work Chair, said. This is the fourth year a student from Northwestern will have the privilege to represent the interests of undergraduate students across Oklahoma. Ms. Nolan will make significant contributions to the social work profession through her service on the board.”
Following graduation from Northwestern, Nolan plans to further her education and apply to the University of Oklahoma Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work.
For more information on Northwestern’s Department of Social Work, contact Rehder at (580) 327-8135 or kdrehder@nwosu.edu.