Meet Katelyn Krahn, a junior from Green Bay, Wis. majoring in social work. Katelyn enjoys helping people and discovered that a career in social work was a good match for her interests and skills. She graduates in 2024.

“Social Work was my calling because I love being able to help people see their goals and achieve them. I always believed the only way to help people was through the medical field, but my strong suit is not science,” she said.

In high school, she worked with special needs children in area grade schools.

“While I was volunteering with the special needs children in one of our elementary schools, the school social worker came in. We started talking, and I realized that there is a field that wasn’t medical that makes a huge difference in people’s lives,” Katelyn explained.

“As I’ve gone through the social work program at Viterbo, I also realized how diverse the field is, and how many job opportunities you truly have as a social work major. There is a lot of flexibility and you can always change the demographic you work with, if needed.”

A friend recommended Viterbo

Katelyn was a first-year college student at a large public university when she took some beginning level social work courses. She quickly found that the big class sizes weren’t for her. At her friend’s suggestion, she decided to check out Viterbo. “My friend was a student at Viterbo and praised their programs and professors,” Katelyn shared. “I toured the campus and transferred for the start of my sophomore year.”

Here, Katelyn appreciates the small classes that allow her to make connections. “My cohort is twelve students,” she offered. “I can really connect with my professors.”

Campus events for transfer students increased Katelyn’s comfort level as an incoming student and helped her meet friends outside of her major.

What makes the Viterbo Social Work program Unique?

She lists the qualities that make Viterbo’s social work program stand out. “There are two professors who teach the primary social work skills. Both are very knowledgeable about the subject and they are very understanding,” Katelyn said. “They like to go at the pace of the students and will take time to answer any questions we have about the field.”

“The professors also reach out to alumni to have us attend workshops where we can ask about their experiences in the field. In our final semester of the major, we have a semester-long internship. It simulates how you would apply and interview for different positions in your career, and allows us to gain the experience we need for applying to actual jobs post-graduation.”

Another highlight for Katelyn is experiencing Lobby Day at the State Capitol, where she and her classmates can observe and bring up their own thoughts on policy and legislation to policymakers.

Katelyn’s bright future

After she graduates, Katelyn plans to concentrate her social work career within the medical field, where she would like to work with the aging population. “I could also picture myself working with veterans at some point,” she added.

Here’s a fun fact: Katelyn has a twin sister who is studying to become a clinical therapist and work with the aging population too. Katelyn enjoys reading and hiking, and she is also a foodie who will try just about anything.