Bachelor of Social Work student Nallely Calles Ortega (BSW ‘25) and Master of Social Work student Betzy Balladares Oviedo (MSW ‘26) exemplify the well-rounded, community-engaged social workers that emerge from George Mason’s College of Public Health. During their practicums, Calles Ortega and Oviedo uplifted the well-being of the communities by conducting case management work and helping clients overcome challenges to accessing needed resources.
Their work has earned them recognition from the National Association of Social Workers Metro D.C. Chapter as the BSW Student of the Year and MSW Student of the Year, respectively. Student of the Year Awards are presented to social work students who, in addition to remarkable academic performance, demonstrate leadership on and off campus, political and legislative engagement, and contribution to a positive image of the social work profession.
Both Calles Ortega and Oviedo dedicated themselves to serving children and families beyond the minimum requirements, actively working to make a tangible impact on the lives of the people they interacted with. The Department of Social Work provided the tools they needed to thrive in their roles—social service providers.
“The curriculum effectively prepared me for this hands-on experience. I regularly applied foundational theories, such as the Person-in-Environment, to understand and address clients’ challenges within the context of their environments. Faculty and peers also provided guidance and feedback when I encountered challenges, reinforcing the connection between classroom learning and field practice,” said Oviedo, MSW‘26.
Oviedo completed her practicum at Neighborhood Networks under the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, where she engaged in direct case management work. She collaborated with school counselors and social workers to identify client needs, ensure continuity of care, and connect them with community resources such as childcare, mental health counseling, or housing support.
Calles Ortega echoes the sentiments for her practicum experience as an intern at Ayuda, a nonprofit organization that supports low-income immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. During her internship, she provided case management services, supporting and advocating for clients.
“The practicum seminar course provided a space to reflect on and process our field experiences, while also learning from peers. These classes encouraged the development of clinical and professional skills by allowing an open dialogue and peer learning,” Calles Ortega, BSW’25, said. “Additionally, SOCW 311, the mini-practicum course, helped me build skills that are useful in a professional setting. This class helped me strengthen my communication, organization, and time management skills, which I carried into my internship.”
Award-worthy contributions to social work research and advancement
The passion Calles Ortega and Oviedo have for the social work profession extends beyond the classroom and their own practice. As students, they have witnessed the challenges faced by those in their discipline and have committed themselves to bettering the landscape of social work education for their peers.
Calles Ortega and Oviedo co-founded and co-lead the George Mason chapter of Payment 4 Placement, a nationwide organization that works to advance the rights of social work students. They recently represented the Department of Social Work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research where they presented their project Unpaid Internships: Exploring the Hardships of Social Work Students.
Calles Ortega and Oviedo hope their work contributes to systemic changes and funding opportunities for unpaid field placements.
“It’s been such a meaningful experience to advocate for our peers while contributing to a growing national conversation on equity in social work education,” said Calles Ortega.
Following completion of her BSW, Calles Ortega is planning to further her education through the Advanced Standing MSW program here at the College of Public Health.
“After having such an impactful and supportive experience during my undergraduate studies, I chose to stay at George Mason for my graduate education. The BSW program helped shape my passion for advocacy and community work. It gave me the skills and confidence to pursue both graduate-level education and meaningful organizing for social justice,” said Calles Ortega.
After finishing her MSW, Oviedo intends to pursue human resources after discovering the diverse scope of social work.
“I realized that many of the core skills I developed in social work—such as empathy, active listening, problem-solving, and systems thinking—are highly transferable to human resources. My goal now is to support and empower people in the workforce, helping create healthier, more equitable work environments while bringing a human-centered approach to organizational practices,” said Oviedo.