COIL Profile: Jennifer McDermott

Potential Project Idea:  A project related to Mental Health, Coping and Stress.  Professor Benavides-Cala’s proposed project on exploring coping strategies and formal and informal support networks is especially interesting to me.  I’d like to explore ways in which COVID-19 related issues are impacting coping mechanisms and resilience for individuals in both countries.  

Motivation for COIL:  COIL will offer an excellent opportunity to help students engage in cross-cultural experiences, especially while they have limited ability to do so.  Much of their interactions will continue to be limited through fall due to Covid-19 concerns.  

I am a Licensed Social Worker and enjoy gaining an understanding of related professions around the world.  I see COIL as a strategy to increase cultural humility for myself and my students, and as an opportunity to take part in an international experience for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity.  As a Social Worker I feel it’s quite important to help students understand both challenges and intervention strategies for their clients at a Micro and Macro - Systems level.  This project will assist them in looking beyond the bounds of their own backyard. 

Lastly, as a college student, I took part in a Study Abroad opportunity in Switzerland.  It was a transformative experience for me and helped forge bonds I still have today. The trip had a focus on accessibility and was one of the first trips of its kind – combining students with disabilities with able-bodied students on a trip to Europe.  That experience solidified my desire to be a Social Worker and to confront social justice issues.  I want this project to light a fire in our students and enlighten them to the benefits of international education.  I truly look forward to this opportunity for both myself and my students.