Social work graduate assistant honored as WMU student employee of the year

March 7, 2013

Photo of Demetria Jones with her award.

Congratulations to Demetria Jones, a graduate assistant in the School of Social Work field education office who has been selected from among 66 nominees and over 3,900 student employees as the 2012-13 Western Michigan University Student Employee of the Year. Since May 2012, Jones has worked with her nominator, Field Education Coordinator Jennifer Harrison, to manage, place and monitor over 300 undergraduate and graduate students in field internships.

Through her employment, Jones has helped advance the department in many ways. She is skilled regarding utility, records security, and database management, and has led other student employees in compiling many years of paper files into a searchable electronic data base. She is also the primary manager of a field education e-learning course which works as an intranet for students, faculty, and field instructors. This resource keeps stakeholders informed of events, job postings, and forms, and has unique features including an FAQ.  

"In her role, Demetria is often approached by fellow students for problem-solving on field issues," notes her nominator, "and she has that unique blend of respect for positional authority and empowering students to be actors in their own." In addition, states Harrison, "Demetria is a consummate social worker who speaks up tactfully and effectively to advocate for social and economic justice. I look forward to being her colleague in the field upon her graduation with her M.S.W. in April this year."

The student employee of the year honor is sponsored by WMU Career and Student Employment Services as part of the annual celebration of Gary L. Belleville Student Employee Appreciation Week. Jones was honored in February at WMU, and her nomination will be submitted for a Midwest university competition, and potentially national competition.