A CALLING

CHANELL HEDGEPETH ’19 SOCIAL WORK HOMETOWN: Kensington, Maryland

Earning a Degree Close to Home

There was never any doubt in Chanell’s mind that she’d go to college. But she needed to find a school that would help her pursue her passions while supporting her family. That meant staying close to home, so she decided to begin with an associate degree from Montgomery College. While at Montgomery College, she learned about the Raptor to Retriever program, which helps students make a smooth transfer to UMBC-Shady Grove to earn a bachelor’s degree. That’s how she met Chelsea Moyer, director of UMBC-Shady Grove

“She helped me put everything together,” says Chanell. “She helped me figure out all the things I had already done that I didn’t even know I had done.”

Exploring Her Options

Right away, Chanell knew she wanted to work in a health-related field. She initially considered nursing, but it just wasn’t the right fit.

“I realized I was more interested in the mind than the body,” says Chanell. “So I focused more on psychology.”

She was drawn to the possibilities of counseling and working with children and teenagers, and with guidance from mentors like Professor Jeanette Hoover and Dr. Diane Alonso, she began digging into sociology and social work courses and found her calling.

From Montgomery County to St. Maarten

As soon as she graduated, Chanell began a year-long international social work internship on the Carribean island of St. Maarten, where she focused on drug abuse and behavioral issues. Her next step? Earning her master’s in social work.