Supervisor Spotlights
The EMU School of Social Work field office would like to thank our student nominators for highlighting these wonderful supervisors! We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication they provide for our students.
Quania Branch, LMSW
Quania Branch, LMSW
Agency: Girls Group
Role: Senior Social Work Manager
Nominated by: Emma Loy (BSW Student)
"My nominee is an incredibly supportive and approachable supervisor who creates a safe space for learning and growth. She leads with empathy, clear communication, and trust, which makes it feel easy to ask questions. I’ve also seen her uplift others in the agency by celebrating small wins and creating a team culture surrounded in support and mutual respect. Her belief in my potential has made a huge impact on my growth and confidence."- Emma Loy
Lindsay Calka, MSW
Lindsay Calka, MSW
Agency: Groundcover News
Role: Managing Director and Publisher
Nominated by: Michelle Lardie-Guzek (BSW Student)
"Some qualities of my nominee that makes them a great supervisor: Supportive, flexible, humble, enthusiastic, knowledgeable. She has contributed to my skill development as a social worker by encouraging and supporting my efforts to apply my skills to benefit the agency rather than just staying in a box of assigned tasks."-Michelle Lardie-Guzek
Douglas Vanderlooven, LMSW
Douglas Vanderlooven, LMSW
Agency: Washtenaw County CMH
Role: Supervisor of Assertive Community Treatment
Nominated by: Quinn Gormley-Veasley (BSW Student)
"Some qualities of my supervisor that makes them a great supervisor are kindness, caring, understanding, and leadership. He's taught me how to take care of myself as a social worker. I wouldn't be half the social worker I am today without him. On top of all that he offered me a job at CMH for when I graduate."-Quinn Gormley-Veasley
Julie Lovelace, LMSW
Julie Lovelace, LMSW
Agency: Washtenaw County CMH
Role: Therapy Team Supervisor
Nominated by: Paula Miller (MSW Student)
"Julie has the perfect balance of guiding and mentoring interns and at the same time allowing space for the interns to make their own clinical interpretations. Julie has given me the confidence to believe in myself; trusting my own clinical judgement."-Paula Miller
Patrick Gaulier, LMSW
Patrick Gaulier, LMSW
Agency: Michigan Medicine
Role: Senior Clinical Social Worker, Hematology/Oncology
Nominated by: Liz Penley (MSW Student)
"Patrick has given me the opportunity to practice MI, CBT and ACT modalities as well as work directly with patients. He has a strong empathetic approach and the patients that he works with have nothing but great things to say. Supervision was used to further knowledge on adjustment to disease and community resources that can help improve quality of life to patients facing cancer."-Liz Penley
2022/2023 Field Cycle 
Adam Grant
Agency: A Brighter Way
Role: Executive Director
Nominated by: Joseph Meyer (BSW Student)"Everyone who works there has been formerly incarcerated and most of us didn't believe we were qualified to work there but Adam has inspired all of us and believed in us and pushed us to be good workers. Also he is passionate about helping returned citizens which is pretty much our mission statement. He has given me direction, inspiration, and empowered me to take the initiative in work affairs. He always available for me to ask questions and explains to me how and why we do things specific ways."-Joseph Meyer
Michelle Brennan, LMSW SSW
Agency: South Lyon Community Schools
Role: Special Education School Social Worker
Nominated by: Sabrina Delozier (BSW Student)"She is kind, compassionate, patient and understanding when it comes to the many questions I have had. She has challenged me to include myself more at South Lyon High School and taught me valuable information about being a Special Education Social Worker. She is professional, organized, and driven for success. She has been the reminder of my passion for social work." -Sabrina Delozier
Priya Rednam-Waldo, LMSW MPH, PMH-C
Agency: Healing Home Counseling Group
Role: Clinical Therapist and Managing Partner
Nominated by: Chelsea Czegledi (MSW Student)"Priya and everyone here at Healing Home makes me feel like I have value in the things I contribute and like I am one of the team instead of just an intern. She meets me where I am and then expands my knowledge on important aspects of the job. Priya is an inspiration and I feel privileged that I get to learn from her and the amazing people at this practice." -Chelsea Czegledi
Kathleen Redmon, MSW
Agency: Affirmations
Role: Director of Programs
Nominated by: Jay Sloan (MSW Student)"Kathleen is engaged with student goals and so knowledgeable about the work that they do at Affirmations. She freely shares her experience and insight on macro social work, while inviting us to make our own considerations based on our experiences- and uplifting those considerations. The space that has been created for me to be a person- to have shortcomings and to receive not only practical advice, but tangible support in overcoming them is a reflection of one's commitment to the core values of social work."-Jay Sloan
Ayana Jenkins, BSW
EMU BSW Alumni, class of 2019
Agency: Our House
Role: Program Manager
Nominated by: Paige Martin (BSW Student)"Ayana is a great supervisor because she provides a safe and comfortable place to learn. She has helped me realize how important and close-knit the Ypsilanti Community is and how many resources Ypsi has to offer. Ayana has contributed to my skill of being resourceful and how to reach out to the community to get needs met. She is a large part of why our organization is growing at an exponential rate, which ultimately allows us to help more young people aging out of foster care. I couldn't ask for a better placement or a better supervisor." -Paige Martin
2024/2025 Field Cycle