Christina Swinney ’20

Graduate Student, Social Work - Catholic University

Christina Swinney, Trinity Washington University Class of 2020, has been named a Pope Francis Scholar at the National Catholic School of Social Services at Catholic University for the MSW Program.Christina Swinney ’20 is pursuing her master of social work at Catholic University, where she was selected to be a Pope Francis Scholar, a prestigious and distinguished scholarship. She graduated from Trinity with a bachelor of arts in health services, with a concentration in wellness and a minor in sociology.

She wrote an essay about her educational journey and what the Pope Francis Scholarship means to her. Read her complete essay on President McGuire’s blog.

“I’m a first-generation college student in my family. Coming from an African-American working-class two-parent household has challenged me to build up the confidence to aspire for more than my parents were able to accomplish. I began that journey at Trinity. My health services background is a great foundation for earning the MSW as I will be basing my knowledge in healthcare, which is a key component to the well-being of community members. While in my senior year at Trinity I interned with Capitol Hill Village, as an assistant to the transportation coordinator. We worked to develop and advance a grant-funded operation (Travel Buddies) that helps seniors and people with disabilities navigate the city safely and effectively. We also advocated the benefit of wellness through healthy lifestyles to aging Ward 6 residents, which works towards the mission of CHV to help seniors age in place. This internship provided insight into the nonprofit sector and how the utilization of social justice, advocacy and service are interconnected for so many aspects of social work and are integral to overall community wellness.

My growth through my Trinity experience has catapulted me with thorough knowledge and competence to strive for a master’s in social work at Catholic University. It has influenced me to steer towards social work and community service… Social work was a practical choice for me because it’s doing the work of empathy that carries into supporting the well-being of people in my community. My purpose aligns with work that ministers to people in promoting the desire to overcome challenges, as I have. My niche of compassion and concern lie in the areas of healthcare, advocacy, and community organization for the neuro-diverse community…. I’m committed to treading a path for those of us who have been overlooked because of stigmas associated with our demographic, gender, and socioeconomic characteristics. I’m thankful that Trinity has not only created but also supported a space for diversity in allowing these opportunities to be available to the student body.”

Read her complete essay on President McGuire’s blog.